OT: Conference Realignment

[GMUgemini]

UNLV just knocked off Kansas

Rumor is board of regents are attaching Nevada and UNLV (have to be in same conference—why when they weren’t in the same conference until 2012, I don’t know) and PAC doesn’t want Nevada.

 

[Pablo]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5764885/2024/09/13/pac-12-realignment-mountain-west-members/

"The four Mountain West schools on the move see the potential for more revenue, even if it’s not at a Power 4 level. They currently receive around $6 million in television money from the Mountain West’s TV deal with Fox, CBS and TNT, a number that likely would’ve been bumped up a bit in the Mountain West’s next TV deal beginning in 2027. The reformed Pac-12 hasn’t taken its rights to market, but the schools’ hope is to draw more than $10-12 million per member from a new TV deal with fewer mouths to feed (for comparison, the Big 12 and ACC distribute around $30 million per school). The league’s Pac-12 Enterprises production company has also proven to be a revenue-generator, even outside college sports. The possible introduction of performance-based revenue sharing could further reward the new league’s most successful members.

The move also stemmed from the realization that the entire collegiate sports model could be overturned in the next few years, whether through the courts or more conference realignment at the end of the decade. Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State wanted to tie themselves to schools that invest more closely to their level, rather than those at the bottom of the Mountain West. The four schools felt this was their last best chance to end up on the right side of whatever the future is."

"The next steps for everyone are still to be determined. The Pac-12 needs at least two more schools to get to eight members and remain recognized as an NCAA and FBS conference beyond 2026, but it could also go to 10, depending on the value. Potential targets to the east include Tulane, Memphis, South Florida, North Texas, UTSA, Rice and Texas State. It could circle back to Mountain West leftovers like UNLV and Air Force if it can’t convince American Athletic Conference schools to make a move. The AAC has the best TV deal in the Group of 5 and ESPN exposure to sell. Perhaps Air Force could join Army and Navy football in that league."

"Gonzaga, located less than 100 miles from Washington State, could be an option, perhaps as a fourth addition to pair with three football schools. That would bring the league to an even 10 members overall and would allow for easy scheduling with nine football-playing teams."

"The Mountain West has been preparing its options for this situation since San Diego State’s initial plan to leave for the old Pac-12 surfaced a year ago, though the league isn’t required to add anyone, with eight football-playing members remaining. Potential targets within the Football Bowl Subdivision could include New Mexico State and UTEP. Down in the FCS, the Mountain West has never gotten far into discussions with schools like North Dakota State, South Dakota State or the Montanas, but perhaps now is that time. There is now a $5 million fee to move up to the FBS, but the Mountain West could have $111 million in exit fees to work with and could perhaps pull from that pool for signing bonuses to entice teams."

 

[Falco]

Potential targets within the Football Bowl Subdivision could include New Mexico State and UTEP.

New Mexico State would be a great option. Their football program is on the rise, and they came within seconds of beating Auburn last year.

Additionally, the university has a traditional name, which adds credibility.

 

[phoenix-arizona]

Rumor is board of regents are attaching Nevada and UNLV (have to be in same conference—why when they weren’t in the same conference until 2012, I don’t know) and PAC doesn’t want Nevada.

But I'd rather gamble in Reno than Las Vegas.

 

[Pablo]

MSN

"The college football world is still adjusting in the aftermath of the Pac-12's dismantling in 2023.

Now with the once-thought defunct conference attempting a rebirth by poaching four Mountain West schools in 2026, another mad scramble by conferences to snag new members could unfold.

ESPN's Pete Thamel reported Monday that the Air Force Academy, currently a member of the Mountain West, is being targeted by the American Athletic Conference (AAC) to join its ranks. If that move were to come to fruition, then the Mountain West would be under the eight-team minimum for NCAA conferences to be FBS eligible.

The Pac-12, currently consisting of two members — Washington State and Oregon State — is in a two-year grace period after it lost 10 members to the Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC this season.

The additions of Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State would still leave it two members short of the minimum, meaning more moves are coming.

The AAC's interest in a third service academy — Army and Navy are both current members — would indicate it's bracing for further departures. Memphis and Tulane have been frequently mentioned as additional possibilities to join the Pac-12 and round out its ranks.

The biggest victim if that chaotic chain reaction were to be retriggered: the Mountain West.

It's ironic because the Mountain West essentially threw the Pac-12 a lifeline after it was cannibalized by the other Power Conferences, signing a football scheduling agreement to keep the two remaining members involved as it attempted to recover.

Now that the deal is set to expire after only one season, the Pac-12 will suck the life force out of its ally to sustain its survival in this new college football landscape.

It's unclear how far along talks are for Air Force to potentially join the AAC, but fans should brace themselves for the continued aftershocks of last year's seismic conference realignment."

 

[Pablo]

x.com

x.com

 

[Pablo]

MSN

"The ACC is working towards presenting a new revenue model and a plan to shorten its grant of rights agreement in exchange for Clemson and Florida State dropping their lawsuits and staying in the conference, according to reports.

The new proposal, created by the two schools, would direct a larger share of revenue to ACC members based on their perceived brand value and media ratings, and would change the expiration date on the conference's grant of rights deal.

ACC presidents first explored a new revenue deal during a meeting in person last week, and continued those talks in a conference call on Tuesday.

The ACC's current grant of rights agreement with ESPN expires in 2036, but under this new proposal, that deal would end in 2030 instead, per reports.

The negotiations remain in the preliminary stage, and it's unknown exactly how much support the measure has, for or against it.

Any new agreement will require a two-thirds majority vote to pass."