[Deleted]

So does anybody have any idea how the proposed conference re-alignment might affect the BCS? I have heard rumor that the Pac-16 would be eschew a conference championship and push for the champion of each of its divisions to get an automatic BCS berth.

Also, all the "experts" are saying that these re-alignments will be the first step toward an eventual college football playoff. Where are they drawing that deduction from?

[Road Warrior Shark]

I gotta say, I doubt the Pac-16 would bypass a title game. Why pass on making extra money? Good chance they'll get a second bid anyway most years as long as the schools that are good now stay that way (Cal, USC, Oregon, Texas, Oklahoma, etc...) Those title games have been HUGE for the SEC and Big-12. They are why the ACC went aggressive a couple years ago to add teams.

The MWC will probably be in line to get the auto bid the Big-12 void leaves. Especially if they expand too. (they should) They have 9 right now. Add Boise, Kansas and K-State. 12 teams.. Title game! $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

The WAC can have Baylor and Iowa State. Or C-USA adds them. Or the MAC. Or the Sun Belt. Does it matter?

As for an eventual playoff.. Don't old your breath. Too much money in these bowl games to give up. Why share with he NCAA?

[Deleted]

Just found a good article on the topic. (And also found that Colorado just announced plans to Join the Pac-10):

sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=5268212

Nebraska to the Big Ten? Texas to the Pac-10?

No more Big 12?

Expansion rumors are flying around the college football world, and it's looking more and more possible that we might have some answers by the end of the week.

Big 12 members Missouri and Nebraska are apparently weighing whether to remain in the Big 12. A jump to the Big Ten, which has already announced it's looking to expand, is possible if an invitation is extended.

The Pac-10 is reportedly set to extend invitations to six other Big 12 schools -- Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and either Baylor or Colorado -- maybe as early as this week.

Here are a few things you need to know about the possibility of college football's being turned upside down:

Why are leagues looking to expand now?

Given the success of the 4-year-old Big Ten Network, Big Ten Conference commissioner Jim Delany announced in December that his league would begin exploring expansion. With the conference receiving from its TV network reportedly as much as 88 cents per subscriber per month in Big Ten territory, there are obvious reasons to expand. Under NCAA rules, the conference also needs to have 12 teams to stage a conference championship game in football, which might be another financial windfall for the Big Ten.

The Pac-10, under new commissioner Larry Scott, didn't wait long to announce its own plans to explore expansion. The Pac-10's current TV contracts for basketball and football with Fox Sports Net expire after the 2011-12 academic year. To receive a TV contract similar to those that the ACC and SEC recently negotiated, the Pac-10 would probably need to broaden its conference footprint. Adding a school such as Texas would certainly achieve that.

Which schools are most coveted in expansion plans?

Longhorns athletic director DeLoss Dodds has said that he prefers that the Longhorns remain in the Big 12 -- if the league remains viable. Texas has one of the richest athletic departments in the country and receives about $10 million from the Big 12 in annual distribution payments for TV contracts and other revenue streams. Texas is trying to keep the Big 12 intact, but if Missouri or Nebraska or both leave for the Big Ten, the Longhorns might be forced to look for another home.

Despite its recent struggles in football, Notre Dame is still the most coveted property in college sports. But to this point, Notre Dame athletics director Jack Swarbrick has said the Fighting Irish prefer to remain independent. Notre Dame has had its own TV contract with NBC since 1991, and the current agreement doesn't expire until after the 2015 season. According to a 2007 survey in Forbes Magazine, Notre Dame's contract with NBC helped the athletics program contribute $21.1 million to the school's academic programs, which was more than the survey's next five athletics programs combined.

Why is the Big Ten so attractive?

Thanks in part of the launching of the Big Ten Network, the league distributed $19.9 million to each of its members during the last fiscal year. About $15 million was generated through TV contracts, including $6.4 million from the Big Ten Network. Just as important, joining the Big Ten increases the academic profile of schools such as Missouri and Nebraska. Each of the Big Ten's current 11 schools is a member of the Association of American Universities, a highly regarded alliance of research-based institutions. The Big Ten has made it clear that it wants prospective new members to be of similar academic blueprints. (Missouri and Nebraska are both AAU members.)

How quickly will it be resolved?

Delany initially set the Big Ten's exploration clock at 12 to 18 months, but the Pac-10's swift response might speed up the entire process. Reportedly, Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe issued an ultimatum last week to Missouri and Nebraska to decide whether they're staying or going. It has been reported that the deadline could be as early as Friday or June 15. Other than that, no one is entirely sure when the dust will settle.

"I expect whatever change will happen will occur in the next 45 to 60 days," Swarbrick said.

Will the ACC and SEC react to Big Ten and/or Pac-10 expansion?

Unless Texas is on the market, it seems unlikely the SEC will react. Adding the Longhorns and other Big 12 schools would expand the SEC's footprint west, but the Longhorns don't seem interested in joining the SEC at this point. It is believed that SEC commissioner Michael Slive's top targets for potential expansion would be Texas and possibly Virginia Tech. Adding schools such as Clemson, Florida State and Miami would improve the SEC's on-field product in football, but it would do little to strengthen its brand name in outside markets. One SEC official told ESPN.com this week that adding teams like the Seminoles and Hurricanes would only be adding schools "that would divide the pie even more." Also, Florida athletics director Jeremy Foley might be reluctant to add FSU and Miami because the Gators have tried to use their SEC membership as a recruiting advantage in their home state. Unless the Big East dissolves, it seems unlikely the ACC would do much in reaction, either.

Who are the major players?

1. Jim Delany: The Big Ten commissioner might hold as many as five invitations to join the Big Ten, which many schools covet because of the league's lofty annual payouts and the equally impressive academic standing of its members.

2. Larry Scott: The Pac-10 commissioner was given authority by the Pac-10's presidents and chancellors on Sunday to explore expansion.

3. Jack Swarbrick: The Fighting Irish are the most coveted prize in college athletics, and the Notre Dame athletic director's recommendation to join or not to join a conference might start the dominoes of realignment.

4. Harvey Perlman: The chancellor of Nebraska will have much influence in deciding whether Nebraska leaves the Big 12 for the Big Ten, and the Cornhuskers' decision might determine the fate of their current conference.

5. DeLoss Dodds: Texas is coveted by the Pac-10 and Big Ten, but Texas' athletic director has indicated so far that he prefers that the Longhorns remain in the Big 12.

[Jack Quinn]

I wonder who else the Big 10 grabs? Right now they have 12, there are rumors of 16. I wonder if they take Missouri and/or Iowa State (ISU would be a good rival for Iowa) or if they grab three Big East teams? Syracuse, Rutgers and Pitt maybe? Or 2 Big East and ND?

Speaking of ND, I am so fucking tired of hearing people bitch about ND losing its independence. ND is not an elite program anymore. Their exemption into the BCS is bullshit, their contract with NBC is stupid from NBC's standpoint, its time to move on ND, stop being douchebags

[Deleted]

And has anybody heard when all these planned changes will take effect? Certainly not for the 2010-2011 school year, so I'm assuming 2011-2012?

[Pun]

Jun 10, 2010 11:57:37 GMT -5 Jack Quinn said:

...their contract with NBC is stupid from NBC's standpoint...

How so? ND is like the Cubs. Whether they suck or not, they are still huge ratings draws. I can almost guarantee that NBC makes money on their games, regardless of the amount of the contract.

[Jack Quinn]

I am sure they make them some money, but as ND slips deeper into irrelevance, how will NBC keep making money? It will get to the point where, will people really tune in to watch an average ND team lost to Navy? Or Baylor?

[Deleted]

Boise State moves to Mountain West

Boise State has given the Mountain West Conference a 10th team.

Boise State is leaving the Western Athletic Conference, a league the Broncos have dominated for a decade in football, the MWC confirmed with a statement Friday.

"We are pleased and excited to welcome Boise State University to the Mountain West Conference," commissioner Craig Thompson said in the news release. "Since our inception just 11 short years ago, the Mountain West has experienced tremendous success, and the addition of Boise State will further enhance that strength. The MWC continues to strategize regarding potential membership scenarios and bringing Boise State into the Conference is an important part of that evolution."

Boise State becomes the second institution to join the Mountain West in the past six years, after TCU was added in 2005. The conference was founded in 1998 with eight members.

"It will be a privilege to compete and partner with such a successful group of member institutions," Boise State president Robert Kustra said in a statement. "This move is in the best interests of Boise State's future, and the university is excited to be part of one of the nation's most outstanding conferences."

Thompson had said Monday the Mountain West would hold off on expansion until the dust settles in the other conferences.

WAC commissioner Karl Benson figured Boise State was bound to bolt for the Mountain West. So much so that as the WAC board of directors and athletic directors assembled in Las Vegas for the conference's annual meeting this week, they discussed contingency plans.

The conference didn't want to be caught off guard.

"I think everyone was anticipating and expecting it," Benson said in a conference call Monday night. "All the signals out there were pointing in the direction that any invitation would come today. ... This is an unbelievably volatile period. The poker playing that is going on I think is unprecedented.

"Regardless of what changes might occur, we are poised to move forward either with our existing membership or with any membership changes that may occur."

Benson said there wasn't any bitterness toward Boise State officials at the meeting, the relationship remaining quite cordial.

The WAC is keeping its options open, too, scouring for schools. Benson said there are five or six candidates from the Football Championship Series the conference is keeping an eye on.

However, Benson wouldn't elaborate on which schools might potentially be in the mix.

"Regardless of what the Mountain West might do, or Boise State might do, the WAC is going to continue to be a credible and recognizable conference," Benson said.

Broncos coach Chris Petersen, who has compiled a 49-4 record and won three WAC titles in four years, said Monday the decision doesn't change anything about his plans for next season.

"We have a very challenging non-conference and conference schedule ahead of us and we are not planning to change our goals because of today's decision," he said.

[BC]

...and Utah is off to the Pac-10...

sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=5293329

Utah will join the Pac-10 Conference as its 12th team -- with an announcement coming as soon as Friday, a source tells ESPN.

According to the Salt Lake Tribune, Utah's Board of Trustees will hold a public meeting Thursday afternoon. The meeting agenda was not revealed.

Mountain West Conference commissioner Craig Thompson, interviewed Tuesday, would only say that he has been in contact with the Pac-10 regarding Utah.

"I did state yesterday morning that I had not spoken to [Pac-10 commissioner] Larry Scott," Thompson said during a break at the Collegiate Commissioners Association meetings. "Twenty-four hours is a long timeframe."

Asked if it was his understanding that an invitation had been extended to Utah to join the Pac-10, Thompson said, "I don't know. I just need to defer all comments."

The Pac-10 grew by one last week when Colorado accepted its invitation to leave the Big 12. Meanwhile, Scott also attempted to lure Texas and four other Big 12 schools. The conference would have become a 16-team league had Texas joined with Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Texas A&M.

Instead, those schools decided to stay in the Big 12.

When the news came down that Texas and the rest were not joining Pac-10, Scott said he called Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe to congratulate him for saving his conference.

The addition of Utah is likely to bolster the Pac-10's football profile. Since 2003 the Utes have been a powerhouse in the Mountain West -- a perfect 6-0 in bowl games during that span, including a 2-0 mark in BCS games which capped off undefeated seasons.

Additionally, the Utes bring Salt Lake City's TV market, which is the 31st largest in the nation.

[Deleted]

So we've got 12 teams each in the Big Ten and Pac-10, and we've got 10 teams in the Big XII.

[Deleted]

CNBC’s College Football All-Name Team

It’s that time of year again, where we comb the rosters of the BCS conference schools and find the names that stick out. It’s a tough task and it requires hours of scrutiny, which is why I employed my assistant James Kaminsky to narrow down the list from hundreds to the final 33 names. In order to be eligible, you just have to have creative parents — that’s all folks.


First Team

Gelo Orange, Wake Forest
Marvin McNutt, Iowa
Barkevious Mingo, LSU
Justin Cabbagestalk, Vanderbilt
Mister Alexander, Florida State
Chi Chi Ariguzo, Northwestern
Masengo Kabongo, Maryland
Shady Salamon, Minnesota
Rockey Duplessis, LSU
Synijyn Days, Georgia Tech
Rantavious Wooten, Georgia

Second Team

Jake Stoneburner, Ohio State
T-Bob Hebert, LSU
Brock Mansion, Cal
Tank Sessions, Florida State
Zach Grossnickle, Colorado
Ego Ferguson, LSU
Mikhail Marinovich, Syracuse
D.J. Fluker, Alabama
Darrington Sentimore, Arkansas
Faron Klingelhoefer, Nebraska
Brenton Spickerman, Oregon

Honorable Mention

Wisdom Onyegbule, Illinois
Collin Sleeper, Iowa
Rocco Cironi, Michigan State
Qua Huzzie, Kentucky
Deanthoine Summerhill, Tennessee
Bo Moos, Arizona State
Covaughn DeBoskie-Johnson, Cal
Taiwan Easterling, Florida State
Euclid Cummings, Georgia Tech
Al-Terek McBurse, Purdue
Coddye Ring-Noonan, Wisconsin

T-Bob Hebert (AY-bare) is my fave.

[Deleted]

Urban Meyer needs to be fired.

Plain and simple.

As a UF alum, he's making the entire institution look bad. He's an asshole in person when there aren't cameras around. He neglects his own family to focus on his players. And now he's tallied his 30th player arrest in his 6th year at UF (and we're only 2 games in to the 6th season).

The title of dirtiest football program in the state of Florida no longer resides with the Criminoles in Tallahassee or the Thugs down in Miami (who have only had ONE player arrest since Randy Shannon got there), it resides squarely in Gainesville, and I hope my fellow alums don't put up with that shit for very much longer.

Ah, well... at least it's only 41 days 'til Gator basketball.

[Mikey]

I've heard and read a lot of opinion of this sort in the past week.

What I want to know is where was all this uproar last December when a Tebow-led Gators bunch went into Atlanta 12-0? Because aside from the graduation of Jesus, the Meyer retirement fiasco, and two ugly games to kickoff 2010, what's changed since then?

[Deleted]

I haven't been a fan of his since after his first season at UF. I'm still a Gator fan, sure, and I'm not gonna stop rooting for the players on the field because of him.

And as much as people wanna harp on the 4-year Tebow fiasco, he at least did things the "right way" in college. (Or he at least never got caught).

It just irks the hell out of me that the general perception in college football nowadays is that you have to have some players with questionable off-field activities to be successful. I call major bullshit on that. I mean sure, there isn't a single program out there without at least some sort of personnel issue, but for most they are few and far between. For every Florida and USC out there, there's a mostly "clean" Ohio State and Boise State.

My bottom line is that you don't need to recruit and accept these questionable-characters to be successful as a coach. And if you feel you need to, then I don't want you as my coach. Steve Spurrier had a mostly "clean" run as coach at UF, and he had pretty solid success while he was there, too. It can be done, and the alums should accept nothing less.

[Deleted]

And to specifically answer your question, "since then" there have been a few additional prima donna freshman added to the squad, and Chris Rainey's "Time To Die" text fiasco. And those are just the ones off the top of my head. There have been a few more issues, as well.

[Deleted]

Oh, and add to that Meyer just basically shrugging all these arrests off with an "every program has its difficulties, and we need to try to improve on things" rather than giving hard-line solutions. He seems like he could genuinely care less about the off-field stuff as long as he's obtaining the on-field results.

[Mikey]

I know you have mentioned your hangups with Urban several times in the past. I just find it hilarious that everyone else is crawling out from under the rocks NOW that Florida's a shaky 2-0.

[Deleted]

Yeah, and I completely agree with that assessment, too. It's almost like the total sum of "Tebow good" outshined the total sum of "all else bad" for the past 4 years.

I did see something in the second half of the USF game that I appreciated, though. Urban actually smiled on the sideline for the first time in about 3 years. I don't wish him any ill-will in his health, and I was genuinely concerned for him in that regard last winter, so it was nice to see that he had lightened up a bit.

[Tommy]

Sept 17, 2010 11:55:59 GMT -5 @gatorbait said:

there's a mostly "clean" Ohio State

This is one of the funniest things you've ever said. Exalt.

[creepy]

You know what's really aggravating? I'm watching the Fourth Quarter of the UT/Texas Tech game (still don't know who won as of this writing) and with 13:40 left, James Kirkendahl (sic?) catches a pass and then gets up and leans over the Tech defender and talks shit RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE REFEREE and doesn't get called for a taunting penalty. OK. Big game, tight score. Non call. I like it. I don't have a dog in this fight so a taunting call would sound like BS to me at this point. Whatever. Taunting has always been a weak penalty to me so I kind of like that the ref ignored it.

Then, with 12:45 left, 3 plays later, a different Tech defender on an incomplete pass on 3rd down, does THE EXACT SAME THING TO A DIFFERENT UT RECEIVER AND GETS A TAUNTING CALL. THE EXACT SAME THING. Automatic first down. The result? Instead of a FG try, UT gets a touchdown a few plays later.


Horse. Shit.



So, it woulda been, if UT woulda made the FG, 20-14, but because of the taunting call, UT made it 24-14. So awhile later, Tech has a fourth down inside their ten yard line with a minute and a half to go and they punt the ball? Really? Maybe they deserve to lose.


Ehhh, whatever. I have to remember that college football blows.

[Deleted]

TCU to the Big East.
rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=ap-tcu-bigeast

Well, that's one way to ensure you make it to a BCS game year in and year out.

[Jack Quinn]

wow, I guess I get that from a football standpoint, but from a geographic standpoint? Their closest "rival" will be Louisville - over 800 miles away. And they will have to travel over 1700 miles to play UConn. Can't say this makes a ton of sense.

I get why the Big East wants it, it gives them a market in Texas. Still, I hate how conferences are spread all over the country, its just annoying

[Deleted]

I think another reason the Big East wants it is to currently have some semblance of football relevancy so that the BCS doesn't boot them in favor of the Mountain West in a couple years.

But yes, geographically VERY odd. Kinda like Louisiana Tech in the WAC.

[Road Warrior Shark]

I say the Big East gets a big boost here. TCU is a legit program, and will help the BE not be the Also-Ran BCS COnference.

TCU helps in other ways.... in Baseball the big east is basically an also-ran as well. TCU is a national powerhouse.

TCU doesnt help basketball, but with 342 basketball-member schools already, The BE can't really be hurt in Hoops

TCU was geographically out of place in the MW also.. not to the extent they will be in the BE.. so I doubt Travel was a concren

[Deleted]

I actually don't think they're joining in basketball. It'll be kinda like Temple in the A-10 for basketball but the MAC in football.