BCS leagues expanding - yeah?

So much for that scheduling thingy.

USC, LSU to open 2024 season in Las Vegas

 

And that's how you properly schedule.

Was this Orgeron's doing? Would love to know who made the first call.

Doubt Helton will be USC's coach then.

 

Urban Meyer vs. Ed Orgeron?

 

We’ll know by week eight if the Jags suck and we start getting stories about the return of Urban's heart issues/brain tumor/AIDS/whopping cough.

 

Urban Meyer v. Joe Brady.

 

Urban Meyer* vs. Ed Orgeron**

* - LSU coach
** - USC coach

 

Report: Big 12 forms expansion committee, strongly considering BYU

ISU's Wintersteen on Big 12's four-person expansion committee

“The people who didn’t want BYU before are leaving the conference,” an unnamed Big 12 source told The Athletic.

If they take four, my money stays on Cincy, UCF, USF, BYU, and throw Memphis and Houston into the hopper. Some combination of that looks as good as they'll get. I don't think the Texas schools let Houston in unless the B12 gets really desperate. That's a pretty decent basketball league as well.

I'm also seeing a theory that the B12 might slow roll expansion, dropping that in below as it makes a certain amount of sense. I still think they add four to try to make the product as attractive as possible quickly.

 

I copped this off of a UAB message board. I don't know that I buy it all, but there are some sound thoughts in here. I'd credit the writer but it's just a screen name, which seems pointless. From yesterday.


"RE: Big Ten, Pac-12, ACC in discussions about forming alliance: Sources

What's going to happen: Nothing imminently.

What's going to happen over time: A slow migration of entrances and exits, a few moves at a time, between now and 2025.

Why it is going to happen this way: Money and perception.

What isn't going to happen: AAC absorbing any portion of Big 12.

What isn't going to happen: Big 12 retaining "power" status.

Why this is not really important: Big 12 will not legislatively "downgraded." It will remain an "autonomy" conference and will compete for an autobid in the college football playoff just like any other conference. It'll simply be a public perception.

How it will unfold: Big 12 schools will invite key AAC/MWC members, with more added as Big 12 schools trickle into Big Ten, Pac-12, SEC.

Why they will do this in this manner: So they can cash those checks from OU and Texas while also cashing those checks from entrance fees by keeping the Big 12 solvent rather than league-dissolving mass exodus. Those with their eyes on departing would rather leave behind others' money than dig into their own pockets. Those who plan/hope to depart also would prefer to do so from a position of relative security (i.e., they have a home) than desperation (i.e., their league is dead).

Why this is important: Some Big 12 teams won't get lifeboats, and these exit and entrance fees will be their payoff without coming directly out of the pockets of upcoming departing schools.

What we're looking at eventually: A handful of Big 12 remnants, maybe 3-4, adding whatever is needed from a core group of Cincinnati, UCF, USF, Houston, Memphis, Boise State, BYU, SMU, Tulane. This will be done in stages, not one big swoop.

Could UAB become one of those schools?: Well, as of today, probably not. In 2-3 years, possibly. There's a window of time to get into the picture through performance and improved perception. Winning in the major sports, being real noisy about it, filling the stands, continuing to raise money and improve athletics facilities ... all of this matters. At worst, UAB will be a clear choice for whatever the AAC becomes.

What it will mean: Big 12 will eventually not a "power league" in perception but clearly will be the No. 5 league both in performance and finances with a WIDE gap between them and No. 6.

Will this impact other leagues?: Of course. Especially leagues that will be raiding the Big 12. Same process of slow roll is going to happen with them, too, for the same reasons. The lawyers will be paid handsomely to keep things out of the courts. This will be over a longer timetable. In other words, what eventually becomes the Big 12 will again be raided as the Pac, Big Ten, ACC, SEC evolve and leave some teams on an island there."

---------------------------------

Added today:

"What's gonna happen next: The Big 12 will put its expansion committee into action and they will move to add two teams. This will be the first step of many over a period of years as outlined above. The current Big 12 teams will not stop looking for new homes but they'll collect some entrance fees and get someone's clock started on an exit from the American.

The candidates moving to the front of the line will be Cincinnati, UCF and BYU. Houston would be a great candidate but the Texas Big 12 teams are probably not ready to elevate the recruiting competition during this period of uncertainty.

If the AAC loses two members, they will definitely replace them. Less certain they would do so if they lose just one member, but they also can count entrance fees as income, too."

 

Big 12 -- Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, Baylor, Texas Tech, West Virginia, Oklahoma State, TCU, BYU, Memphis, UCF, Cincy
American -- ECU, Houston, Navy, SMU, USF, Temple, Tulane, Tulsa, ODU, Charlotte, Louisiana Tech, UAB
CUSA -- FAU, FIU, Marshall, MTSU, WKU, North Texas, Rice, Southern Miss, UTEP, UTSA

Would be some nice market correction if all that occurred. One school to keep an eye on is Liberty, which is strong in football, men's basketball and baseball. Their fans talk about loving the flexibility of the independent schedule, but the yearly trip to the Cure Bowl will get old after awhile. I could see some mutual LU-AAC interest should the AAC bleed schools to the Big 12.

 

I think the AAC will also take a long look at Georgia State if they lose three teams. Big school, up and coming athletics.

 

If not announcing "college football is where I belong." Or words to that effect.

 

Outside of Boise State, is there any school in the MW worth taking?