Conferences changes

[Rabbit74]

Grand Canyon University was accepted into the WAC conference today to "replace" Denver. They will be moving up to Division I so will be a transitional member.

The Big East merry-go-round continues. Tulane moved from Conference USA to the Big East today. Also East Carolina moved their football program to the Big East from Conference USA. They now have no home for any of their other sports since they can't stay in C-USA without football. The athletic director said they would start looking for a new conference for the rest of their sports as soon as the news conference is over.

Interesting times.

[Prairiehaas]

Re: More Conferences changes today

This will get strange before it ends (when/if it ends).

[Evolution Prime]

Re: More Conferences changes today

This isn't going to end until there are 4 or 5 super-conferences. They will take their pick of whever they want from competing conferences and lesser conferences. The lesser conferences will pick from each other in their percieve order of relavance. This will eventually trickle down to the FCS where some of the more traditional powers will get picked up. Only then when FBS conferences get to 14 to 16 teams will an equillibrium most likely be reached.

When all this pretty much started snowballing with the movement of Colorado to the Pac-10 and Nebraska tot he Big Ten, I made a spreadsheet just to keep track of where things started and where things sit today. I've recently added section to try and predict what a 4 or 5 super-conference would look like and what the rest of the FBS conferences look like.

[Prairiehaas]

Re: More Conferences changes today

With a four team playoff we may expect FBS to realign to 4 conferences. Everyone outside those four conferences become, in the current vernacular, have-nots. Either looking to move into one of the four or debating a move to FCS. A 16 team playoff would alleviate the issue.

In BB the greed of the "BCS" schools may result in a BB FCS. A conference like the Summit should look to recruit WAC, MWC, Sunbelt, etc cast-offs to bolster position in effort to resist getting pushed out.

[Evolution Prime]

Re: More Conferences changes today

Word is now Louisville is leaving the Big East and heading to the ACC. Not that I was surprised to see them leave, as I knew eventually they would, I heard that the Big 12 was interested in them and the ACC was looking at UConn.

[Evolution Prime]

Re: More Conferences changes today

The Big East has practically been picked clean. The only noteworthy teams left are Cincinnati and UConn. Unless the Big 12 gets its act together real soon, I believe they are the next ones to get picked apart. I see the B1G and SEC in the drivers seat on the road to super conferences. Both are stable and have only added teams recently. I think some basketball tradition holds the ACC intact as some teams would be package deals to get. The Pac 12 is far away from the action west of the Mississippi. I think they add in response to other conferences adding. This leaves the Big 12 as the only conference with teams ripe for the picking. They are treading water with their 10 teams and it is no secret most of the members are not happy with the deal Texas has with their own network. I don't see the conference as particularly stable.

The Big 12 could have solidified a bit by grabbing up Louisville before the ACC did and trying to lure Florida State away from the ACC. If there are going to be 16 team super conferences, I see only four since five 16 team super conferences is just an odd number for bowl tie-ins and such. The only way the Big 12 survives is if the B1G and SEC are statisfied at 14 teams. If not, it spells doom for them.

I think the B1G takes Kansas (AAU school) and Kansas State (package deal). This gives them a good football school in KSU and a traditional baskeball school in KU and a good on in KSU. As I think the Texas schools are a package deal, the SEC picks off Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Good for football and decent in basketball. The Pac 12 grabs up the Texas schools (Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor, and TCU). The ACC wanting to get to 16 teams adds West Virginia and one more school. Possibly Notre Dame since they already have a tie in with that conference and if the conferences won't let Notre Dame come the their parties without conference affiliation. If somehow Notre Dame is given preferential treatment once again, it will be either Cincinatti or UConn. Right now, I lean toward UConn.

Losers in all of this.

Iowa State is probably the biggest one. The addition of Maryland and Rutgers to the B1G really hurt them as they have no one to get them in a conference as a package deal. The offer do offer the B1G another AAU school along with Kansas so unless the Kansas State is not part of a package deal with Kansas, I don't see them getting into the B1G. No other conference will take them. They will probably be relegated to joining up with the Big East.

Cincinatti/Connecticut would be the next. The inclusion of Louisville into the ACC and not the B1G really hurt one of these teams chances of an invitation into one of the four super conferences. One of these will be left in the wind in a shell-of-its-former-self Big East. Prestigious basketball history is what will probably save UConn.

After the four super conferences are done adding, who knows what the rest of the FBS will look like. Who knows if the Big East survives as a football conference. You know the basketball only schools aren't happy about all the watered down basketball schools being invited. Probably some FCS schools make the transition as some get the call up from the lesser FBS conferences.

[LakeJack]

Re: More Conferences changes today

Story about Creigton's possible options

http://www.omaha.com/article/2012112...311299948/1685

[HoboJack]

Re: More Conferences changes today

Story about Creigton's possible options

http://www.omaha.com/article/2012112...311299948/1685

I'm of the opinion that SDSU/NDSU's best chance of getting into the MVC for all sports is if Creigton moves somewhere else. However, the conference loses quite a bit of prestige without Creigton, much like the Horizon - without Butler. I wonder how stable the MVC would be without Creigton in it?

[OldHare]

Re: More Conferences changes today

At this point, I would hope the Dakotas help keep the Summit a viable conference. While everyone speculates about the move up, we do not hear about the potential for a strong Summit evolving from a transition spot to a hot spot. Denver coming into the conference may be a sign of things to come and a viable conference here. The musical chairs could bring a strong basketball conference to the Midwest via the Summit. It is as good of an idea as going to a conference weeakened by vacancies.

I'm of the opinion that SDSU/NDSU's best chance of getting into the MVC for all sports is if Creigton moves somewhere else. However, the conference loses quite a bit of prestige without Creigton, much like the Horizon - without Butler. I wonder how stable the MVC would be without Creigton in it?

[jacksfan29]

Re: More Conferences changes today

Story about Creigton's possible options

http://www.omaha.com/article/2012112...311299948/1685

Interesting article. I have to believe Creighton would jump at a chance to get in a league with the Big East private schools. If CU goes, how long before we begin seeing changes in the MVC?

[Prairiehaas]

Re: More Conferences changes today

Perhaps this should make the eastern half of the Summit a bit nervous?

If the private, basketball focused, schools from Big East decide to form a new conference I would think they would need more than just Crieghton to come along. This could split the MVC along private/public lines. In that scenario a combination of the public schools from the MVC and the western half of the Summit looks like a stable alignment. It yields a competetive conference in basketball and football, covering central and north central regions.

[Rabbit74]

Re: More Conferences changes today

Perhaps this should make the eastern half of the Summit a bit nervous?

If the private, basketball focused, schools from Big East decide to form a new conference I would think they would need more than just Crieghton to come along. This could split the MVC along private/public lines. In that scenario a combination of the public schools from the MVC and the western half of the Summit looks like a stable alignment. It yields a competetive conference in basketball and football, covering central and north central regions.

From what I have heard and read if the Catholic basketball only schools in the Big East split off, in addition to Creighton, likely additions include St. Louis and some of the other Atlantic 10 Conference schools rather than additional MVC schools.

[KUlawJack]

Re: More Conferences changes today

Bump. 7 catholic universities leaving Big East. Discuss.

[Bozemaniac]

Re: More Conferences changes today

The ESPN article mentions the schools' desire to make a national Catholic conference by somehow getting Gonzaga and St. Mary's out of the WCC, which is already a 7/9 Catholic conference with much less travel for their schools. I can see Creighton maybe going into some new league if Dayton and St. Louis go too, but I don't see them getting a coast to coast Catholic league unless they obliterate the WCC and I don't think that will happen.

[KUlawJack]

Re: More Conferences changes today

The ESPN article mentions the schools' desire to make a national Catholic conference by somehow getting Gonzaga and St. Mary's out of the WCC, which is already a 7/9 Catholic conference with much less travel for their schools. I can see Creighton maybe going into some new league if Dayton and St. Louis go too, but I don't see them getting a coast to coast Catholic league unless they obliterate the WCC and I don't think that will happen.

Throw Xavier into the mix there too. The new catholic league could go to ten with Dayton, Xavier, and St. Louis. Lots of additional A 10 schools or CAA schools might be viable too before Creighton.