Tag: Conference Expansion

It is mid-August…Who are now the favorites to join the Big Ten in conference expansion?

What schools could the Big Ten be looking at for college expansion?

College football expansion rumors may have quieted down a bit over the past week or two, but the re-shaping of the college football landscape is going nowhere.

In all likelihood, each Power Five conference will look different and some dramatically different in the next two to three years. The SEC could add two or maybe four more schools. The Big Ten seems destined to continue its westward expansion and maybe try to go south a bit. The ACC? Well, they are likely to get table scraps right now.

A look at what dozen programs could be heading to the Big Ten as the conference looks to not just narrow the gap with the SEC but perhaps sit atop the conference echelon.

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ESPN analyst predicts big things for the Big Ten in conference expansion

How soon will the Irish join a conference?

With conference expansion and realignment continuing to be a significant topic of conversation throughout the 2022 season, there is one question that continues to rise to the top of that conversation. If Notre Dame joins a conference which one will they join? ESPN’s Paul Finebaum had recently made his thoughts on the subject known when he talked to colleague Greg McElroy on the July 20th episode of “Always College Football.”

Finebaum says,

“Notre Dame is a little more difficult to predict because they just don’t think the same way we do. I think the SEC is the perfect landing spot for them but there’s so much history up there, there’s the turn of the nose at toward the academics at several of the schools down here. The Big Ten is a better marriage if they went somewhere.”

I agree with Finebaum that the Big Ten is a better marriage for the Fighting Irish. As further discussed in that episode is the fact that Notre Dame is looking for $75 million in their next media deal. Will the Irish be able to secure that amount of money with five annual ACC games currently part of their scheduling? Finebaum doesn’t think so,

“They can’t get that in the ACC. I’m sure I’ve popped off about the ACC in the past but the ACC is in trouble because of the (television) deal… they signed that deal and they’re dealing with powerful companies like ESPN and Fox and others. They’re as good as their product too and it’s good football don’t misunderstand me but outside of a handful of those schools you’re not going to get eyeballs over there.”

Finebaum’s analysis is spot on. The remaining questions are “how quickly does Notre Dame want to decide on their future” and “how soon do the Big Ten and SEC want to make further moves on expansion?” Honestly, neither question can be answered until Notre Dame fields offers as an independent to see what the open market will bring to the table. Until they see if their price can be met, nothing can happen.

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Where will Notre Dame land: Big Ten? SEC?

Where does Paul Finebaum think Notre Dame will land?

Paul Finebaum thinks that the Big Ten, and not the SEC, is the likely landing spot for Notre Dame should they join a conference.

The college football expansion war is likely to come down to which conference lands Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish, because of their national fan base, are a huge draw and bring strong ratings.

(Which is why they want $75 million, reportedly, to stay independent).

The Big Ten and the SEC would be considered the favorites to land Notre Dame but the ACC would also likely be in the mix.

But it is the Big Ten and the SEC that are likely to pull in Notre Dame, given the strength of their media rights package.

An ESPN analyst and the most-connected reporter in the SEC, Finebaum recently joined Greg McElroy to discuss conference expansion. Finebaum went all-in on the rise of the Big Ten and the SEC as superpowers.

But he wasn’t as sold on the future of the ACC.

Check out what Paul Finebaum had to say about the Big Ten, the SEC, Notre Dame and conference expansion in his conversation with Greg McElroy!

Is Swinney concerned about Clemson’s future in the ACC?

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney isn’t concerned about the future of the ACC. While rumors have swirled about megaconferences, realignment and everything in between, Swinney didn’t seem too worried about the prospect of what conference Clemson may or may …

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney isn’t concerned about the future of the ACC.

While rumors have swirled about megaconferences, realignment and everything in between, Swinney didn’t seem too worried about the prospect of what conference Clemson may or may not be in.

In fact, he’s worried about just one thing at the moment — Georgia Tech.

“I think it’s a bigger question than just the ACC,” Swinney said Tuesday. “I’m not concerned at all. I’m just kind of like everybody else, where are we gonna be in two years or five years? As I’ve said a couple of times, I think most people know where college football is heading. It’s just a matter of when. Is it next week? Is it five years from now? Is it three years from now? I don’t really know, but I think most people that are really a part of this game can agree that ultimately, there’s gonna be a restructuring of college football. There’s gonna be a new governance structure at some point. I don’t think there’s any doubt of that.

“Where we’re right now is kind of like rounding second base and there’s a line drive and everybody’s kind of holding halfway to see if it got through. You either get on home or get back to second and go from there.”

Swinney reiterated that he’s really not concerned by any of the factors at play because his main focus at this moment is beating Georgia Tech. Swinney knows that there’s a lot of conversation that comes with it, but added that he hasn’t been distracted by any of the talks or speculation.

“Those decisions, all that stuff, it’s not made by coaches,” he said. “All that stuff is made by presidents and commissioners and all that. There’s a lot of smart people out there. I do know this, I’m thankful that we have a guy like Jim Clements and Graham (Neff). These are two very, very good leaders and good people that are incredibly plugged into all things college football.”

Swinney is just going to focus on what he can control at this moment, the rest he’ll leave up to Clements and Neff. At the same time, he acknowledges that playing in the ACC isn’t exactly a recruiting pull for Clemson, but neither was playing in the SEC when he was an assistant at Alabama.

“People have never come to Clemson because of the league we’re in, honestly,” Swinney said. “People come to Clemson because we’re Clemson. I spent 13 years at Alabama and I never recruited anybody to Alabama because we were in the SEC, they came because we were Alabama. And they’ve come to Clemson in my 19 years going on 20 because we’re Clemson.

“Christian Wilkins didn’t come here because we play in the ACC, ” Swinney quipped. “Christian Wilkins came here because we’re Clemson. And that’s who we’re and regardless of what happens in college football, we’re Clemson.”

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Paul Finebaum: if Notre Dame joins the Big Ten or the SEC ‘it’s Armageddon in college football.’

Paul Finebaum said that Notre Dame joining the Big Ten or the SEC changes college football’s landscape.

The college football world is waiting on Notre Dame in what is likely the biggest – and most important – domino to fall in the conference expansion free for all. ESPN’s Paul Finebaum said that Notre Dame’s decision to potentially join the Big Ten or the SEC will have repercussions throughout the sport.

On Monday, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey spoke about his conference being in a position of strength. The SEC certainly has dominated the college football landscape for two decades, a position that was strengthened last year with Texas and Oklahoma set to join the conference juggernaut.

But the Big Ten pulled off a coup of their own, adding UCLA and USC last month. The Big Ten is now in the top four media markets in the country.

And the Big Ten, not to mention the SEC, would love to add Notre Dame. Given its history and success, Notre Dame makes sense for football, basketball, and the non-revenue sports in either conference.

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Their huge national following makes them extremely attractive to either the Big Ten or the SEC as well. Finebaum, an ESPN analyst and the most influential voice in college sports, said on Tuesday that he believes all future movement in college football and conference alignment rests in South Bend.

“If you choose to look down, it’s all about Notre Dame. Greg Sankey, what I think he’s saying is when Notre Dame decides what to do or what not to do, everyone will react,” Finebaum said.

“Should Notre Dame decide to join the Big Ten or the SEC, it’s Armageddon in college football. Sources around the sport say that they are pausing, they don’t have to make a decision yet. They have several years remaining on the NBC contract. But at some point, they’ll probably have to make a move unless they can mortgage a much higher fee. And if they don’t move, then you’ll probably see other things less important, like the ACC perhaps, looking west to try and find a way bail themselves out from a very inferior situation.”

Here is what Sankey said on Monday at the start of the SEC’s media days bout pending conference expansion:

“There’s no sense of urgency, no sense of panic. We’re not just shooting for a number, [we’re looking] for affiliations that make us better. Could they be out there? I would never say they’re not, I would never say that we will. We’re going to be evaluating the landscape. I’m not going to speculate. I actually am watching a lot of this activity operating around us, more so than impacting us directly.”

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Paul Finebaum on Big Ten, SEC expansion: ‘two superpowers in a survival of the fittest contest’

The Big Ten and SEC are now super powers according to ESPN’s Paul Finebaum.

Paul Finebaum is convinced that we are in a new era of college football, one that will be dominated by the SEC and the Big Ten. And the voice of (and for) college football fans throughout the country thinks that Notre Dame is currently explorings its next possible move.

The ESPN analyst, while making an appearance on WJOX 94.5 in Birmingham, AL, talked about the fallout from UCLA and USC leaving the Pac-12 for the Big Ten.

He said that SEC commissioner Greg Sankey and Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren are overseeing discussions currently that would shape the future of college football and its balance of power.

“I think right now you’re looking at two superpowers in a survival of the fittest contest. This didn’t look like it was an active contest a year ago when the SEC took over college football for good – or so it seemed,” Finebaum said this week on his appearance in on the Birmingham sports station.

“But  I think the dynamics have changed now with SC and UCLA and the domino effect that it’s had. So you know what’s interesting? I don’t know where Kevin Warren has been the last week or two. I have a pretty good idea where Greg Sankey has been and you know, he has been so far off the radar screen that he can work in the darkness of the light, so to speak.”

Finebaum then went on a very interesting sidebar talking about how conferences engage universities without running afoul of tampering. The whole interview is worth the listen.

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As for Notre Dame, Finebaum said he has no doubt that the university is engaging in these backchannels to factfind about a possible conference alignment. Notre Dame, given both its brand and national audience, remains the biggest prize for either the SEC or the Big Ten (or the ACC).

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Land Notre Dame, and the ramifications for media deals, sponsorships and the impact of their strong athletic program will be felt throughout the college sports landscape.

“I have no doubt in my mind communication has been at the highest level with Notre Dame and the SEC, and Notre Dame and the Big Ten,” Finebaum said.

“Because I think that’s what’s happening right now. Hey, all these people that claim to know what’s going on, I don’t think they really do because these conversations are not held where anybody knows what’s going on. You guys have undoubtedly heard a lot of the stories that are making around – the AD is talking to friends or people saying that this was happening or that it’s happening. I don’t think ADs even know, though.”

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Report: The Big 12 in “deep discussions” to bring in six Pac-12 teams

It appears the Big 12 is not done with expansion. 

Texas and Oklahoma left the Big 12 conference facing lots of uncertainty after they announced intentions to join the SEC at the end of its contract. Continue reading “Report: The Big 12 in “deep discussions” to bring in six Pac-12 teams”

With conference realignment at the forefront, who are the most valuable college football programs?

As the Big Ten and SEC continue their arms race for conference superiority, which teams are the most valuable in college football?

College football is changing before our very eyes and will likely never be the same. The product on the field will still be entertaining and draw eyes to the television sets, but it’s going to look and feel very different 10 years from now.

Conference realignment has changed the face of college football over the last 30 years. From the disbanding of the Southwest and Big 8 conferences to the expansion and contraction of the Big East to the realignment that saw four of the Big 12’s programs find new homes a decade ago to what we’ve seen over the last year as powerhouse programs make the move to big-time conferences.

Oklahoma and Texas’ commitment to the SEC and USC and UCLA’s pledge to the Big Ten were the final straws that broke the back of the tradition-rich college football we love.

As the sands shift in college football, profitability and value are just as important as results on the field.

With conference realignment just getting started, let’s take a look back at Forbes’ list from 2019 of the 25 most valuable college football programs. It was the last time it updated the list, but it’s telling.

The new-look SEC, with Texas and Oklahoma, features 12 of the top 25 programs on the list. The only conference schools not listed are Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Missouri and Mississippi State. The new-look Big Ten has eight of the top 25. Oregon, Notre Dame, Clemson, Washington, and Florida State make up the rest of the list, and each has been discussed for possible relocation to the SEC or Big Ten.

The ACC would be in good shape if it weren’t for its media rights agreement that runs through 2036. As media rights deals are estimated to be worth more than a billion dollars for the Big Ten and the SEC in the future, the ACC is getting left behind financially.

That reality could create a situation that leads to more moves coming in the near future for college football’s most valuable programs.

Candidates the Big 12 should consider for potential expansion

The college football world as we know it is changing rapidly.

The college football world as we know it is changing rapidly. The days of regional matchups and the traditional Power Five conferences are coming to an end.

Shocking news broke earlier in the week that USC and UCLA will be moving from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten ahead of the 2024 athletic season.

The move is likely to have some major dominos fall behind it. The future of the Power Five conferences is now in jeopardy.

The Pac-12 seems to be in trouble with two of its most notable brands walking out the door. The Big 12 was able to stay afloat after Texas and Oklahoma announced their move to the SEC by adding four reputable group of five schools to the fold.

Conference realignment is not expected to slow down anytime soon. Here is a look at a few programs the Big 12 should consider for possible expansion in the near future.

Report: Washington and Oregon eyeing Big Ten admittance

Report: Washington and Oregon may be eyeing to join the Big Ten alongside USC and UCLA

USC and UCLA made the jump from the PAC-12 to the Big Ten, officially set to join the conference in 2024. It is no secret that other schools will likely make an attempt to follow the two schools. Two schools that are already prospecting the idea of piggybacking USC and UCLA to the conference are the Washington Huskies and Oregon Ducks. It is reported the two schools have applied for entry into the conference.

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on Twitter @Cory_Linsner.

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