Conference realignment

[Da Coach]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. It always about the money.$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Yep.... there is a Los Angeles Times article today reporting that UCLA's athletic department was deep in debt and was on the verge of cutting non-revenue sports before they seized on the opportunity to jump to the Big Ten, which will bring in-

https://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/story/2022-07-05/ucla-cut-sports-programs-big-ten

https://twitter.com/latbbolch/status/1544438479165149186

Over the last three fiscal years, UCLA’s athletic department had run up a $102.8-million deficit that figured only to worsen given the school’s sagging football attendance and paltry Pac-12 payouts that lagged behind its major conference counterparts. Now it’s conceivable that the Bruins could receive $100 million from the Big Ten per year...

UCLA sponsors 25 different sports, almost twice what the majority of Division I schools sponsor.

[64NIT]

UCLA announced it will move to the Big Ten. Not so fast, says its governing board

https://twitter.com/i/events/1560331157471801344

Also saw this regarding the Big Ten's new TV deal worth $7B over seven years:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/08/18/big-ten-tv-rights/

[Da Coach]

There continue to be rumors that more teams are planning on leaving the Pac-12. California and Colorado rumored to be planning to move to the Big 12, and others may follow.

[Fetz86]

I read or listen to a lot of realignment rumors, where did you see Cal to the Big 12? Did you mean to say Arizona?

[Da Coach]

Yes, you are right, the sources are reporting Arizona and Colorado to the Big 12, not Cal.

[64NIT]

Article from a few days ago re: Big XII expansion; no mention of Arizona and/or Colorado joining:

Big 12 talks expansion, source says, as commish touts 'plan'

while league leaders are satisfied with their current membership, they continue to explore "all options and considerations at this point in time."

A source who participated in the meetings this week told ESPN there were no votes on membership, but there were discussions about scenarios.

Yormark, who addressed reporters via videoconference after the Big 12 spring meetings in West Virginia, was asked specifically about the possibility of Gonzaga or another school joining the conference as a basketball-only member.

A source told ESPN that UConn and Gonzaga were "certainly talked about" in the meetings, which were held at the posh Greenbrier resort, but the presidents and chancellors are in a holding pattern until the Pac-12 announces its television deal.

the conference will equally distribute a record $440 million to the 10 members from last year, which means Oklahoma and Texas will each receive $44 million before joining the SEC in 2024.

Link to complete article: https://www.espn.com/college-sports/...ish-touts-plan

[Bball31]

The Pac 12 suffered a big blow when it lost UCLA and USC to the Big 10. I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility that some of the remaining teams in the Pac 12 will eventually join the Big 12, with others uniting with the Mountain West.

[yoda]

Pac-12 trying to rebuild and pick off San Diego State, SMU and possibly other targets like Colorado State

[Da Coach]

San Diego State informs the Mountain West that they plan to leave the conference-

https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/37864747/sources-san-diego-st-tells-mountain-west-plans-exit

They needed to give the MWC a 1 year notice prior to June 30 or their exit fee would double.
But this likely means they are planning on leaving after the 2023-24 academic year. The most likely destination is the Pac-12.

[Da Coach]

The Mountain West is anticipating losing San Diego State to the Pac-12, so what schools would they consider adding to replace them?-

https://nevadasportsnet.com/news/reporters/murrays-mailbag-if-sdsu-leaves-mw-who-are-the-top-replacement-schools

These are the options mentioned in the article-
1. Gonzaga
2. North Dakota State
3. Montana/Montana State
4. UTEP
5. Sac State
6. New Mexico State

Gonzaga doesn't play football, so it won't happen. But I wouldn't blame the MWC for trying. Gonzaga also has such a sweetheart deal with the WCC that they would lose money if they had to share their NCAA money with the MWC. If Gonzaga ever leaves the WCC, it won't be for a mid-major conference.
UTEP (CUSA) might be the next best choice, but is the MWC really a better place for them?

[64NIT]

Mountain West: Won't approve any exceptions for San Diego St.

The Mountain West Conference sent an additional letter to San Diego State on Friday, informing the school that "at this time" the conference will not approve any exceptions the school had requested last week when it gave notice that it intends to resign from the conference, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel on Monday.

San Diego State had requested a "one-month extension given unforeseen delays involving other collegiate athletic conferences beyond our control," plus a reduced exit fee or the ability to pay the exit fee in installments.

The Mountain West letter Friday was in response to SDSU's assertion that it had not given formal notice of withdrawal. The conference also said it did not accept the school's claim that it had not given formal notice of resignation.

Complete article: https://www.espn.com/college-sports/...s-san-diego-st

[64NIT]

https://twitter.com/jephilip/status/1674889989644058624

Things happening this weekend: - The Big 12 makes the new TV deal official - The Big 12 makes BYU, Cincy, Houston, and UCF official - The Pac 12 can only present the “general framework” of a TV deal - SDSU has to go back to the Mountain West

https://twitter.com/jlkurtz/status/1674880185944928257

[Da Coach]

https://twitter.com/jephilip/status/1674889989644058624

https://twitter.com/jlkurtz/status/1674880185944928257

Things are getting more interesting...
San Diego State notified the Mountain West they had changed their mind and are staying in the conference.
But now the Mountain West has told San Diego State they already withdrew and now owe a $17 million exit fee.

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/aztecs/story/2023-07-03/san-diego-state-sdsu-aztecs-mountain-west-conference-pac-12-exit-letters-6-6-million-distribution

[Bball31]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. It is always about the money.$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

That's how our society and economic system is set up. The NCAA and college athletics are not an exception to the rule, whether we like it or not.

[Da Coach]

The Colonial Athletic Association is changing its name to the Coastal Athletic Association-

https://caasports.com/news/2023/7/20/baseball-caa-changes-official-conference-name-to-coastal-athletic-association.aspx