Been seeing a certain conference realignment idea lately

[Ghost of the HEB]

I believe it was first tweeted out a few weeks ago by some ESPN SEC homer analyst, and people on Twitter have been running with it ever since.
Basically he said that the Pac12 and Big12 are falling behind so much financially that they need to make drastic changes to still be relevant in CFB 10 years from now — especially the Pac. He suggested the Pac12 and Big12 have some type of merger, and that a conference headed by Texas, Oklahoma, Oregon and USC would have a lot better chance at competing financially with the SEC, Big10, and the Clemsonites.
While this makes some sense if the Pac-12 (Larry Scott) legitimately has no good plan to right ship, it also presents some problems. The Big12 likely would have more pull than the Pac, so them letting go of any of their 10 teams is unlikely. A “super conference” likely wouldn’t want to be larger than 16 teams, which would make 6 spots for pac 12 teams to merge. So… who in the Pac-12 essentially gets kicked out of the P5 status? I’ve seen Big12 media personnel kick the can with this idea and discuss who they would want. Some include Utah because of recent relevance, but many say it would be SC, UCLA, OR, WASH, and the AZ schools would weasel in together. I don’t see Stanford being left out, but who knows.
Obviously this is all just throwing stuff at the wall and talking just to talk, but a scenario where Utah could be left out of the future “P4’s” is terrifying. That’s another reason why missing out on the playoffs when we were right on the cusp is painful. That would have been such a massive resume booster to show we should never be left out of the elite conferences. Oh well. All there is to now is stay relevant enough to be seen as a valuable commodity in future realignment, because Larry Scott hasn’t done anything in years to show he will lead this conference to prosperity in coming days.

[Utahutes06]

USC, Oregon, Washington would be guarantees in this situation. Who could possibly be kicked out of the big 12 that would possibly open up some spots as well? The California Schools demand to play each other every year so you have to imagine they would demand all of them go. If you can find 1 or 2 big 12 schools to go you could easily argues either for either of the Arizona schools, Utah or Colorado. Another thing to consider is why not make an 18 team conference with a 9 game conference schedule?

[Central Coast Ute]

TTU, Baylor, Iowa st., Kansas and Kansas St. Could all be left out.

[homer]

Texas is a lot more powerful politically than Utah. I wouldn’t count Baylor out. I don’t see a 16 team conference either.

When student athletes can sell their liknesses look out small town schools.

The landscape will be drastically changed in a decade.

[Central Coast Ute]

I agree and I’m not trying to say that Utah gets in over any of those schools. I was just countering the argument that no BIG 12 schools get left out. The fact is, TTU, Baylor, Ks, K St. And Iowa st. Dont5have much pull. If everyone were to get together and invite only those who will bring in the most money, any of those programs could be on the outside looking in.

[PhiladelphiaUte]

I think Tech is in, TCU is out.  And don’t forget WVU.  That school has NO chance of being retained should the Pac-12 merge with the Big XII.  They’re waaaay too far out of that proposed league’s footprint.

[noneyadb]

Michigan St made it and were embarrassed, they haven’t been mentioned or thought of sense. Utah making it to the playoffs and playing like they did vs Oregon or Texas would have done nothing but further confirm that they and the Pac12 do not belong. 

I could see a new conference of USC, UCLA, Stanford, Cal, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma St, and Kansas demanding a good price.

Except that a conference of Iowa St, Kansas St, WVU, TCU, Baylor, Utah, Colorado, Arizona St, Oregon St, Washington St, Boise, Houston, SDSU, and Fresno would have minimal appeal and most would go bankrupt.

[Johnny]

I almost majored in Circus at Florida State University. However, I read your posts giving me satisfaction I never became part of the Barnum and Bailey brigade.

I’ve actually lobbied and partaken in certain political events involving travel and college sports in Texas, Utah AND California. Stop right there, message board troll. Please do more research.

I enjoy factual posts, but the opinion pieces are destroying humanity if you try to come off as one with substance.

[Central Coast Ute]

I hate to say but BYU, would also be included in that second conference you just referenced.

[GameForAnyFuss]

Only if you assume academics don’t matter to major conferences. The truth is, academics matter quite a lot. And just BYU doesn’t have them.

Yes, I know lots of high-GPA high schoolers are competing to get into BYU, but we all know the reasons are social/religious, not academic. Their academic rankings are low and dropping, they’re under censure from AAUP, they have no graduate programs of note, and they don’t do research. Add to that their messed up record on minority rights and they are absolutely a poison pill. No major conference would dare touch them in today’s climate.

[Rick]

You are forgetting the fact that their tuition rates to church members rival SLCC and UVU.  Huge part of their “high GPAs and test scores.”  

[PhiladelphiaUte]

Academics only matter to the Pac-12; not the Big XII.  If these two leagues merged, it’s conceivable that “academics” gets pushed aside.  That said, the cougars’ national reputation of being too difficult (re: high maintenance) to deal with will automatically disqualify them from any serious consideration.  Plus, they’ve been on the AAUP censure list for over 20-yrs now.  

And no, the reasons why they’re not wanted isn’t on account of social/religious reasons.  That’s just zoobie folklore.  The reasons why they’re not wanted is because of their poor record of research, their administration’s infringements on acceptable free speech/academic freedom values, their brand of self-imposed isolation and provincialism makes them culturally imbalanced as to the rest of the west’s academic institutions, and their brand of arrogance that just makes them too difficult to deal with.  Just ask the Big East/AAC, MWC, and the Big XII.  They’ve been there, done that.

[noneyadb]

Brigham would make more money as an independent.

[Trailgoat]

Referring to the USC-Bohn comments. Bohn is a tool, perfect fit for USC. Look at his track record at Idaho and Colorado (Cable, Hawkins, Embree, Macintyre). Popping off about USC possibly looking at another conference or going rogue as an independent. Memo to Bohn, you have bigger fish to fry at USC. 

Bohn has failed at hiring quality football coaches and basically got run out of Colorado. Was not popular at U of Idaho. Check the facts. In fairness, the guy has done other things at schools that are expected. Bottom line, it’s all about football at USC.

Highly likely considrering Bohn’s hiring track record he will fire Helton and hire a dud. Felton is a class act and will find a well managed football program to succeed. USC is a mess and needs to fix many other things before firing-hiring a new football coach. 

[Central Coast Ute]

No way USC could go indy. They dont have a rabid fan base like ND. Down years will be VERY down. I’m not sure how much of a draw they have outside of their own backyard, also unlike ND.

[UteThunder]

USC could go independent, but they never will. Notre Dame is probably the only school that can pull it off in the current climate and even they are taking a hit financially. Their TV deal is probably half of what they would be getting if they joined the B1G. Schools like USC, Ohio State, Texas, etc. could all go independent but their TV payouts would be so much smaller than what they get in their conferences that they will never do it.

[Central Coast Ute]

Which is why I say they can’t do it.

[PhiladelphiaUte]

It’s not gonna happen anyway, but to answer your question, of the 22 teams currently in the Pac-12 and Big XII, the six teams who would get left out would be West Virginia (too far), Wazzu, Ore St, Iowa St, Baylor, and TCU.

[noneyadb]

If the end game is to create a conference that demands $$$ from tv, why go to 16 schools diluting the payouts?

[PlainsUte]

This wouldn’t get any further than some ESPN blogger’s tweeterings because the Pac-12, BigTen, etc, see themselves as much more than an athletic conference.

[Charlie]

Don’t see this. A sixteen team conference does not make more than the two current conferences. The desperation is not at all close to this sort of move. The Pac 12 would try another commissioner before they would give up like that. Much more likely would be standardizing the P5 schedules with more P5 opponents. The P5 schools as a division per say, don’t need to reduce the number of schools.

[Cesar Chavez]

there is no way in hell Utah gets left out, they have consistently been a top contender in the PAC. wsh.st, Oregon st. colorado and AZ would be the first ones to go.