If that's the case I can't see Oregon/Stanford considering the Big12 anyway (or Washington). Could see those 3 and another between WashSt/OreSt bolting to the B1G and Utah/Arizonas/Colorado to the B12. I just can't see how the Pac12 survives this. For as much talk as there was about the Big12 collapsing, people really underestimated the passion for football in Texas and are reeeeally overestimating the passion for football in the Pacific. Been some minor rumblings (mainly from fleeting accounts so won't really put too weight on it) that there are some Pac12 schools working on submissions to the Big12 but we'll see. Beginning of August will likely be when it all goes down.
Again, UO/UW/Stanford's preferences are the B1G, but you can change their tune by making the PAC non-viable as their home for the next X years. If the Corner 4 agree to join the Big 12, UW/UO basically cannot afford to wait and see if the B1G invite is coming. They have to get while the getting is good. Granted that would be a cluster**** for the Big 12 (having possibly as many as 22 teams, becoming the West Coast version of the ACC) but it's a zero sum game and killing your competition means more money for you re: media rights. All of this hinges on the PAC's TV new deal which will likely become known (at least to the PAC members) by the end of this Summer. I think the most likely outcome is everyone sits tight until the ACC works out their situation, and then all hell breaks loose and we enter the final phase of realignment with the completed 2 super leagues and everyone else standing around trying to figure out whether they want to make their own division or play as second class citizens with the B1G & SEC.
My favorite scenario... everyone in the current Big 12 combines with the Pac, except for UH, they get left out. That's the tickle I need.
Early reports surfacing about the PACs new TV deal... rumors that ESPN offered 24.5MM per school. That's horrendous and would be the death of the conference.
Keep in mind their TV money is ESPN + Fox + PAC Network - not sure which of those is their primary. That said, the B12 might not by in any better shape. Their TV deal *with* TX and OU was only $35MM/year with ESPN + FOX and there was no B12 Network, though that may be able to change going forward without TX in the way.
I heard the estimate for Big 12 contract was around $50mil per school. That was on a random YouTube channel, but the guy did have the 'horrendous' $24.5 Pac 12 number. At $50, that would be about half what the big 2 gets
Don't think Fox will be a factor after their deal with B1G gets finalized. Not to mention Fox was reportedly a major player in getting USC/UCLA to jump ship in the first place. That number shouldn't come as a surprise though. Kliavkoff is negotiating from the worst position possible. Getting spurned by the Big 12 was probably the nail in the coffin. As far as the Big 12, they may not be in much better shape in their current form. But if Yormack can poach the 4 corner schools, they should be in a much better position come 2025 when it's their turn.
He wants the kids to wear pristine jeans but doesn't want to pay them a dime. This gatekeeping boomer **** can get ****ed.
Agreed although the SEC should be a lot more fun week in week out. Really interesting to see how USC/UCLA ultimately fit in the B1G. The marquee matchups will be fun but will their fans really get up for Iowa, Michigan State and Minnesota? Not to mention the Illinois, Rutgers and Marylands.
UT vs. UT could be a fun matchup, old Big 12 opponent in Mizzou, and Mike Leach is a national treasure if he can keep the job long enough. Geography has been thrown completely out the window and it remains to see if it will have any effect. But I know WV has struggled with that a bit since joining the Big 12.
Any conference has lesser teams (many of the teams you listed are often pretty good) but the SEC schedules have been a lot of fun even without UT/OU. But we get it, some of yall are butthurt and delusional about college football.
*Many* of those teams I named have been good at the football? Really? Every conference has it's dregs, even the mighty Confederacy.