College Football--Big Ten Expansion

[Anonymous]

Stanford's situation is tough. Too bad the Big Ten doesn't really care about academics and research beyond a minimum threshold. In better news, my employer got positive antitrust news recently, so thanks if any of you antitrust experts helped there!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love the chancellors and presidents rationalizing the Big 10 additions: "When considering the full spectrum of academic, athletic and research excellence, the alignment with our member institutions is extremely clear," Illinois chancellor Robert Jones, chair of the Big Ten council of presidents/chancellors, said in a statement. "We are excited to welcome them and look forward to collaborating and competing with them in the years ahead."

As some may know, Oregon is traditionally a powerhouse in cross country and track and field. Phil Knight ran for Oregon. Among college track students, as far as academic excellence and research goes, Oregon is called Lane Community College. Of course, it reflects intended sarcasm but Oregon is no academic gem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love the chancellors and presidents rationalizing the Big 10 additions: "When considering the full spectrum of academic, athletic and research excellence, the alignment with our member institutions is extremely clear," Illinois chancellor Robert Jones, chair of the Big Ten council of presidents/chancellors, said in a statement. "We are excited to welcome them and look forward to collaborating and competing with them in the years ahead."

As some may know, Oregon is traditionally a powerhouse in cross country and track and field. Phil Knight ran for Oregon. Among college track students, as far as academic excellence and research goes, Oregon is called Lane Community College. Of course, it reflects intended sarcasm but Oregon is no academic gem.

It is a member of the AAU thought, which is the academic theashold (Nebraska's unique situation not withstanding)

Personally i am fine with Washington as a member and understand why Stanford and Cal are not currently being considered. I think it will be very tough to keep those two schools out in a 6 team pod scenario where a handful of ACC teams (Specifically UNC, UVA and GaTech) and Notre Dame are eventually added as well.

[Anonymous]

There are so many losers in this mess, it’s hard to know who deserves the most pity.

Most of my concern goes to the Cal student-agitators, who must be frantically transitioning their protest schtick.

“What do we want?”
The Big 10!!
“When do we want it?”
Now!!

Poor kids… It could be a long season for them. I hope they remember to stay hydrated.

[Anonymous]

Notre Dame's broadcast media rights contract with NBC ends in 2025. No renewal contract has been negotiated according to the most recent news reports. Notre Dame wants to triple its price from approximately $22 million per year to something in the range of $60 million to $75 million dollars for the right to broadcast Notre Dame's home games. NBC may decide to wait to enter into serious negotiations as the results of Notre Dame's upcoming football season could have an impact on the value of ND's broadcast rights.

Many sports writers/bloggers assert that the recent earthquakes in college football conference realignment will have no effect on Notre Dame football and on Notre Dame football's status as an independent. I disagree.

Scheduling games is likely to become more difficult for Notre Dame as mega conferences need to focus on playing a greater number of, as well as a greater variety of, teams. The Big Ten Conference needs to coordinate the schedules of an 18 team conference and has little interest in promoting the value of the Notre Dame football product.

One of Notre Dame's traditional opponents--Stanford University--is now homeless. A football program (e.g. Stanford) that does not generate enough revenue to be competitive in the recruiting of the most talented athletes is not going to help the Notre Dame brand as beating up on weak opponents does not attract viewers and does not develop a strong fan base. Notre Dame needs Big Ten opponents more than ever in recent times.

Maybe Notre Dame can play more games in the ACC a conference more highly regarded for basketball than for football.

If Notre Dame wins its opening game against Navy and if Notre Dame performs well against Ohio State on September 23, 2023, then Notre Dame will be in a position of strength when entering negotiations with NBC.

Notre Dame's 2023-2024 regular season schedule is rated by one service as the 21st hardest schedule in the nation (U Florida Gators have the most difficult schedule). Notre Dame plays:

Navy in Dublin, Ireland. (Funny things can happen when crossing many time zones.)
HBCU Tennessee State
NC State (ACC)
Central Michigan
Ohio State (Big Ten)
Duke (ACC)
Louisville (ACC)
USC (Pac-12/Big Ten)
U Pittsburgh (ACC)
Clemson (ACC)
Wake Forest (ACC)
Stanford (Pac-12/homeless) (Have to wonder whether many of Stanford's best players & recruits will transfer out before this game.)

[Anonymous]

Notre Dame's 2024-2025 football schedule:

Texas A&M (SEC)
Northern Illinois
Purdue (Big Ten)
Miami of Ohio
Louisville (ACC)
Stanford on October 12, 2024 (homeless--will Stanford even have a football team ?)
Georgia Tech (ACC)
Navy
FSU (ACC)
Virginia (ACC)
USC (Big Ten)
U Miami (ACC)

In my view, Notre Dame is an ACC football team. Notre Dame may have to rethink its series with a homeless Stanford.

As onerous as the travel will be, maybe Stanford needs to consider applying for membership in the ACC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The fan base at Maryland wasn't happy with the move at all. You can still hear Gary Williams complain even with the $$ windfall!

Debbie Yow almost bankrupted the athletic department; they needed the money. Gary was mad because he could no longer pitch playing against Duke and UNC to recruits. He was right to be worried, Maryland is even more of an afterthought now in basketball

Do colleges & universities still play basketball ?

College basketball has plummeted in quality. The regular season is almost meaningless. First weekend of March madness is still an awesome product but that’s it. It used to be great … now its just ok.

College basketball has plummeted in quality. The regular season is almost meaningless. First weekend of March madness is still an awesome product but that’s it. It used to be great … now its just ok.

Since this is all about money, the money in college basketball is in the tourney, and that money goes to the NCAA.

Now, if the SEC/Big 12/B1G get to a certain size, they may decide to hold their own tournament, and depending on the member schools, that could be meaningful revenue.

[Anonymous]

Possible options for soon-to-be-homeless Stanford University football:

1) Go independent, but find a home for its other sports.
2) MWC Mountain West Conference
3) ACC--but the travel is likely to have an adverse affect on Stanford athletics & on Stanford's athletes.
4) Big 12 Conference--but the Big 12 has shown no interest in Stanford.
5) Big Ten Conference--the dream which is unlikely without a commitment from Notre Dame to join the Big Ten Conference.

[Anonymous]

The West Coast schools (USC, UCLA, Washington, & Oregon) which have joined the Big Ten Conference should benefit from less competition in recruiting top West Coast football talent as Stanford and UCal-Berkeley will no longer be competing for the top high school football prospects.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The West Coast schools (USC, UCLA, Washington, & Oregon) which have joined the Big Ten Conference should benefit from less competition in recruiting top West Coast football talent as Stanford and UCal-Berkeley will no longer be competing for the top high school football prospects.

Cal is already fielding terrible teams. The competition for top talent in LA is with Ohio State and Georgia not Cal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Notre Dame's 2024-2025 football schedule:

Texas A&M (SEC)
Northern Illinois
Purdue (Big Ten)
Miami of Ohio
Louisville (ACC)
Stanford on October 12, 2024 (homeless--will Stanford even have a football team ?)
Georgia Tech (ACC)
Navy
FSU (ACC)
Virginia (ACC)
USC (Big Ten)
U Miami (ACC)

In my view, Notre Dame is an ACC football team. Notre Dame may have to rethink its series with a homeless Stanford.

As onerous as the travel will be, maybe Stanford needs to consider applying for membership in the ACC.

As long shots go, this is the path FSU and Clemson should be pursuing. Adding Stanford and Cal and getting them to recruit Notre Dame such that the GOR can be renegotiated. 3 payout tiers with ND getting whatever they need to join, FSU and Clemson getting ~60, and the rest (including Stanford and Cal) remaining about the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The West Coast schools (USC, UCLA, Washington, & Oregon) which have joined the Big Ten Conference should benefit from less competition in recruiting top West Coast football talent as Stanford and UCal-Berkeley will no longer be competing for the top high school football prospects.

Cal is already fielding terrible teams. The competition for top talent in LA is with Ohio State and Georgia not Cal

Great point, but Stanford & Cal do compete & do get top talent. Many West Coast athletes prefer to stay in the region for college. Gaining entry into Cal or Stanford along with free tuition 7 free room & board was an attractive option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Notre Dame's 2024-2025 football schedule:

Texas A&M (SEC)
Northern Illinois
Purdue (Big Ten)
Miami of Ohio
Louisville (ACC)
Stanford on October 12, 2024 (homeless--will Stanford even have a football team ?)
Georgia Tech (ACC)
Navy
FSU (ACC)
Virginia (ACC)
USC (Big Ten)
U Miami (ACC)

In my view, Notre Dame is an ACC football team. Notre Dame may have to rethink its series with a homeless Stanford.

As onerous as the travel will be, maybe Stanford needs to consider applying for membership in the ACC.

As long shots go, this is the path FSU and Clemson should be pursuing. Adding Stanford and Cal and getting them to recruit Notre Dame such that the GOR can be renegotiated. 3 payout tiers with ND getting whatever they need to join, FSU and Clemson getting ~60, and the rest (including Stanford and Cal) remaining about the same.

Seems reasonable to me.

[Anonymous]

In order to understand the seriousness of Stanford's position, look at Stanford University's football schedules for 2024, 2025, & 2026:

Only 3 football games scheduled in 2024: TCU, Cal Poly, & Notre Dame on October 12, 2024

Only 2 games scheduled in 2025: Hawaii & San Jose State

Only 2 games scheduled in 2026 with the same two opponents as in 2025: Hawaii & San Jose State

Tough to recruit D-1 football players in this situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Notre Dame's 2024-2025 football schedule:

Texas A&M (SEC)
Northern Illinois
Purdue (Big Ten)
Miami of Ohio
Louisville (ACC)
Stanford on October 12, 2024 (homeless--will Stanford even have a football team ?)
Georgia Tech (ACC)
Navy
FSU (ACC)
Virginia (ACC)
USC (Big Ten)
U Miami (ACC)

In my view, Notre Dame is an ACC football team. Notre Dame may have to rethink its series with a homeless Stanford.

As onerous as the travel will be, maybe Stanford needs to consider applying for membership in the ACC.

As long shots go, this is the path FSU and Clemson should be pursuing. Adding Stanford and Cal and getting them to recruit Notre Dame such that the GOR can be renegotiated. 3 payout tiers with ND getting whatever they need to join, FSU and Clemson getting ~60, and the rest (including Stanford and Cal) remaining about the same.

Why would other ACC members agree? Duke has to be looking at Stanford and UNC/UVA/GT at Cal and realizing there are worse thing than the ACC