Always thought….if we are paying players then they should sign some sort of contract
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Yawn. Let me know when expansion or contraction actually happens. As far as stadium expansion, I’m ambivalent. If we’re effectively D2 I don’t see needing more seats. But if they think it’s necessary go ahead. No skin off my nose.
Simon Fraser University, the lone Canadian member of the NCAA, leaving organization.
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https://x.com/MHver3/status/1995876727902609417?t=2EW1O9V75INmg8hPcDLzRw&s=19
I know he is a spaghetti slinger, but I think we all see this coming. I don’t know that ESPN actually wants 60 or 70 though. I think they will trim the fat and get down to about 40.
I know ESPN wants 40 and I hope I’m wrong but I still fear the top 20 or 30 that would be left out have too much power and too many connections and the “Big League” will end up with 60 or 70.
I dont see the 50-60 - thats a lot of dead weight. 40 I think is max. Thats all of the money brands and another 20 or so of recognized brands that track break even.
Two 20 team conferences is cleaner than 3 20 team ones. You can see a big drop off with rating$. If it’s all about money why would they bring along schools that actually drain money not bring it?
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If it stays around 50 or less I think it still leaves us in a pretty good spot. If it gets much bigger than that the rest of us might as well join the FCS.
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Totally agree.
Looking at the chart above, we would be ok at 50. Surprised unc was only 42 and behind VT & only 2 spots above NCState.
Their brand is basketball is my only guess and that’s a smaller audience.
A 40 team Division 1 in college football.
That is anathema to what made it great to begin with but whatever.
I hope they break away tomorrow.
The leftovers in the new D2 or FCs or whatever you call it can focus on having fun.
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I hope they break away and call themselves something different - not Division 1. It might be semantics - but for branding purposes the 100 or so schools not leaving should get to own high level collegiate football with some more traditional rules around things. I know paying players isn’t going away, but maybe the leftovers can craft a system more in line in what made college sports special. Let the breakaway schools figure out their new branding.
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Wow, no Miami or FSU? I would think first 2 would be Clemson, Miami and that there may be 4 or 5 going from the ACC. Of course no one knows what’s really happening.
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You have to take other things into consideration too, specifically opponent. For example, no way Auburn is the 9th biggest brand. Their numbers are inflated by playing AL, UGA and LSU. Also, what if schools like NC State and Ole Miss were able to switch conferences? Most likely NCSU would be around 21 and Ole Miss around 50.
I think you are right to a degree - you have the top dogs - A, UGA, F etc - B10 has those flagship programs too. There are like 10 of them and they drive everything. Then there is another 10 or so that “fit”. Like Auburn isn’t Bama, but years and years of rivalries mean that Bama fans watch Auburn games just to hope they lose. I’d call those tier 2. Conference affiliation didn’t suddenly make Maryland or Rutgers or Missouri top 20 brand programs. Then there are like another 10-20 programs that have a decent following but they arent going to drive ratings. In the right league with the right tv package and opponents they aren’t going to be much of a negative drag - but they also aren’t bringing much $$$ to the other 20 schools.
I am sure if the SEC could trade out Mizzou for Clemson they would do that in a heart beat.
I am sure Tv networks and the conferences have their equations on what justifies adding who and what they bring in. Does UVA bring in enough additional funds to increase the payout per school or do they lower it? At the end of the day thats the first and most important determining factor.
The very top brands prop everything else up in terms of ratings. And ESPN / FOX are very aware of that. There are only maybe a dozen super brands. The others are benefitting from the association and could never pull those ratings on their own.
Oddly, a couple of schools / brands that can and do pull on their own merits are Navy and Army. Their viewership is almost entirely based on who / what they are. Moreso than most of the programs grouped around them in that chart. But I don’t see them being invited to the party.
Last, time slots are self fulfilling ratings bonanzas. Anytime we have been in a prime time / channel slot we have pulled large multiples of what we usually pull.
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So much for the Sac State push for FBS. 