Pitt causes the apocalypse

[The Ancient Enemy]

Great move for them, but I'm sad they aren't headed to the Big Ten. I wished Syracuse would have come over as well.

[KirkHerbstreit]

Agreed. It is a great move for Pitt and Syracuse. I'd have much rather seen them in the big ten with games against Penn State. Actually, Id much rather see Penn State in the ACC playing teams closer in location and in my opinion more interesting to watch.

I think the Big 10 might regret not moving more quickly on their expansion. It seems all the teams are jumping conferences and they are missing out on some good programs.

[Crimson's Ghost]

TAE, dudes on the Rutgers rivals board think they still may be in line for the Big Ten. I don't really see that. I get the sense from reading their board, and them coming on Pantherlair, is that their fans really overvalue their program.

I hear them scream about the NYC market, but I don't think anyone in NYC gives two craps about them, just my honest opinion.
They average less than 50,000 fans a game at the Football games, and they play in an oversized High School Basketball gym. They are roughly the 14th or 15th best current Basketball program in the Big East. They aren't exactly a perennial power in Football, either.

Academically, I think Pitt, Syracuse and Rutgers are about in the same level with Pitt and Syracuse slightly better.


So Academically, Rutgers does not hold anything over Pitt and Syracuse.
Athletically, Pitt and Syracuse have better current and historical programs in both major sports.
Market wise, Syracuse brings in as much as the NYC market as Rutgers would. Plus Syracuse claims to be "New York's College Basketball Team" anyway. Pitt's Western PA market is attractive to the ACC. NYC does not seem like a college football town to me, anyway you put it. That is a Basketball/Pro town.


So do Rutgers fans have legitimate rights to feel they are as worthy as Pitt and Syracuse? I'm asking, I don't know, but through all those things it seems as though Rutgers isn't as valuable as they think they are.

[The Ancient Enemy]

Millions of B10 alums live in NYC. If you put Ohio State and Michigan and Penn State on the Rutgers sports schedules, people in NYC will pay attention. They DO bring that market.

[abpk2903]

Great point, TAE.

[Crimson's Ghost]

Okay, because I didn't think Rutgers was the team that is bringing in that market. I just don't see them having that much attraction to the people of New York.

[Eaglealum]

What do you think TCU is thinking right now?

[Crimson's Ghost]

Well thanks for nothing?

Okay Texas,TTU, OU and Okie State are going to mkae the Pac 12, the Pac 16. It looks like that could be announced very, very soon.

I say the Big 10 sits at 12 until it is absolutely nessecary for 16. That could be anytime from 2 years to 10 years. But they will stay with what they have as long as possible.

The Pac 16 is done. First Super Conference.

The SEC is going to 14 one way or another. The 2 most likely candidates, WVU and Missouri. FSU is a very outside chance, but the ACC buyout is huge now.

The ACC will sit at 14 for a few years, or a few days who knows, but they will be the 2nd Super Conference. To me Rutgers and UConn seem the most logical for those 2 spots. Nobody else really.


What does that leave you?

From the Big 12...Missouri, Kansas,Kansas State, Iowa State, Baylor
From the Big East....WVU,UConn, Rutgers(For Now) USF, Louisville, Cincinnati, TCU, plus the 7 Basketball Schools, and Notre Dame's athletics, minus Football.

Option 1- The make the red headed stepchild BCS League. Minus at least three of the schools left over(WVU,MIzzou, Rutgers, UConn)
Thats a league with KU,KSU,Baylor,Iowa State, Louisville,Cincinnati,TCU and the one team that doesn't make the ACC or SEC. That gives you 8. BYU,Houston,UCF, and maybe ECU come on board and give you 12. Tulsa,Temple, and Memphis will also desperatley try go that way as well. 12 needs to be the number, the league will have no chance with a BCS tie in at 8. The league sucks no doubt, but its a step above the C-USA's and WAC's of the world. The league will run under the Big 12 banner because they have a TV deal in place., thus ending the Big East.

Within that option the Big East Basketball schools either latch on to the Big 12 or start a Basketball only league, including Notre Dame. That puts them at 8. They likely add Temple,Xavier, Butler and Dayton. Financially not having games against Pitt and UConn and Syracuse will kill them. Many of these teams play in big downtown arenas and not on campus. These are very small schools and it wouldn't help them. But from a competitive standpoint, Villanova,Georgetown,Notre Dame, Marquette, are usually locks to the NCAA's along with Temple,Butler, Xavier, Dayton. They have 8 teams that always make the tournament. And St. Johns is on the rise. That will be better than some Super Conferences at Basketball, assuming they get a half way desent TV deal. It doesn't hurt that they all happen to be located in major markets. They are all panic mode right now, but in the end they will have a good league, and still will play their Tournament at the Garden(The ACC has shown interest in playing the ACC Tournament there with Syracuse and Pitt in the league, HUGE slap in the face to the Big East)


Option II-I think everyone that can runs to a Super League. WVU hops on tp the SEC. Rutgers,UConn, Missouri,Louisville and Kansas beg to find a way out whether it be ACC, or beg the hell out of the Big Ten and SEC to become super conferences. Teams like USF,Cincinnati,Iowa State, Baylor,Kansas State and TCU basically get screwed(ESPECIALLY TCU), and there is not one thing they can do. Conference USA gets to become the premier Non BCS League by adding those 6 programs, but those schools hate their life basically. They will lose out on being relevant programs, and College athletics will be run by 4 leagues.



I could see either one happening, with Option I being a temporary 5-6 year plan, than the Super Conference Arms race will start up again. A lot will depend on how the Pac 16 will work, if it turns out to work out nicely and the teams, and conference leaders are happy, you can expect the SEC,ACC, and Big Ten to hop on board. A lot happened in 2003, a lot more has happened in 2010-11, and a lot more will happen in the coming months. I say we are about halfway there on conference expansion.