Conference Realignment thread

[Rosegreen]

On 9/27/2024 at 10:24 AM, utaggies said:

Before there was the PAC2 ego there was the MWC hubris. The PAC’s scheduling agreement with the MWC for 2024 was for $14 million. For the same number of games in 2025 the MWC wanted $30 million. Why? Because it wanted to force the PAC into a corner and accept a reverse merger. The PAC was unwilling to pay that amount and soon the MWC4 had agreed to join the PAC12. 
 

Perhaps a merger may still occur and include the invitation of four AAC schools to form two 9-team divisions. But the only way that occurs is to satisfy the better teams in such a conference by implementing a relegation system so that the best teams play each other in the top dvision and so that the better teams are guaranteed a bigger slice of the pie.

 

Good luck in working that arrangement out. Absent that the PAC12 will up its ante to Memphis and if that fails simply add a filler school to get to 8 teams and then wait a few years until the best teams of the PAC, MWC and AAC merge.

Most of the PAC schools will go broke or have crippling debt. Memphis saw the financials or lack thereof and said no, unless the PAC can prove it can get more money than the AAC and offer Memphis a complete buyout package, Memphis isn’t going anywhere. There’s no reason for Memphis to join a regional conference in the Pacific Northwest. Makes no sense. 

[MWC]

On 9/27/2024 at 12:44 PM, Rosegreen said:

Most of the PAC schools will go broke or have crippling debt. Memphis saw the financials or lack thereof and said no, unless the PAC can prove it can get more money than the AAC and offer Memphis a complete buyout package, Memphis isn’t going anywhere. There’s no reason for Memphis to join a regional conference in the Pacific Northwest. Makes no sense. 

 

The only way Memphis makes sense is if the PAC12 media deal is big enough.

 

But this also applies to the MWC to PAC schools.  

Strange.

[Rosegreen]

On 9/27/2024 at 12:51 PM, MWC said:

 

The only way Memphis makes sense is if the PAC12 media deal is big enough.

 

But this also applies to the MWC to PAC schools.  

Strange.

There’s no indication the pac media deal will be better than the AAC’s. The rumored 10-15 million per share was probably planted by the pac2 to entice schools to the pac.

It’s all speculative right now, the MWC defectors left on the assumption they would get a much better deal than the current deal in the MW. 

[masterfrog]

I think that Notre Dame could really move the needle for the Pac 7.  That should be their first call. 

[MWC]

On 9/27/2024 at 12:57 PM, Rosegreen said:

There’s no indication the pac media deal will be better than the AAC’s. The rumored 10-15 million per share was probably planted by the pac2 to entice schools to the pac.

It’s all speculative right now, the MWC defectors left on the assumption they would get a much better deal than the current deal in the MW. 

 

What indications would you expect at this point in the process.

[HawaiiMongoose]

On 9/26/2024 at 6:26 AM, SteedLaw said:

This is not going to end well for UNLV and Air Force. 

The PAC has made it clear they are rebuilding with or without you. 

Already, talks are being had with Hawaii, Wyoming , New Mexico, San Jose, Texas Stare, Tulsa, North Texas, UTEP, and Nevada.  UCONN and Gonzaga are also still in play. 

What in the world was Gloria thinking? What did she think she would gain by offering 25-30 mil to UNLV and Air Force, but pretty much nothing to the others. 

This is looking more and more like the MWC is going to dissolve and AFA and UNLV will be the ones without a landing spot. 

Just nuts. 

This didn't age well.

You were absolutely right about talks going on.  Even before the MWC offered the big bucks to UNLV and Air Force, the Hawaii AD and Honolulu mayor had commenced discussions with the Pac behind the scenes, and the Pac was reportedly at least willing to talk about the possibility of a Hawaii invitation.  Those talks heated up in the 24 hours after news surfaced of the UNLV and Air Force payout offers.

But what neither you nor any Hawaii fans knew or expected was that Hawaii's president was dead set on staying committed to the MWC.  For whatever combination of reasons -- risk aversion, financial considerations, personal principles, relationships with other MWC presidents and Gloria -- soon-to-retire UH president David Lassner shut down Hawaii's talks with the Pac, and we signed the binding MWC agreement shortly thereafter.

Hawaii fans were initially divided about the decision and there was a lot of criticism of Lassner on the Hawaii message board, but that's settled down.  I think our fan base has come to realize that what we need more than anything is time and money to get our stadium built and our act together on the field, and the best way to achieve that will be to get paid $7 million to stay in a stabilized MWC rather than spend $18 million to get out of it.  (I don't know why our exit fee turns out to be the full $18 million rather than the $3.5 million reported in the Honolulu newspaper this week, but the AD confirmed the higher number.)

Good luck to USU in the Pac.  Hope you win championships there and frustrate the dickens out of OSU and WSU.

[HawaiiMongoose]

On 9/26/2024 at 3:00 PM, Rebels2k3 said:

 

This is fascinating.  Apparently the MWC is just as committed as the Pac to expanding eastward for more television properties in new time zones, probably at the behest of potential TV partners.

The difference is that the MWC is targeting properties that not only play decent football but also don't face big obstacles to pulling the trigger and may actually be obtainable.

Gloria is playing chess here.  How will the Pac respond?

[Granny Danger]

On 9/27/2024 at 11:12 AM, SteedLaw said:

Ego swings both ways...

It was also UNLV and AFA's ego that is keeping the MWC alive, even though it is officially now WAC/CUSA 2.0 -- or will be shortly.

UNLV/AFA wanted to be the kings of the castle in a smaller pond than join a conference for equals (or their betters). And, there is ample collateral damage there.

So, yeah, kind of swings both ways just saying. 

What kind of elitist bullsh* is this?! "Their equals or betters" lol. You Aggies and your generic-a** mascot are so screwed and you don't even realize it. You're joining a conference that is set up to benefit the good teams and punish the bad ones financially. You're already WAY behind the top schools when it comes to revenue and budgets. Now you're on the hook for 17m (while the others are not) and all but guaranteed to get the smallest piece of the Pac revenue pie. So unless you guys get extremely lucky or capture lighting in a bottle somehow, you will always be at a huge disadvantage and are destined to be the dredge of the new G-6 Pac. But don't worry, I'm SDSU, BSU, OSU, and WSU will look out for your guy's best interest. 

[MWC TX]

Texas St has received a verbal offer to join the MW.  PAC12 interested but no offer.

 

Pete Thamel

@PeteThamel

Sources: Texas State officials have received a verbal offer to join the Mountain West. A decision is expected in the upcoming days, as the talks continue. The Pac-12 has also expressed interest, but that has yet to yield an offer.

[utgrizfan]

On 9/28/2024 at 2:45 PM, HawaiiMongoose said:

This is fascinating.  Apparently the MWC is just as committed as the Pac to expanding eastward for more television properties in new time zones, probably at the behest of potential TV partners.

The difference is that the MWC is targeting properties that not only play decent football but also don't face big obstacles to pulling the trigger and may actually be obtainable.

Gloria is playing chess here.  How will the Pac respond?

Texas State = love the choice and smart by the MWC

MAC schools = I think it's a stupid decision when you have just as good if not better options in your backyard, are closer, more competitive etc.

[wolf from 73]

On 9/28/2024 at 3:40 PM, utgrizfan said:

Texas State = love the choice and smart by the MWC

MAC schools = I think it's a stupid decision when you have just as good if not better options in your backyard, are closer, more competitive etc.

Would absolutely love to have you guys but today market and success is where the money is and you have one of those two criteria.

[BacksThePack]

MAC schools good. FCS schools bad. I want places that are easy to fly too, not more Wyomings.

[Laconian]

On 9/28/2024 at 3:40 PM, utgrizfan said:

Texas State = love the choice and smart by the MWC

MAC schools = I think it's a stupid decision when you have just as good if not better options in your backyard, are closer, more competitive etc.

A small part of the Chicago and Cleveland markets is worth more to the media than double dipping into the El Paso market.

[utgrizfan]

On 9/28/2024 at 4:52 PM, BacksThePack said:

MAC schools good. FCS schools bad. I want places that are easy to fly too, not more Wyomings.

FCS schools bad...considering what the Big Sky has done to the MWC in recent seasons pardon me for not taking this comment to seriously. 

Not going to Convince me a school in Illinois (not part of the Chicago TV market btw) who can't even average 10k a game is somehow better then the Dakota States, Montanas, UTEP etc. Honestly this is the only thing I think the MWC has been stupid about this whole realignment thing.

[nvspuds]

On 9/28/2024 at 4:20 PM, utgrizfan said:

FCS schools bad...considering what the Big Sky has done to the MWC in recent seasons pardon me for not taking this comment to seriously. 

Not going to Convince me a school in Illinois (not part of the Chicago TV market btw) is somehow better then the Dakota States, Montanas, UTEP etc. Honestly the only thing I think the MWC has been stupid about this whole realignment thing.

They haven't added either MAC school yet..I am not even sure an offer has been made.

[WarriorTyme]

I not convinced the first 4 that left the MWC are better than the ones that are still in the MWC.

Boise State will always be a great football program.

Then it's WSU, but I'm taking Boise State to win tonight. 

Fresno got an azz whooping by the lowly UNLV 59-14. 

CSU does have a win 27-17 against lowly 0-4 UTEP. 

OSU is hot garbage for a wannabe P4, but they did beat MWC bottom feeder SDSU 21-0. 

SDSU is SDSU with another loss today against CMU and will play Hawaii for the bottom feeder bowl next week at San Diego. I got Hawaii winning this pillow fight of the week. 

 

This is coming from a Hawaii fan but, Boise State I know your back has got to hurting consistently carrying the WAC & MWC all these years. However, your back will continue to be hurting carrying the PAC12 going forward.  

 

[Spot50B]

On 9/28/2024 at 4:51 PM, wolf from 73 said:

Would absolutely love to have you guys but today market and success is where the money is and you have one of those two criteria.

Which one? Halfway between two places is a market?

[Spot50B]

On 9/28/2024 at 4:52 PM, BacksThePack said:

MAC schools good. FCS schools bad. I want places that are easy to fly too, not more Wyomings.

How many flights does it take you to get to DeKalb vs. Laramie?

[nvspuds]

On 9/28/2024 at 6:35 PM, Spot50B said:

How many flights does it take you to get to DeKalb vs. Laramie?

I don't know..Reno to O'hare is a pretty easy flight.

[WarriorTyme]

On 9/28/2024 at 5:13 PM, MWC TX said:

Texas St has received a verbal offer to join the MW.  PAC12 interested but no offer.

 

Pete Thamel

@PeteThamel

Sources: Texas State officials have received a verbal offer to join the Mountain West. A decision is expected in the upcoming days, as the talks continue. The Pac-12 has also expressed interest, but that has yet to yield an offer.

The grant of rights money that 7 remaining MWC schools are getting is from the exit fees from the 5 departing schools, $17x5= $85million. Gloria is not giving a discount to the departing schools, especially the first four that left. Gloria hasn't spent all the exit fees yet and has some available to help other schools get into the MWC. Texas State needs a travel partner that is close proximity. UTEP is on El Paso, Texas which is closer to New Mexico than San Antonio-Austin-Houston Areas. UTSA is near Texas State, but UTSA already said no the PAC 12 and the financials would have to make sense for them to join the MWC. I think Sam Houston might in play as Texas State travel partner. But again who really knows? 

The PAC-12 wants Memphis and needs the lawsuit to free up money to offer them about $15-$20million for it to make sense. If they want Tulane they will need to match the Memphis offer. PAC12 is looking at about $30-$40 million for Memphis and Tulane. I think it's going to take both of them as a package, if you listen the Memphis AD has specifically said they love to travel to New Orleans area. Until the lawsuit gets resolved one way or another, PAC12 wants to get Memphis and Tulane badly.