Pac 10 and Big 12 Partnership?
by John Berkowitz on May 8, 2010 7:51 AM PDT
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PrintExpansion and TV networks have been the hot topic this year after the Big Ten announced that they were seeking up to five new members to possiby form a 16 team two division super conference. The SEC while saying they were happy with their present size said they would answer with an expansion of their own if that happened. The ACC which is not in danger of losing any members would then tear apart what is left of the Big East.
Out West the Pac 10 is looking for two new members that make sense so they won't be the only BCS conference without a championship game. The Big 12 is trying to be proactive so they don't lose membership to the Big 10, SEC, and Pac 10.
With that in mind Big 12, Pac-10 administrators and athletic directors met Wednesday in Phoenix to discuss a marketing alliance which would allow the conferences to act as a team to negotiate network, cable television rights, and participate in the formation of a joint cable network.
Think of it as a way of linking the Pac 10 to the Texas market without having to expand in that direction. Think of it as a way for the Big 12 and Pac 10 to unite the Texas/Midwest with the California/West Coast markets.
As usual the spectre of Big Ten expansion will have a lot to say in which direction this alliance will evolve. The Big 12 is ripe for the picking. There is a very good chance that they could lose Missouri to the Big Ten and Colorado to the Pac Ten which is surviveable but the dominoes would completely fall if the Big Ten and SEC expand to sixteen teams.
Lets say the Big Ten adds one team rather than five. The current status quo is maintained and an alliance between the Pac 10 and Big 12 makes a lot of sense going into the future. It keeps the Big Ten and SEC sealed off at the Mississippi. It could make Big 12 schools think twice before leaving for the greener pastures of the SEC and Big 10. This proposed alliance could be the only thing that puts the squeeze on the SEC's ability to expand into Texas in response to the Big Ten going to 16.
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Texas
So for Texas to leave the Big 12, Texas AM would have to be invited too, is that pretty much the reasoning out there? Would Baylor or any other Texas team have to be included? I was thinking Texas would be a fairly logical fit for the SEC at least geographically. Personally I wouldn’t want that to happen, I think it would make the SEC too powerful. If the Big 10 somehow wooed Notre Dame into their league it would have similar implications. I don’t think ND would ever give up all their money though, so I’m not sure if that would ever happen.
Washington Husky Football-Undefeated 1991 National Champions 12-0!
The thought has been that Texas and A&M were tied together by the legislature
We don’t really know for sure. It was floated that the Pac-10 could try to take all four schools. It’s really all speculation at this point, though, and it doesn’t look like Texas is going anywhere.
One would think
that it would also increase the chances, should the Big Ten opt to tear the Big 12 apart, that the Texas/Oklahoma schools would join the Pac 10 rather than the SEC. (Which would make it, what, the Pac West Conference?)
by The Ancient Mariner on May 8, 2010 9:05 AM PDT reply actions
Texas and Texas A&M
I keep hearing that the Longhorns and Aggies are a package deal, but I’m not so sure that it HAS TO BE TRUE. Texas has so many alumni and clout in the state government that I believe they could do pretty much what they want without any real political interference. And, I keep hearing from Alumni, that all things being equal, the Longhorns would probably prefer to associate with the PAC 10. The problem that I see with that is tv revenues…the Pac 10 would not be able to offer a bigger payday right now, but if this new marketing partnership goes through, it might be able. Otherwise, Texas and the PAC 10 seem pretty compatible.
What I really think will happen is that the BIG 10 will go to 14 teams with Missouri being one, and the other two from the NY area….Colorado and Utah will join the PAC 10….The Big 12 will replace the loss of Missouri and Colorado with BYU and Boise State maybe. And, with the new alliance of the PAC 10/BIG 12, they’ll both make a ton of money and this round of expansion will be done.
oops! I left out the SEC…they said they’d match anything that the Big 10 did…but not sure which schools they’d add that would improve their financials and increase the size of their footprints especially if the BIG 12 and the new alliance manage to increase revenues there would be no reason for any of the BIG 12 teams to shift over to the SEC. For the SEC to really add some Pazazzz to their conference via expansion, it is almost a must that they expand into Texas but if Texas and TAM are happy with the new marriage for money between PT/BIg 12, then there’s no reason to flirt with the SEC and the SEC expansion westward is kaput!
What about
the Big Ten adding Pitt?
by The Ancient Mariner on May 8, 2010 12:17 PM PDT up reply actions
Colorado...
…seems like the obvious plum compared to Boise State, Utah and BYU. I can see though that geographically those changes make sense.
Washington Husky Football-Undefeated 1991 National Champions 12-0!
I just don't see it...both conferences will want to get deals
that help them and only them….they won’t want to share anything ESPECIALLY financially
I just don’t see how they would get deals that were high enough for their liking if they share something between both conferences
Too many pieces of a pie
Too many pieces of a pie
Great point but consider that both conferences will be negotiating TV deals at the same time and if the Big 12 is still intact working together with the Pac 10 will net each conference more money than if they went at it alone.
If you are going to put together a TV network to compete with the Big Ten and SEC….having control of everything West of the Mississippi is a good thing.
Lends itself nicely to some Big 12/Pac 10 football matchups, too.
Similar to the hardwood challenge. There have already been several series between the two conferences. Might be kind of cool to formalize something and market it a little bit.
I think it is perfect for both Conferences...
I think it makes sense for both Conferences to make a alliance. Think of the type of revenue both conferences would make with a joint TV Network and new TV deals from Fox Sports or whomever?
You would have control over three different time zones.
Also it would make a great partnership when it comes to scheduling. The BIG XII and Pac-10 already have the hardwood classic partnership for basketball. I could see where the BIG XII and Pac-10 would play two non-conference football games each year per team. One year Texas could be playing USC and Oregon State and then the next year it is Washington and Arizona. Of course you would still have two other non-conference spots to play cupcakes to off-set. :D
I just don’t see a downside to the alliance? A lot more money and schedule upgrades. Basically the two conferences would be off setting anything the BIG 10 or SEC could do to them school wise and financially!
It almost sound like...
…the first step to a future megaconference?
Washington Husky Football-Undefeated 1991 National Champions 12-0!
I think it is just what it is…a smarter way to negotiate the next round of media contracts so that both conferences are once again on a par financially with the Big 10 and SEC.
by John Berkowitz on May 10, 2010 5:30 AM PDT up reply actions
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