Significant changes coming to football conferences?

[St. Auggie]

My understanding, if you follow the rumors, is that the Texas schools would not be flying to Washington.  They would have the 6 big 12 schools and then the two Arizona schools in their portion of the conference, those would be the "Western" teams, and that would represent their full confernce schedule, and than any possible confernce championship game.  So they would not be going really any further than they are right now. 

[copperfiend]

There is a lot more to this than just football, and having a team in TX or OK having to travel to Seattle for a football game and then get back in time is kind of a hard thing to do.

Right now Boston College is in the same conference with Miami, Florida State, Clemson and Georgia Tech. In the Big East for basketball, Marquette has to travel from Milwaukee and play schools in DC and Philly. They will make it work.

[reednavy]

Ha, the ACC is a hickup away from falling apart because outside of VaTech, the ACC's power is in the south with Miami, FSU, and Clemson. BC was somewhat elgit when Matt Ryan was there, but that's about it. I've never understood why they're in that conference, they're better suited for the Big East.

I just don't see such a major shift happening. Reports are now that Nebraska won't commit to the Big Ten unless they get a invite by Saturday. Unfortunately for them, the Big 10 has no obvious intentions to do such.

[copperfiend]

How are they close to falling apart? They just got a brand new TV deal worth millions and you're acting like they're the next Circuit City.

[St. Auggie]

http://www.foxsportsohio.com/06/09/10/Reports-Nebraska-to-Join-Big-Ten/landing.html?blockID=250141&feedID=3724

Nebraska invited to the Big10 according to this.

Look for UConn to the ACC in the near(relatively speaking) future as well.

[reednavy]

What I just saw on ESPN completely contradicts what that link you just posted says. All speculation right now, with little backing. All of them are saying sources this, and sources that. Well, wtf are your sources?

[reednavy]

They just got a brand new TV deal worth millions

This part is what is making pissed the most. All these people care about is the money now, and not about how it could affect their athletes and their educations. Hell, a number probably picked the school they go to becuase of the teams the regularly play against, and suddenly that is all f'd up because Notre Dame doesn't want to join a conference.

The NCAA is becoming a sad organization where money is the thing and the athletes take the back seat now.

[St. Auggie]

ESPN.com does not contradict it, but rather states no offer has been extended.  My Father and Brother both played football for Ohio State, and I did quite a bit of work at the hospital there.  My family is very involved with the university and as such we have met some "higher ups". Its more than just internet fodder from which I speak, but not much more.  

[St. Auggie]

They just got a brand new TV deal worth millions

This part is what is making pissed the most. All these people care about is the money now, and not about how it could affect their athletes and their educations. Hell, a number probably picked the school they go to becuase of the teams the regularly play against, and suddenly that is all f'd up because Notre Dame doesn't want to join a conference.

The NCAA is becoming a sad organization where money is the thing and the athletes take the back seat now.

I can assure that at least the Big 10 is concerned about the academic side of all of this.  If the proposed Big10 expansion plan plays out they way they want it to, the Big 10 will control about 40% of all the research dollars spent in this country at universities.  That is an amazing statistic.  For the big 10 it is not JUST about sports.  Yes at the end of the day it IS about money, but not just for sports. 

[reednavy]

Here is a scenario to ponder, if NU and Mizzou go to the Big 10 and Colorado to Pac 10, the Big 12 can still survive and add TCU, Houston, and Tulsa.

The way TCU has been going the past number of years, they'd be an excellent addition. Houston would be as well, and Tulsa is Conference USA, and would do well because they regularly play either OU or OK State.

I just don't see any TX or OK school going to the Pac 10, why would they want to do that and kill rivalry games and tradition.

There is no reason why the Big 12 shouldn't go after other schools as well, just be a whole dog-eat-dog competition.

[hanjin1]

Looks like it's official and Nebraska has gone to the Big 10 and the Big 12 is dead. Wow, I thought this would happen but not this fast. Looks like the Pac10 will send out invites soon. The SEC can't be far behind.

[reednavy]

They're announcing they're leaving, but it will not be a done deal until summer 2012 at the earliest. It will take at least a year or two to move around the schedules and such.

The Big 12 isn't dead yet, because rumors are flying that they're targeting TCU, which makes sense because they're in Fort Worth.

[tufsu1]

If 7 teams leave the Big 12, they are dead....if only a few leave, they can backfill with old SWC members TCU, SMU, and Rice

[reednavy]

Well that is a no shitter, if 7 leave, why bother even trying?

[reednavy]

Here goes Colorado, no shocker really.

http://www.sportingnews.com/college-football/article/2010-06-10/colorado-set-announce-move-pac-10