Conference Realignment thread

[Headbutt]

On 11/16/2023 at 3:59 PM, Billings said:

There are also reports form some Beaver independent bloggers on 247 sports that OSU has secured an entirely independent schedule in football outside the MW

Could be, if they're looking for a full FCS schedule.  Otherwise, I ain't buying it.

[Headbutt]

You just can't fill out a FB schedule without some sort of alliance.  I mean you can, but it's very, very tough.  Especially on short notice.  BB and Oly schedules are a very different animal.  So many of those require very little urgency.  Most BB OOC schedules aren't finalized until the summer before play starts.  Plenty of time to work in another game or two for each team and let the conference figure out when they're played.  As for the individual sports, those are mostly meets and tournaments.  Adding two schools to a golf or tennis tournament is a little bit of a pain, but really minor in the big picture.  We'll see plenty of the twins in all of our sports, I'm sure of that.  It's just that the deal doesn't have to be put together as far in advance.  For example I could see them splitting their BB schedules between the WCC and MWC, and hoping for an at large like an indy.

[MissionTrails]

On 11/16/2023 at 3:22 PM, 818SUDSFan said:

Huh? If you are actually an Aztec, that would be your mindset as well.

Or maybe you ARE an Aztec but you're one of those defeatist idiots on AM who think the school has no more status nationally than it had when you attended. Or maybe you think because we had one terrible football season in 2023 that nobody will want us. I mean, some of the posts I read on that board exude similar stupidity but those kinds of posters are why I left several years ago.

Ha, I think you misunderstood what I was getting at. Plenty of 'other school's' fans on this board were giving us hell for "thinking we were too good for the MWC", when in reality we were just trying to move in the best interest of our school. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, so to speak, some of the more marketable school's fans are suddenly OK with the idea of leaving the MWC "high and dry". Just pointing out the hypocrisy, nothing more. I'm an Aztec through and through.

[jdgaucho]

On 11/16/2023 at 3:20 PM, Billings said:

So if they were only staying a year would you give them access to you NCAa autobids?

 

Yes.  Even for one year, they're either going to increase the likelihood of multiple bids in olympic sports (ie, baseball and men's soccer), or provide a nice little payday.  

And unlike here, there would be no concern they're going to peel off Pepperdine, UCSD, Saint Mary's or UC Irvine.

[azgreg]

 

[NorthWestCowboy]

On 11/16/2023 at 9:44 AM, jdgaucho said:

 

Hoops will be a mishmash of regional scheduling. The exploration for other sports are likely the ones which won't have a Pac Mountain home. 

Beaver men's soccer to the Big West,  rowing and OSU rowing to the AAC, wrestling to the B1G, gymnastics to MPSF, something along those lines.

I think OSU wrestling would be most likely to affiliate with the Big XII as that conference currently has 13 wrestling programs, 10 of which are affiliate programs as ISU, OK State and WVU and soon to be ASU (to make 14 wrestling programs) are the only full Big XII members that sponsor wrestling.  The Big XII already has several western affiliate wrestling programs including Cal Baptist, Utah Valley, Wyoming, Air Force and Northern CO.  Curious to know what the current PAC 12 wrestling affiliate schools like Cal Poly, Cal Bakersfield and AR Little Rock will do.  Oregon State wrestling has a rich tradition and I think the Big XII would be interested in the Beavs.  Cal Poly’s program has been on the rise in recent years.  The Big XII has become a conference USA catch all for orphaned and/or former independent wrestling programs for many years now.  I can realistically see the Big XII expanding wrestling even further.  Heck, after Cal Baptist’s petition to join the PAC as a wrestling affiliate was denied, the Big XII took them in even though they are way outside of the conference footprint.

[Pelado]

On 11/14/2023 at 11:01 AM, utenation said:

@NorCalCoug and @Pelado,

 

This isn't a shot at BYU, but Sitake almost sounds like he has given up this year. In his post game, he said he doesn't think the players believe in the system anymore.  Not a good message to send to Camp BYU but if it's true, it's true I guess.

"A new, even more troubling issue may have emerged late Saturday in the postgame news conference, with head coach Kalani Sitake responding to a question about what has happened to a defense that played reasonably well in a 35-6 loss to No. 7 Texas (9-1) on Oct. 28 by saying “my first response to that is probably guys not believing in the system and not believing in what we are doing.”

 

https://www.deseret.com/2023/11/12/23951719/byu-cougars-football-kalani-sitake-jay-hill-aaron-roderick-oklahoma-jake-retzlaff-belief-system

 

The local BYU mob is up in arms with this season. Cougarboard is in full meltdown. IMO, many of those fans expect T25 seasons every year, which based on results the last decade isn't realistic.  I think your fanbase doesn't realize this is a process to jump to P5.  Jay Hill is a smart man and knows what he's doing. Of course there are issues with coaching, talent and depth but year 1 isn't the time to blow up the farm. Gotta get the recruiting improved for sure. 

 

On 11/15/2023 at 5:31 PM, NorCalCoug said:

Things are a dumpster fire in Provo.  Talking truth isn’t taking a shot.  BYU’s been here before though.  They’ll figure it out.  My bigger concern is Sitake not living up to the recruiting hype he brought with him to BYU.  They have to figure that out first and foremost.  I know they recently hired a ton of recruiting staff and have put a lot more resources into it so hoping it pays dividends.  
 

BYU’s recruiting pool is what it is.  I’ve always said the BigXII wouldn’t make it substantially bigger.  I did think the BigXII would help BYU start landing more top level LDS talent, but that hasn’t happened either so far.  There was a decent bump the last class or two but nowhere near enough.  NIL has changed the game so who knows how much impact that has here too.

The offense has had issues all season.  The offensive line, in particular, has looked atrocious lately.  The defense has had some good games and good moments, but are looking pretty inept as of late, too.  Even special teams has found ways to f things up.  If I had to point the blame at anything in particular, I'd say the problem is the football program.

[robe]

On 11/16/2023 at 7:26 PM, Pelado said:

 

The offense has had issues all season.  The offensive line, in particular, has looked atrocious lately.  The defense has had some good games and good moments, but are looking pretty inept as of late, too.  Even special teams has found ways to f things up.  If I had to point the blame at anything in particular, I'd say the problem is the football program.

BYU has always been up and down under Sitake. I wouldn’t be shocked to see BYU get up for OU and beat them. Get a new O-line coach and see what happens in 24

[utenation]

On 11/16/2023 at 6:32 PM, robe said:

I wouldn’t be shocked to see BYU get up for OU and beat them. 

Let’s put some skittles down on this observation…..

Line is 24.5

[Billings]

On 11/16/2023 at 4:23 PM, azgreg said:

 

Big Deal.  no auto bid CFP $$ going to PAC

[smithy]

On 11/16/2023 at 4:27 PM, NorthWestCowboy said:

I think OSU wrestling would be most likely to affiliate with the Big XII as that conference currently has 13 wrestling programs, 10 of which are affiliate programs as ISU, OK State and WVU and soon to be ASU (to make 14 wrestling programs) are the only full Big XII members that sponsor wrestling.  The Big XII already has several western affiliate wrestling programs including Cal Baptist, Utah Valley, Wyoming, Air Force and Northern CO.  Curious to know what the current PAC 12 wrestling affiliate schools like Cal Poly, Cal Bakersfield and AR Little Rock will do.  Oregon State wrestling has a rich tradition and I think the Big XII would be interested in the Beavs.  Cal Poly’s program has been on the rise in recent years.  The Big XII has become a conference USA catch all for orphaned and/or former independent wrestling programs for many years now.  I can realistically see the Big XII expanding wrestling even further.  Heck, after Cal Baptist’s petition to join the PAC as a wrestling affiliate was denied, the Big XII took them in even though they are way outside of the conference footprint.

If the current MW schools starting making significant money...I wouldn't mind Fresno get their wrestling program back and rejoin the Big12 as wrestling affiliate. Too bad Covid hit us hard and had to close the program right when the program was starting to get back to winning,  after years of being shutdown the first time.

[CowboyFriar]

On 11/16/2023 at 8:58 PM, Billings said:

Big Deal.  no auto bid CFP $$ going to PAC

Well, if you listen to the know it alls like Robert, you would believe that the PAC2 are going to take that 300 million and buy out the grant of rights for those few illustrious institutions that are being held back in their current G5 conferences......  I am looking forward to seeing how they will fit this reality into their delusions.

[Did I hear a WOOSH?]

On 11/16/2023 at 12:54 PM, Spaztecs said:

This is good news for all MW Schools. There are financial penalties if OS-WSU try to cherry pick MW Schools for the new Pac. It's an all or nothing deal on merger matters.

 

Four Schools, Boise, Fresno, Sparty, and SUDS will play both Pac Schools as they already have one game scheduled in the next two years.

SDSU has already cancelled/rescheduled their game against Portland State to add OSU to their schedule next year. They play Cal, OSU, and Wazzu OOC next year.

Where’s the money to pick schools from the MWC for a new PAC coming from?

[jdgaucho]

On 11/16/2023 at 2:41 PM, Billings said:

I think Gloria has a spine, unlike Hair, and truly leads and lays out the options

 

A good commissioner inspires and leads

[utenation]

On 11/16/2023 at 3:41 PM, Billings said:

I think Gloria has a spine, unlike Hair, and truly leads and lays out the options

Are you saying Hair’s hair is firmer than his spine?

[HawaiiMongoose]

On 11/16/2023 at 1:20 PM, Billings said:

So if they were only staying a year would you give them access to your NCAA autobids?

You make a good point I hadn’t thought of.

That could very well be why they’re talking to other conferences about a scheduling alliance for non-football sports.  They may be looking to obtain that access and the MWC may be reluctant or unwilling to grant it in the absence of a definitive merger agreement.

[Headbutt]

On 11/16/2023 at 10:02 PM, HawaiiMongoose said:

You make a good point I hadn’t thought of.

That could very well be why they’re talking to other conferences about a scheduling alliance for non-football sports.  They may be looking to obtain that access and the MWC may be reluctant or unwilling to grant it in the absence of a definitive merger agreement.

Maybe.  I doubt the MWC is fearing OSU/WSU BB.

[Billings]

On 11/16/2023 at 9:02 PM, HawaiiMongoose said:

You make a good point I hadn’t thought of.

That could very well be why they’re talking to other conferences about a scheduling alliance for non-football sports.  They may be looking to obtain that access and the MWC may be reluctant or unwilling to grant it in the absence of a definitive merger agreement.

Not a question of fearing.  Just pressure on them to make a choice

[utenation]

On 11/16/2023 at 10:04 PM, Headbutt said:

Maybe.  I doubt the MWC is fearing OSU/WSU BB.

WSU is picked to finish 10th this year in the P12. OSU is picked 12th. 

[Wyobraska]

On 11/16/2023 at 1:09 PM, AztecSU said:

Why don't they just merge now? It seems like they are still hoping to join the B12.

Money due to the PAC 12 (PAC 2) over the next 2 years