Michigan Arrogance

August 20th, 2022 at 7:29 AM ^

This was a fastenating read. Cleary, BTM (Deep throat in this) is pushing out the narrative he wants out. Much like that SCOTUS leak re: Dobbs that most logically thought was the RIGHT leaking the decision (<--- not a value judgement or taking sides, just a parallel situation re: leaking info) to give a soft (hard?) push or to solidify what is happening.

Obviously USC was the catalyst, but big money boosters in the B10 were like YES PLEASE! and they brought UCLA too. I expect Stanford and USC to pull ND in before 2024 ends because this new deal will be too much to turn down and unattainable for ND on it's own. The things that stuck out re: the media rights deal the other day was

  1. B10 on NBC in the 8pm slot. ND played it off as good for them and that there will be cross promotion on NBC all day, but with the B10 game on *after*, it's better for the B10. They can promote ND games all they want in the 8pm slot, but one can't go back in time and watch the ND game from 3 hrous ago. Sure, there's next week but people have short memories. More likely, ND watchers in the 3:30 game will stick around for the B10 game than vice versa.
  2. The 7 year deal: when that's up and the B10 with USC and UCLA and this new deal actually demonstrates the viewership with hard numbers, it'll be too late. That deal will explode and occur before teh SEC deal is up.

Gonna be interesting to see if the B10 convinces anyone else to get to 22-24. UVa, UNC, Duke, UWash, Stanford, ND make 22 total. Maybe one fore Pac12 and one more SE school to 24.

Joined: 06/30/2008

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rob f

August 20th, 2022 at 1:51 PM ^

If you honestly believe the B1G is considering Clemson, the one big factor you aren't taking into account here is academics.  The B1G long ago hitched their wagon to academics, while the SEC is all about "FOOTBAWLLL!!!"

Clemson isn't an AAU member, and that being the case, it's a non-starter as far as the B1G is concerned.  Sooner or later Clemson will be headed to the SEC.

GaTech, on the other hand, checks off these boxes :

Recruiting territory ☑️

Big media market ☑️

A history of football success ☑️

and last-but-not-least, Academics/AAU membership ☑️

 

Yes, there's some hurdles to take care of before inviting GaTech, such as a stadium upgrade and bringing in another couple of schools from their region, but we're almost certainly looking at the next round of expansion being likely at least 3 or more years down the road as compared to the more immediate prospect of taking on more PAC12 teams.  In the meantime, I'd be shocked if "back channel" discussion isn't already a thing.

Joined: 11/11/2010

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rob f

August 20th, 2022 at 3:22 PM ^

BUT (and it's a big BUT)... Nebraska was a member of the prestigious AAU when they were initially accepted into the B1G.  When (a few years later) the AAU changed their membership requirements, Nebraska lost AAU accreditation because they were no longer able to include their Medical program @ the Nebraska-Omaha Campus in order to try and remain qualified.

The Big Ten chose not to boot Nebraska over this technicality.

Joined: 11/11/2010

MGoPoints: 195187

Michigan Arrogance

August 20th, 2022 at 12:44 PM ^

One of the guys from the article (not the main subject) I just followed on twitter: in the last day he has a few interesting things:

  • P12 will lose 2 more team to the B10 in the next 2 years. In order: Stanford & UWash, if not them, Stanford and Cal. SF and Seattle markets are the key. CU Bolder has an outside shot due to Denver market.
  • ND will sign their package soon and it will last till near the time the B10 package ends in 2029. They ND likely joins the B10 since all of their rivals are here. SEC is never gonna happen for ND.
  • B10 wants FSU and/or MIami for SFla market/recruiting.
  • Delany went 'all in' to get UNC when maryland was leaving. Couldn't make it happen (and Delay's a UNC alum!), so UNC and probably the VA schools will go to the SEC long term. ACC is safe for now (thru 2029) due to the TV deals being all in place now.
  • No one gives a shit about Duke LOL. VaTech, Clemson and even NCSt are bigger fish. GT to the B10 is a strong possibility
  • It's all about football: what do all these schools/markets have in common? And below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

They all have NFL teams adjacent to them/in their markets. The power of cross promoting the B10 with the NFL all weekend/ all year is the golden goose, in addition to the added meida markets in NoCal, Seattle, Denver, SFla, Atl and the added recruiting footprint.

 

Joined: 06/30/2008

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LSAClassOf2000

August 20th, 2022 at 12:59 PM ^

I have thought about the possibility that the Big Ten now having games on NBC and ND now being simply another team NBC covers and the redistribution of resources potentially behind the scenes to accommodate the expanded football presence at NBC wouldn't be the hint in South Bend that they are not special. I have to believe that NBC would rather pool their college football resources and just have a single deal at some point in the future, which means ND would have to join to get such a thing. 

Joined: 01/07/2011

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rob f

August 20th, 2022 at 12:30 PM ^

I did a deep dive on this LA Times article, reading up on not only Flugaur but also reading some of the other linked articles and linked Twitter accounts.

Flugaur seems legit as a "mouthpiece" of one source with deep connections as a Gopher insider.  Other than that, I'm not yet sure how plugged in he is but I am now following him on Twitter and will be taking a look at his videos.

I'm also now following one other Twitter account who appears to have good access to legitimate proven sources within a handful of B1G athletic departments.

A lot of "rabbit holes" out there on CFB and potential expansion paths of both the B1G and the SEC, but a lot of the B1G picture hinges on first clearing a couple hurdles: 1) the possibility of the California system Board of Regents taking steps to attempt to block UCLA's B1G plans; and 

2) ND's decision on remaining independent or joining the B1G (though the ACC also apparently remains an option for them---but possibly only as a bargaining chip.)  USC's AD, ever since their announcement of joining the B1G,  has apparently been pushing ND hard to join the B1G and has them listening. OTOH, ND and NBC are at some level of discussion on their next TV contract, $$$ obviously being a big factor in whether ND remains independent or otherwise.

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FB Dive

August 20th, 2022 at 1:23 PM ^

Sorry to be cynical, but I don't think this guy (or his purported "BTM" source) has any real inside information. He's speculates rampantly on conference realignment, and most of his "insider info" turns out to be false.

A couple of his more notable misses recently:

Predicting that FOX would retain all of the Big Ten Championship games (under the new deal, Fox only gets every other year).

Predicting (repeatedly) that Notre Dame is imminently announcing a move to the Big Ten. Sure, this could still happen but all other insiders are saying that ND plans to remain independent.

It's intriguing that he accurately predicted USC's move, but people have been speculating USC --> Big Ten ever since Texas and OU announced their move to the SEC. Maybe he does have an in, but this guy strikes me as as a random fan throwing stuff at the wall and hyping it up when something finally sticks. Go through his Twitter yourself. Aside from his USC prediction in April, all of it is either wrong predictions, yet to play out predictions, or reactions to news he didn't know of ahead of time.

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rob f

August 20th, 2022 at 2:04 PM ^

I somewhat agree as far as Flugaur is concerned.

An excerpt of what I posted earlier: Flugaur seems legit as a "mouthpiece" of one source with deep connections as a Gopher insider. Other than that, I'm not yet sure how plugged in he is but I am now following him on Twitter and will be taking a look at his videos.

I think he's just a guy who has one and one-only inside source, "BTM", and has drawn attention to himself because he was first to share the info on two huge stories: the surprise firing of Tracy Claeys/hiring of PJ Fleck, and the USC-to-the-B1G deal. Otherwise he's got a mixed history of hit-and-miss. 

Joined: 11/11/2010

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