Plausible Realignment for Michigan
Screw the BIG first and foremost. Since the Regents reportedly have discussed this, what is a plausible conference to go to? I think there are only two choices.
1. SEC; we would have to probably try to bring the two LA schools and either PSU, ND, or OSU. There is sure to be language in their SC/UCLA contract to join BIG that will allow them an out if something bad happens like one of highest revenue member deciding to leave. Michigan will have more TV money in the long run than even staying with BIG.
2. Independence with an ND ACC deal. 5 games with ACC teams. 7 games that we’ll have to find opponents for. Probably have to schedule MSU and OSU annually. Less money than going to the SEC or staying with BIG. Need to find a TV partner: probably NBC. NBC will then have UM and ND at noon and 3:30 and BIG at night.
I don’t think ACC is viable. It’s just not enough TV money even if M joins. ACC will still likely breakup especially after their GOR expires. Then M will still have to go to SEC anyways while making less money along the way. I think there is no way M can join Big12 and Pac2, not enough money. Any other thoughts?
November 10th, 2023 at 10:39 PM ^
Geez…that’s rich. No other conference does what it does for Michigan? You do mean does what it does to Michigan, right?
November 10th, 2023 at 11:49 PM ^
To take a couple of minor examples, it negotiates media deals with the networks and distributes the checks it receives as a result of those deals.
November 11th, 2023 at 7:42 AM ^
Every conference does that so BIG is not unique. The “benefit” of BIG to M is that BIG schedules M rivals in all sports annually on a consistent basis. But, if M doesn’t care for our rivals because they are hiring PI firms and purposely attempting to injure our players in tunnels, then BIG is interchangeable with any other conference. SEC will probably provide more money over long term. Go independent, probably slightly less than BIG. Any other conference unless it’s the super conference won’t provide that same revenue. As for leaving BIG, there are probably a long list of out clauses in our contract. And if not, will M still remember how they were treated after the media deal runs out? I would say yes. Is firing Tony enough? Maybe.
November 10th, 2023 at 8:49 PM ^
Best idea is to band with Notre Dame, poach the cream of the ACC, and get the PAC-4 to come along. Should be pitched as a do-or-die move to create an AFL to the SEC's NFL.
Michigan, Notre Dame, USC, FSU, and Clemson are the core. Oregon, Washington, UCLA, Duke/UNC/Virginia (for bball), Stanford/Cal for academic prowess. Extend invites to OSU, PSU and Wisconsin.
November 10th, 2023 at 9:28 PM ^
No, fuck OSU and PSU.
November 10th, 2023 at 8:49 PM ^
SEC would be against us too. North vs south mentality. No thanks
November 10th, 2023 at 8:57 PM ^
Where ever we would go would need to have a strong system of checks and balances and a "bill of rights" that would keep a mob of members from being able to just gang up on another member.
None of these "little king" rules that allow a commissioner to implement capricious and arbitrary rulings from above. It creates too much pressure to have to do the bidding of mobs.
November 10th, 2023 at 9:03 PM ^
M is basically the big TV money
November 10th, 2023 at 9:12 PM ^
I don’t see how Michigan can remain in a conference that is actively trying to ruin their season. That dissolves the compact between school and conference.
Michigan draws eyes. Scheduling Notre Dame and big name opponents every year will take care of the TV money.ACC with UM, ND, Miami, FSU, Clemson, etc…would attract sizable deal.
November 10th, 2023 at 9:15 PM ^
What are the academic benefits by being a member? Expedited Peer Review? I’ve heard our membership benefits us in Academics, but never learned how.
November 10th, 2023 at 9:18 PM ^
Quit drinking and go to bed
November 10th, 2023 at 10:17 PM ^
Trying to but I got to wait on this TRO to be granted.
November 10th, 2023 at 9:22 PM ^
If we leave the B1G we do not play MSU or OSU. We can schedule Northwestern or Purdue as non-conference cream puff games. I don't think worrying about the long term viability of the ACC is a problem. There will be more seismic shifts in the college football landscape in the next 5-10 years which will make the conference model an anachronism anyway, most likely. And if not, when the ACC did break up, there would be a bidding war over it's biggest programs, so UM would come out alright no matter what.
November 10th, 2023 at 9:50 PM ^
I do not care how long "The Game" has been. At this point it is obvious that the conference hates M. I say this as an alumni and someone who was on board for letting Haubaugh go after his lack luster beginning to his tenure. He has since proven his method. Now the powers that be can't let that stand. They can't stand that the Michigan Difference is real. I say let's go our own way. The Big10 is M and OSU. Any media outlet and conference (even one of our own making) would be welcomed with Big $. Maybe that is what the new conference could be named the Big$.
November 10th, 2023 at 9:57 PM ^
on r/CFB people talking about Michigan leaving the big and that we would just be replaced with ND because Michigan is one of the reasons why ND refuses to join the big, which, to my dismay, is actually a fair point.
There is 0.001% we leave the B1G. WE don't fit in the SEC. The ACC is weak and ND would probably join the big. None of the B1G teams who just effed us would follow either. Outside argument of the PAC10 schools, but seems really unlikely they'd balk on the B1G at this point.
November 10th, 2023 at 10:05 PM ^
I don’t know where anyone got the idea that ND won’t join BIG because of Michigan. Every ND alumni I know wants to be independent first, but if they had to join a conference, it would definitely join a conference with M and in a year SC.
November 10th, 2023 at 10:11 PM ^
probably not a good idea to base your opinions on reddit posters
November 10th, 2023 at 9:59 PM ^
NCHC obviously. Big Ten hockey was a failed experiment. We're on TV less now than we were in the CCHA.
November 10th, 2023 at 10:05 PM ^
Hmmm...There is an empty shell of a conference called the PAC 2 that is all set for new tenants. WSU and Oregon State would LOVE to have us. Is there anyone that would like to come along?
The real issue, however, is to clean house at the BIG—And take it over. If not, leave.
This is going to be a total flame-up for the impending conference realignment. Watch USC, Oregon, UCLA & Washington now. This ham-handed commissioner is finished and those west coast teams will help show him the door or they will back out.
November 10th, 2023 at 10:21 PM ^
This is really dumb. Mostly everything the OP is saying. Michigan isn’t leaving the conference. You really think OSU and PSU would go with us? Why on earthy would they help us? They WANT us to leave. And why would the LA teams leave already? Makes zero sense
November 10th, 2023 at 10:30 PM ^
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
November 10th, 2023 at 10:22 PM ^
Think of it this way...Michigan is the Corleone family. The five families decided to try to eliminate us.
tOSU is Don Barzini, clever, admired and an utter piece of shit who screams his own name when he comes.
MSU is Tataglia...a despicable little pimp with the intelligence of a glow worm.
As the Corleones, we tried to make the peace. We told the families to lay off of our son, Jim, and that we'd cooperate. We told them that if he even got hit with a bolt of lightning we would hold one or all of them accountable.
Well, they went after our son Jim, and the time has come to settle all family business. Once and for all.
We're at the stage of this story where a baptism is going on. We're at the church and the rest of the B1G Dons are out and about, oblivious to what's about to come.
We know how the rest of the day will go for those Dons.
They broke the peace. Now we break a boot in their ass while taking our cash and our eyeballs elsewhere.
Fuck. Them.
November 10th, 2023 at 10:29 PM ^
The idea that “Michigan doesn’t fit in the SEC” is dumb. If the SEC is a “culture” then so is the fucking NFC North. It’s a sports league, they aren’t relocating Michigan’s central campus to Birmingham.
The Big Ten is actively trying to sink a national title run— there is no amount of tradition that can make that permissible. It’s a time for a divorce.
“But the academics!” Give me a break. The PAC 12 managed to have both Stanford and the University of Arizona without any ill effects. Let 2024 be the start of a Michigan-Texas tradition.
November 10th, 2023 at 11:14 PM ^
Let AI solve this problem.
No conferences, just "smart" regional scheduling year to year based on historical modelling, marketing factors, and competitive factors. I think you could build in a "live" draw of some sort to go with the schedule reveal.
Go to a 16 team playoff with a championship game played in early January.
Michigan's schedules would always have several usual suspects and 3 or 4 out of region/feature games that would replace the problematic issue of non-conference scheduling.
A team like Western Michigan would be similar but in a "special year" they could make the playoff like anyone else. They would need a few big wins and to blaze their peer teams to get a decent draw but at least it becomes possible.
In the future everyone's house will be like a little fortress In the future everyone’s house will be a total entertainment center In the future...