[jcmanson]

If both the Pac10 and the Big10 become superconferences with 16 teams each, then the SEC/Big East/ACC trio would HAVE to make a move eventually.

That's the part I can't seem to grasp. Why does any league HAVE to get to 16 just because other conferences decide to do it? There's no precedent with a conference having this many football members, so who says it will even work long-term or be any more profitable per school than a 12-team league can be? I just don't quite understand expanding just because others are doing it.

My guess is they would feel like they're being left behind. The thought is while the Pac-10 is becoming the Mega-16 and getting stronger, the ACC/SEC, etc..hasn't budged. I would think it has to be a perception thing.

Yeah, we saw the same thing with the ACC when the other conferences expanded to 12 teams. It took some time, but they eventually did the same thing.

[LUconn]

I am a big ACC fan of all sports and of course this has to do with my ties to UVA and my family ties to GT. That being said I can see the ACC being conteractive in offering Georgia and South Carolina spots into the league to combat the offers made to UNC and GT by the SEC. The USC rivalry with Clemson now would have implications attached to it like the UVA/VT rivalry. USC use to part of the league and has been asked to rejoing once before. I can also see a combination of Syracuse, UConn, WVU, Pitt, USF, Cincy and (me dreaming) Liberty being invited to join the league. It would be even better if thy invited Pitt to extend an offer to Penn St (even though we know this will never happen). Notre Dame after spurning the Big Ten and the ACC before will look at the best option for them. In my delusional eyes I see Notre Dame fitting in better with the ACC if Syracuse and UConn come in to the ACC fold. Just my two cents and hope I didnt offend anyone with my ramblings

PS...some of you have been hitting my points but this thing wont post!!

I think you're overestimating what the ACC is. If they invited an SEC team they would get laughed at to their face. At this point other sports don't exist (other than to ND). So the only leverage the ACC has over any other conference is the Big East because they're looked at as a lame duck, and the lowest tier leagues like CUSA, MAC, etc. So the ACC doesn't really have a choice but to be reactive.

[SuperJon]

I think you're overestimating what the ACC is. If they invited an SEC team they would get laughed at to their face. At this point other sports don't exist (other than to ND). So the only leverage the ACC has over any other conference is the Big East because they're looked at as a lame duck, and the lowest tier leagues like CUSA, MAC, etc. So the ACC doesn't really have a choice but to be reactive.

The only thing the ACC has to a school like SCar is the fact that SCar could actually be competitive and potentially win the ACC where they'll be lucky to finish in the top four in the SEC.

[ATrain]

The only SEC team the ACC can even THINK of adding is Kentucky, and that'll be for basketball purposes-which for all intent and purposes seems to be about as immaterial as women's tennis at this point (i.e. KU).

In other news, first official domino to fall looks to be Colorado to Pac-10:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=5271438

[vastrightwinger]

Colorado will announce at noon ET today that they plan on joining the Pac-10.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=5271438

[ATrain]

And to follow-up on SEC expansion, since the ESPN article seems to focus on Texas and VT, what are the chances the Virginia legislature intervenes and forces VT to stay put or take UVA with it, similar to what they did with UVA and ACC expansion?

[LUconn]

Even though this is the destruction of everything that I love in front of my own eyes, it's kind of fun to watch and speculate about. However, when the NCAA tournament is axed, I will not be laughing.

[WinthropEagleFan]

So why doesn't the SEC just expand to 24 and beat everyone to the punch? I'm just saying, where's the tipping point to where bigger does not equal better? Then again, I think any conference where you can't play everyone once in football and everyone home-and-away in basketball is too big, so maybe I'm just the one that's out of touch.

[LUconn]

Well once you're above 12, you get the championship game money. Then, I guess it has to do with TV market households you're adding divided by the new number of teams you're adding while factoring in all of your shiny new travel costs for all sports and whether or not your conference will be starting or already has it's own network. If you're coming out with more money per team, do it? I guess there's a tipping point where your bottom feeders are taking up too much money for it to be worth it. Maybe that's 16. I don't know.

[jcmanson]

Even though this is the destruction of everything that I love in front of my own eyes, it's kind of fun to watch and speculate about. However, when the NCAA tournament is axed, I will not be laughing.

Agreed. Sure does beat the usual summer doldrums around here.

[JK37]

Unless Texas is on the market, it seems unlikely the SEC will react...Unless the Big East dissolves, it seems unlikely the ACC would do much in reaction, either.

Exactly!

If both the Pac10 and the Big10 become superconferences with 16 teams each, then the SEC/Big East/ACC trio would HAVE to make a move eventually.

Why?

[From the class of 09]

Well once you're above 12, you get the championship game money. Then, I guess it has to do with TV market households you're adding divided by the new number of teams you're adding while factoring in all of your shiny new travel costs for all sports and whether or not your conference will be starting or already has it's own network. If you're coming out with more money per team, do it? I guess there's a tipping point where your bottom feeders are taking up too much money for it to be worth it. Maybe that's 16. I don't know.

With hitting 16 teams you can also argue that your conference should receive 2 auto BCS bids. As the Big East got one with 8 if you double it you should get 2.

[jcmanson]

If both the Pac10 and the Big10 become superconferences with 16 teams each, then the SEC/Big East/ACC trio would HAVE to make a move eventually.

Why?

To not get left behind. The way I see it, if the SEC doesn't make a move, then the ACC/Big East will. Does the SEC care if they make a move - I'd think so.

[jcmanson]

So, right now we've got Colorado to the Pac 10 and Nebraska to the Big 10. I guess the next move will be what Texas decides.

And whatever happened to the rumored invite to Missouri from the Big 10? If they don't accept that now, they're stupid.

[JK37]

Well once you're above 12, you get the championship game money. Then, I guess it has to do with TV market households you're adding divided by the new number of teams you're adding while factoring in all of your shiny new travel costs for all sports and whether or not your conference will be starting or already has it's own network. If you're coming out with more money per team, do it? I guess there's a tipping point where your bottom feeders are taking up too much money for it to be worth it. Maybe that's 16. I don't know.

That's a concise summarization of the basic considerations in all of this. Someone mentioned before that the perception of being left behind could spur the ACC and/or SEC to move from 12 to 14 or even 16. Please! Much smarter men than any of us are in the driver's seat of these moves, and such men don't get swayed by the perception of stupid fans.

The Pac-10 saw what the SEC could get in a TV deal, and they're on a mision to top it - that I get.

The Big Ten has a chance to make its per-member payout the largest of any conference in the country, and stick it to Notre Dame as well - Delany is a genius. I get this, too.

I've yet to see anyone give me a concrete reason why the SEC - or any conference besides the Pac-10 and the Big 10 - has to make a proactive move at this point.

[ATrain]

So, right now we've got Colorado to the Pac 10 and Nebraska to the Big 10. I guess the next move will be what Texas decides.

And whatever happened to the rumored invite to Missouri from the Big 10? If they don't accept that now, they're stupid.

Another popular rumor right now is that the BigTen is stopping with Nebraska. That'll leave Missouri with Kansas, KSU, Baylor, and Iowa State if everything else plays out.

[JK37]

And whatever happened to the rumored invite to Missouri from the Big 10? If they don't accept that now, they're stupid.

Missouri is just a matter of time. I read somewhere that either tomorrow or on Monday, there is a meeting of their highest admins. to make a decision. Technically, they're deadline with the Big 12 doesn't run-out until tomorrow, with a optional extension to next Tuesday.

[JK37]

So, right now we've got Colorado to the Pac 10 and Nebraska to the Big 10. I guess the next move will be what Texas decides.

And whatever happened to the rumored invite to Missouri from the Big 10? If they don't accept that now, they're stupid.

Another popular rumor right now is that the BigTen is stopping with Nebraska. That'll leave Missouri with Kansas, KSU, Baylor, and Iowa State if everything else plays out.

That's a popular rumor because it appears Nebraska is done, with no word from Missouri. Delany said the Big Ten's expansion could very well be in stages. We just all want it to happen now, so reporters are floating anything they hear.

[4everfsu]

If i am not mistaken Colorado does not have a baseball team

[SuperJon]

I've yet to see anyone give me a concrete reason why the SEC - or any conference besides the Pac-10 and the Big 10 - has to make a proactive move at this point.

I don't think they have to do anything.
I don't think they care about the fan's opinion.

However, I think these guys are so egotistical that they have to keep up with everyone and prove they are better.

The SEC showed the 12 team thing could work and did it better than anyone.
The Pac 10 is now trying to one-up the SEC.
The SEC will see that and want to prove again they're better and they'll try to do 16 better than the Pac 10.

It's an ego thing.

[TDDance234]

I've yet to see anyone give me a concrete reason why the SEC - or any conference besides the Pac-10 and the Big 10 - has to make a proactive move at this point.

I don't think they have to do anything.
I don't think they care about the fan's opinion.

However, I think these guys are so egotistical that they have to keep up with everyone and prove they are better.

The SEC showed the 12 team thing could work and did it better than anyone.
The Pac 10 is now trying to one-up the SEC.
The SEC will see that and want to prove again they're better and they'll try to do 16 better than the Pac 10.

It's an ego thing.

And again a perception thing.

If we're in competition and I go out and buy the newest fanciest car, the one that has everybody talking -- you have two options a) get left behind or b) make a move and try to stay ahead.

Remaining stagnent does nothing for the SEC or ACC right now. The Pac-10 has been an afterthought on the East Coast for several years now -- all of the sudden they have some national interest and aren't such a second fiddle. I would have to think with the ACC snagging a team like Kentucky or the SEC going after Texas (both longshots) would add quite a bit of thunder to those two conferences.

[4everfsu]

No way Texas goes the SEC. Texas wants to keep all four of the Texas schools together.

[ATrain]

No way Texas goes the SEC. Texas wants to keep all four of the Texas schools together.

Make that 3...Colorado is already PAC-10 Bound, which rules Baylor out unless OU or OSU gets left behind or the Big12 somehow only loses Colorado and/or Nebraska.

[4everfsu]

That depends, the Texas legislature may have a say in that

[SumItUp]

This is all really awesome for K-State. Now, we can finally go independent and sign a huge television contract with PBS. Think of it!! Saturday morning football games right after re-runs of "This Old House" and "Reading Rainbow". The post-game show will include highlights from that painter guy with the fro. Best. Saturday. Ever.

I saw this comment from a K-State fan.