Dropping divisions is likely.
If they move to 16 teams, look for UVA and UNC to be targets.
Then West Virginia will go to the ACC and maybe USF. Then the Big 12 will sweep in Memphis. Or will the ACC take a chance on UConn?
With Iowa State dropping AAU they’re out of B10 radar right?
Last question then I’ll hang up and listen: would the ACC try to reel back UCF and Cincy?
Funk, no matter what, USF is the odd man out. They play in a pro stadium, and have zero facilities (relatively speaking).
UCF would make 3 teams in Florida (nope).
The only plausible scenario would be coupling WVU and Cincy into the ACC…however, as they did their due diligence on WVU several times and passed, probably not enough to add Cincy in a package deal…IMO…
But then there is this…
Kansas will be in play. Also, keep hearing about the overtures to the California schools, specifically USC.
All I know is that when realignment actually occurs, it is some blind-side change no one saw coming
Always this way.
Hope B12 survives intact or UH ends up in a positive.
Could be worse. We could still be sitting in the AAC.
I like our chances.
The B1G has already said NO to Kansas.
Football brand too sucky.
Gang,
As an Illinois grad school alum, I checked a couple of Illini boards to see how those B1G fans are reacting to this.
Surprisingly, NONE of them even mentioned expansion.
They all talk about how there might now be North/South divisions instead of East/West, or how the division alignments might change.
Whoever said USF…please. Their athletic brand is NOT P5 worthy. No P5 conference will invite them anytime soon.
I could see Mizzou going big 10. Geographically and culturally a better fit than SEC.
so you’re saying if the big 10 takes some ACC teams the big 12 can sweep in and take some decent-good P5s? If they play the cards right it could really boost the big 12.
Or send the big 12 down the big East road…
The ACC TV deal isn’t that great, and locks in teams for FAR too long.
I doubt many Big 12 teams would be interested. Maybe Cincy and WVu, but the ACC has always said no to both in the past. Perhaps that could change, but I doubt there’s much incentive money-wise.
Of course Big 12 teams would bolt for the SEC or B1G if the chance came.
But for reasons I’ve already articulated AD NAUSEUM, that isn’t going to happen.
The SEC took the teams that they want, and the only Big 12 team that would academically qualify for the B1G has already been rejected.
As for Mizzou, I agree, they are a better cultural fit for the B1G (AAU, wrestling power) than the SEC. But they seem pretty happy with the money and prestige that the SEC brings them.
Thus far, on the Illinois boards, no one seems to think that a B1G expansion is a part of this. I’ll need to check some other schools’ boards to see what those fans are thinking.
Looking at one Michigan board, I didn’t even see realignment being discussed at all. There’s one string on the PAC-12 that mentions how they have dropped divisions, and wondering if the B1G would do the same, but that’s about it.
The key to any B1G expansion will be … RECRUITS!!! …
No secret many key schools in the B1G are running out of them in their home state and have been for years now … there are none to be had in Minn … Wisc … Mich … Illinois … Iowa … even Penn …
Nebraska has been wanting back into Texas where recruits exist in the east …(cut the state in half and they all are in the east) … especially the SE …
and guess who exist in the recruits-rich … southeast Texas … and hasn’t officially joined any P5 conf yet … and has a to be top medical school on campus recently given $$50 million$$ for research …
There may not be any announcements on any current B1G board but I suspect the MichSt AD did not make the expansion message to the world for … chuckles and grins …
No the big 12 will scoop some Acc teams then
I think their targets are the Cali schools in PAC 12…PAC GOR expires in 2024…Perfect timing to leave with no penalty…only question is who is offered…and what their answer is…
If they wanted into Texas all they have to do is finally get a good coach and good recruiters. They don’t need to play in Texas.
As I said, I don’t think so.
The B1G has never even so much as jumped over one state during expansion; certainly not two time zones.
UVa and UNC are their natural targets, given their traditional expansion patterns (AAU, state flagship, and within or immediately adjacent to, their existing geographical footprint).
ACC GOR doesnt not expire until sometime in the 2030s…ACC schools CANNOT be targets…ESPN saw to that…They dont have any trouble jumping time zones if its worth it…Cali, the LA market and LA recruits would certainly be worth it…Th B1G was willing to offer Texas a few years ago, but Texas made it clear they would not jump…
I think the B1G has enough money to get them out of that.
And those two ACC schools have plenty of monetary incentives to get out of being locked into a mediocre TV deal through 2036.