This is purely based on looking at the map, not the money (which clearly drives decisions), but…
The new Big 10 will have 18 teams. Only 4 on the west coast. So how are they going to align schedules geographically? A west division of UO, UW, USC, UCLA, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Northwestern?
That’s just dumb. They need 2 more, at least. They can no doubt give a fractional share to any of the remaining PAC teams…and Utah & ASU don’t really make sense. Stanford & Cal are probably the better choices, but if they resist…WSU & OSU are still there, and would probably take 1/3 shares.
The Big 12 will be at 14 with UA and CU. They (should) want at least 2 more just to keep up, and to gain western footprint. ASU is a likely candidate, but that doesn’t give them west coast. Same with Utah. Stanford & Cal are again the obvious choice, but again…WSU & OSU are right there, and both travel better and have been more recently competitive.
So…we’re not Big Sky yet. Expansion isn’t over, the PAC-12’s carcass is going to get picked clean on the cheap. There might be 2 teams that get left out when the music stops, but wouldn’t be that surprising if there are spots for everyone.
The real sly move by anyone will be to stand pay right now and wait until spring of 2024. By then, the remaining teams will be desperate for a chair and will jump to take a $19M share.
The new Big 10 will have 18 teams. Only 4 on the west coast. So how are they going to align schedules geographically? A west division of UO, UW, USC, UCLA, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Northwestern?
That’s just dumb. They need 2 more, at least. They can no doubt give a fractional share to any of the remaining PAC teams…and Utah & ASU don’t really make sense. Stanford & Cal are probably the better choices, but if they resist…WSU & OSU are still there, and would probably take 1/3 shares.
The Big 12 will be at 14 with UA and CU. They (should) want at least 2 more just to keep up, and to gain western footprint. ASU is a likely candidate, but that doesn’t give them west coast. Same with Utah. Stanford & Cal are again the obvious choice, but again…WSU & OSU are right there, and both travel better and have been more recently competitive.
So…we’re not Big Sky yet. Expansion isn’t over, the PAC-12’s carcass is going to get picked clean on the cheap. There might be 2 teams that get left out when the music stops, but wouldn’t be that surprising if there are spots for everyone.
The real sly move by anyone will be to stand pay right now and wait until spring of 2024. By then, the remaining teams will be desperate for a chair and will jump to take a $19M share.
