Tag: Conference Expansion

The six new AAU schools and why it’s important

The AAU recently added six new schools and here’s why it’s notable for college athletics.

Earlier this week, the American Association of Universities (AAU) admitted six new members to the association. Arizona State, University of California Riverside, Georgia Washington Miami, Notre Dame, and South Florida.

For most, this announcement would go unnoticed and have little importance. While it is a distinguished honor for each of these six universities, it could also impact the college sports landscape, especially regarding one particular conference.

When it comes to the Big Ten, it has historically been the conference’s prerogative to only add schools that are a part of the AAU.

AAU schools are known not just for their education but as research institutions, the Big Ten has been known to not just promote their schools from an athletic standpoint but also from an academic standpoint. In an effort to maintain their conference’s strong educational background as well, it’s been a requirement for universities to join the conference to be part of the AAU.

Schools such as Northwestern, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Ohio State just to name a few are often praised for their academic prowess.

Currently, 13 of the Big Ten’s 14 institutions are members of the AAU, with only Nebraska not being a part of the AAU. When Nebraska accepted an invitation to join the Big Ten in 2010, the university at the time was an AAU institution. They, however, lost their AAU membership in 2011, the same year they officially joined the conference.

That being said, both Rutgers and Maryland at the time in 2011 were also a part of the AAU and remain so to this day. UCLA and USC who are set to join the conference in 2024 are also AAU members.

This leads us back to why this week’s announcement is important for the future of college athletics. The three schools here that are of special intrigue are Arizona State, Miami, and Notre Dame.

With college conference realignment continuing to develop rapidly over the last few weeks, it is of special intrigue that these three schools; all possible institutions to join the Big Ten received their accreditation.

Many may not think of Arizona State as a superior academic institution and while AAU membership doesn’t say it is, the membership still gets the Sun Devils in the door of potential Big Ten discussion.

The future of the Pac-12 is without a doubt in question and the Sun Devils now could add some potential leverage to their side of the discussions. The university is now able to go to the table with the Pac-12, which hopes to retain the university, the Big 12 in the event the conference looks to commandeer universities from The Four Corner States, and the Big Ten which is likely to continue looking for westward expansion.

While it remains to be seen if Arizona State is a legitimate option to join the Big Ten, the AAU membership at the very least makes them a potential option, and an intriguing one at that.

Notre Dame has always been a popular media and fan pick to eventually join the Big Ten. It makes sense for many reasons especially from a geographic standpoint but also from a rivalry standpoint. The Fighting Irish historically have long-standing rivalries with programs such as Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, and Purdue. One of several things holding back those discussions from being more serious, however, was the lack of an AAU membership for the Fighting Irish. Now, that is no longer a problem. Could this be one step closer to Notre Dame joining the Big Ten?

Miami is probably not a school that many would think of joining the Big 10 if they were to leave the ACC but it’s quite possible. The Hurricanes would make sense for the Big Ten in adding another major television market to the conference but also by dipping into the south and trying to steal some of the SEC’s momentum and even more of the ACC’s. The Big Ten’s premier programs already dip into Florida’s talent pool on the recruiting trail and this would allow the conference to continue to establish a foothold in the south. Is it likely? It’s hard to say but if Miami would indeed leave the ACC, the Big 10 should not be counted out in those discussions.

Of course, just because these schools joined the AAU, does not mean they’re automatically going to join the Big 10 or that it’s even likely that they do. But with the landscape of college football ever-changing and realignment being as hot of a topic as ever, the AAU additions were certainly worth noting. Other notable AAU universities that could be a part of conference realignment whether in regards to the Big Ten or elsewhere include; Georgia Tech, Stanford, Colorado, North Carolina, Oregon, and Washington.

Report: SEC decides on 8-game conference schedule for 2024 season

The SEC has made the decision for each team to have an eight-game conference schedule in 2024!

The 2024 college football season will be one that fans from around the country will remember forever. SEC expansion will once again be at the forefront of the college football world when the Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns officially join the conference.

One of the biggest questions marks for the Southeastern Conference, as they navigate this new endeavor, is how they manage the conference schedule with the 16-team conference. The debate between an eight or nine-game conference schedule for each team has been discussed ad nauseam and it appears that we finally have our answer, at least as far as the 2024 season is concerned.

It is being reported that the SEC and Commissioner Greg Sankey have decided to go with an eight-game schedule for the 2024 season. Also part of that decision is that the conference will abandon the two divisions within the conference.

The decision comes as the conference holds its annual SEC Spring Meetings from Destin, Florida.

It is also being reported by SEC communications director, Chuck Dunlap, that each team’s conference schedule will be released on June 14 on a special primetime show on the SEC Network. Also, SEC members will be required to play their eight conference opponents and at least one Power Five or major independent opponent.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to monitor the future plans of the SEC as expansion continues to shake up the country’s top conference!

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on Twitter @Blackwood89.

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HOT & COLD: Which disgruntled ACC programs should the SEC look to add?

If the ‘Magnificent Seven’ get their way and disband from the ACC, which programs should the SEC extend an invite to?

Once the conference realignment movement got started, it was clear that the ship had sailed and was not docking anywhere anytime soon. As the 2023 season approaches, fans will get a glimpse at the start of realignment in action as the Big 12 will add four new programs.

In 2024, the SEC will add Oklahoma and Texas, and the Big Ten will add USC and UCLA.

The ACC, amid all of the chaos, remained relatively quiet. Until now.

Recent reports reveal that seven ACC programs, known as ‘the magnificent seven,’ have sought legal guidance in potentially getting out of the conference’s grant-of-rights. The current deal with the ACC runs through 2036. However, with nearly half of the programs in the conference seeking a way out, it could be a lot sooner than that.

Below, we take a look at if the SEC should be hot or cold on these seven programs that want out of the ACC.

Ranking the schools: What ACC programs could be conference expansion targets of the Big Ten?

Looking at the Big Ten’s options from the ACC.

Could the ACC be set to see some of their members join the Big Ten? ESPN analyst Greg McElroy believes so.

A former NFL quarterback who won a national championship with Alabama football, McElroy believes that the Big Ten is the most likely of any conference to start expanding. In addition, he thinks the conference will go East Coast next and not be fixated on the Pac-12.

So how do the ACC programs stack up in terms of their appeal to the Big Ten? Which ACC programs are the best fit for the Big Ten.

Now let’s outline some of the criteria first:

  1. Preference is given to AAU member organizations. This is important since all Big Ten members that have entered the conference have done so as AAU members. Only Nebraska isn’t a member but they were at the time of being added to the Big Ten in 2011.
  2. Television markets matter, they really do.
  3. Football, not basketball, drives the bus. Although basketball and the Olympic sports do factor in significantly to the Big Ten Network’s programming and overall bottom line. There is one caveat to this statement and it is addressed in the list.
  4. For purposes of this exercise, Notre Dame is considered an independent and not an ACC member.

With the Big Ten set to add UCLA and USC and rumors of Oregon and Washington next, it looks like the Big Ten might make a push for 20 programs overall.

So what ACC programs could the Big Ten be looking to poach? And who makes the most sense for the Big Ten, were interest to be mutual.

Which ACC programs could bolt for the SEC?

A mass exodus could be looming in the ACC. Which of the conference’s programs could leave for greener pastures in the SEC?

As the college football offseason calendar turns toward the summer months, there is an ongoing battle between the Atlantic Coast Conference and seven of its member institutions.

With conference realignment becoming a popular topic again, seven ACC programs: Clemson, Florida State, Miami, North Carolina, NC State, Virginia, and Virginia Tech, are exploring the option of leaving the conference for greener pastures. One of the items in the way of those programs going freely is the grant of rights contract that runs until 2036. 

13 years seems like a long time to wait for the contract to expire, and that is why the “secret seven” have worked to develop a new model that benefits the leagues’ programs for postseason success. Programs within the league to have won one title or more over the last ten years include Clemson football, Florida State softball, and North Carolina basketball.  If such restructuring fails to arise, those seven programs could find new homes.

Because of this, Brad Crawford of 247Sports has played a hypothetical game of “Where will they go?” He has taken the seven schools at the forefront of this movement and has examined which conference best fits their needs.

Which of the seven has the best chance to make it into the SEC? Here’s a look at Crawford’s takes.

Conference expansion: Who could the Big Ten being adding next?

What 10 teams could the Big Ten be looking to add in the next round of conference expansion?

The Big Ten might be adding more programs, with recent reports suggesting that Oregon and Washington could well be on their way to making major moves as part of the conference expansion puzzle. The Big Ten most recently added members in 2014 when Maryland and Rutgers officially joined the conference.

Next year, UCLA and USC are set to enter the Big Ten.

And with the news on Tuesday that the Big Ten has vetted Oregon and Washington, it might not be too long until the conference poaches some other programs.

With the two new additions next year, the Big Ten will be at 16 programs. And if Oregon and Washington are next in line, they could be at 18 teams sooner rather than later.

Which means that the Big Ten could be set to expand to two more teams. That number 20 sounds nice and could help with cross-continental travel and maintaining/expanding rivalries.

Oh, and also television dollars which, of course, drive this whole thing.

Now the Big Ten has been adamant in that incoming members are AAU institutions, the gold standard for research schools. And they want athletic success or at the very least the capability to do so. Football and basketball drive this whole shift…why? Because that’s what leads to television viewers.

So being in a large media market is also a huge selling point for an expansion candidate.

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So who could be next on the list to join the Big Ten? The obvious answer is Notre Dame, but with recent signals that they will extend their deal with NBC, a move to the Big Ten might not be happening anytime soon. The Big Ten would love to add Notre Dame, but they’re not on this list right now as it appears they aren’t moving from their weird marriage with the ACC.

So who else could be primed for a move?  Scroll down and take a look at 10 Big Ten expansion candidates with one or two offbeat choices included!

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REPORT: San Diego State a ‘shoe-in’ to join the Pac-12

The Pac-12 is looking to add a Mountain West Conference member according to reports.

With the future of the Pac-12 in question, the conference is expected to sooner or later add San Diego State to the conference according to Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated.

In his recent article, “‘The Next Wave Is Coming’: Expansion, Realignment and What’s at Stake for Power 5 Conferences“; Dellenger said “The Pac-12 plans to expand by adding San Diego State and maybe SMU coinciding with its completion of a new TV deal.”

Dellenger also mentions that there is a deadline, however, associated with San Diego State. If San Diego State were to announce its departure from the Mountain West Conference by July 1, it would only have to pay an exit fee of approximately $17 million. However, that exit fee would triple following July 1 if the Aztecs were to leave the conference to start Pac-12 play in 2024.

The Pac-12, of course, is in the middle of negotiating their next television deal. That deal is expected to be made official at some point this summer but the target date for the deal to be completed has been pushed back several times already. The conference, now under commissioner George Kliavkoff is in the tough situation of having to reposition the conference going forward after losing UCLA and USC to the Big Ten. The Big 10 has also long been reported to be after Oregon and Washington as well, potentially leaving the Pac-12 in an even more precarious situation.

Eyes will be closely pinned on the Pac-12 over the next several weeks, however. As a television deal is finalized, the future of the Pac-12’s current members and any future members will likely have to be decided.

Brett Yormark, Big 12 are ‘focused’ on more expansion

Don’t expect the Big 12 to sit back and wait on more college expansion and realignment. Brett Yormark is “focused” on adding to the conference.

One of the more active conferences when it comes to realignment and expansion as of late has been the Big 12. Commissioner Brett Yormark hasn’t shied away from it.

The newest commissioner wasted no time when he brought Cincinnati, Central Florida, Houston, and BYU into the fold. All four teams are set to join for the 2023 college football season. For one season there will be 14 teams in the conference and then back down to 12 in 2024 as the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns leave for the SEC.

But don’t expect Yormark to stop there.

“The third priority for me has been to explore expansion for all the right reasons,” Yormark stated.

“As I’ve said before, it’s gotta be additive. It’s gotta be accretive. But we are focused on it. We’re exploring every and all possibilities. I say that while also saying that I love the composition and the makeup of this conference going forward.”

“I love the four new schools that are coming in July (and) the continuing eight. I think we’re in a great place. But if there’s a chance to get better, it’s incumbent on me as the commissioner to explore those possibilities. And that’s exactly what I’m doing.”

Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah have been the main targets for more expansion in the Big 12. With the Pac-12 losing UCLA and USC to the Big Ten, they have been the target for the Big 12. Not to mention they have yet to sign a new TV deal.

If the Pac-12 doesn’t get a new deal in place and add potential schools to the conference, expect other conferences to look at some of the big names out west including Oregon and Washington.

It could be open season for the Pac-12 and the Big 12 is looking to go big game hunting.

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Controversy brewing over the first Aggies Longhorns SEC matchup?

Controversy brewing over the first Aggies Longhorns SEC matchup?

It didn’t take long for the controversy and the old rivalry between Texas A&M and the University of Texas to fire back up once the Longhorns transition to the SEC got it’s official “go date”.

Now that we know the Horns will be joining the best conference in the land for the 2024 season, almost certainly bringing “The Game” back after a 12 year hiatus, the question remains, Where will the first matchup take place?

The last time the teams played, in November 2011, they played at Kyle Field in College Station, leading Longhorns to believe that the next game should be in Austin, but it’s the Longhorns stepping up a weightclass to the SEC, where the Aggies have been for over a decade, leading Aggies to feel they should be the ones with the first home field advantage.

According to an article by Sam Khan of The Athletic there seem to be some disagreements between administrators at the two schools as well.

Aggies athletic director Ross Bjork has said “It will take place at Kyle Field” in reference to the that first matchup, and in Khan’s article, reaffirmed his desire for the game to be held in College Station, saying “Let’s just say that is a very, very firm position from our standpoint.” But Longhorns AD Chris Del Conte seems oblivious, “That’s all news to me. I read it somewhere, I just haven’t heard it from the powers that be. As far as I know, that’s just internet fodder”, he told Khan.

We’ll see how it all goes down once the conference chooses a scheduling model and releases a schedule. But until then, there will certainly be a lot of “internet fodder” to discuss.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Joey on Twitter: @JoeyIckes

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Oklahoma, Texas reach early exit agreement with Big 12 to leave for SEC in 2024

According to a report from Ross Dellenger of SI, the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns have reached an early exit agreement to leave the Big 12 for the SEC in 2024.

According to a report from Ross Dellenger of SI.com, the Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns have reached an early exit agreement that will allow the Red River Rivals to depart for the SEC in time for the 2024 season.

Since the initial announcement back in the summer of 2021, speculation ran rampant about when the two schools would leave the conference they’ve called home since 1996. In the last couple of months, negotiations between Oklahoma and Texas and the Big 12 began to heat up, with an actual offer being presented to the conference in the last couple of weeks. The Big 12 rejected that offer at the time.

Late last week, it was reported that the talks between the departing members and the conference had stalled. Apparently, that was only temporary.

According to the report, Texas and Oklahoma will pay a combined $100 million exit fee to the Big 12 conference. The fee helps offset the loss in media revenue the remaining eight schools took when they admitted BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF.

The general feeling around college football was that Brett Yormark and the Big 12 were motivated to come to a win-win agreement with Oklahoma and Texas. However, Fox, one of the networks that held the Big 12’s media rights, was less likely to relent, seeking equitable value to offset the loss of OU and Texas to its competitor, the SEC.

Now with the Sooners and the Longhorns heading to the SEC in 2024, the next question is, what will the conference schedule look like? The SEC is looking at a non-divisional format that will have the league playing nine conference games.

With the agreement, everyone can begin to move forward and plan for the future. Brett Yormark and the Big 12 can work to feature their conference as it will be without so much discussion about if and when an early exit might occur. Oklahoma, Texas, and the SEC can begin planning for what will be an incredibly fun conference slate.

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Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on Twitter @john9williams.