NCAA Conference Realignment Rumor Thread (Boise State, SDSU, Houston, UCF, SMU to Big East)

[sag_2002]

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/6861385/sec-extend-invitation-texas-leaves-options-open

And, it looks like Texas A&M is staying in the Big XII, for now. Apparently, the rumored meeting by the SEC never happened and no action was taken with regards to realignment. While the conference isn't ruling out accepting A&M in the future, for now it appears this subject is closed.

 

[GatorMan92]

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/6861385/sec-extend-invitation-texas-leaves-options-open

And, it looks like Texas A&M is staying in the Big XII, for now. Apparently, the rumored meeting by the SEC never happened and no action was taken with regards to realignment. While the conference isn't ruling out accepting A&M in the future, for now it appears this subject is closed.

It still baffles me that SEC officials have said there would issues in trying to find a 14th school. When I first heard this, I was like, "Um, what about Virginia Tech?"

 

[Tommy Lawson]

From ESPN, Syracuse and Pitt are leaving the Big East and headed toward the ACC.

Also, it's the rumor that just won't go away: the Pac-16. Also, from ESPN, could this year's version of the Pac-16 rumor come to fruition or will it end up being just like the 2010 version- an idea that ultimately gets dropped?

 

[EroSennin]

I'm so pissed that Syracuse left the Big East. I think its a terrible move.

 

[Freedom Fighter]

So, some very, very BIG realignment news coming out today!

First, the Big East Conference is planning to offer four schools membership:
- Boise State & the Air Force Academy (both out of the Mountain West conference), as well as the Naval Academy (independent), for football ONLY.
- Central Florida (currently in Conference USA), for all sports.

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/7101780/big-east-double-exit-fee-invite-four-schools-expansion

All of their agreements are contingent on the Big East Conference raising the exit fee for getting out of the conference to $10 million, and note none of the four schools have officially been sent an invitation as of this moment. The above article also makes reference to the other news item... the announcement that the Mountain West Conference and Conference USA are planning to merge, in football only, into one mega-conference that, if all current (and incoming) members stay put, could have 22 schools stretching as far west as Hawaii and and as far east as Florida and North Carolina.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/7102822/mountain-west-conference-usa-announce-football-only-alliance

The merger is stated to not only provide stability, particularly for the Mountain West moreso than Conference USA, but they hope such a mega-conference would finally given them the clout to earn themselves an automatic BCS bid every year. Boise State, UCF, and the Air Force Academy did agree to the merger, but will the merger be worth it if those three all decide to make that jump to the Big East anyway?

I... I'm not sure what to think of all this. This tops the cake in terms of crazy new realignments. It's not exactly the proposed Pac-16 from the past couple years that's been talked about, but still earth-shattering for the college football landscape nevertheless!

I seriously have to wonder... where does all this madness end?

 

[Tommy Lawson]

The MWC/CUSA football merger has been talked about for a while now. One of the complaints about the old 16-team WAC from the late 1990s is the travel costs, and lack of yearly rivalry games, which I believe this new conference is trying to avoid doing. I think a problem for the Big East is that if their conference breaks up, who is the next conference in line to get an automatic BCS berth? I would think that would likely be this new mega-conference. Imagine Boise State having to travel to the East Coast every other week. That is a significant cost for the program, and considering how teams at the NFL level have performed when they have to travel to the other coast, it would be quite hard on college players too.

 

[bigddan11]

The Big East is supposedly sending out 6 invitations.
Boise State & Air Force
UCF
Navy
Houston & SMU

Now Boise State and Air force will supposedly decline the invitation. All 6 of the teams mentioned just agreed to be part of the CUSA/ MWC merger. However UCF has wanted for some time to join the Big East, and they are the one team that most people believe will go. Houston was invited as a replacement for TCU, and SMU, which was going to be TCU's Big East travel partner, will now be with Houston. It is also believed Navy will decline since they want to stick with Army and Air Force.

The Big East loses their automatic bid in 2013. The addition of Boise State and Houston would certainly help offset the loss of Pitt and Syracuse, which actually won't be allowed to leave until 2014.

However there are now rumors that the Big East and Big XII will merge for football just as the MWC and CUSA are doing. If this occurs, since the BCS doesn
t give two automatic bids to a conference, I suspect the new CUSA/ MWC merged conference would get the Big East's bid while the Big XII/ Big East conference would keep the Big XII's.

 

[GatorMan92]

An Big 12/Big East merger is an interesting idea, and if I was to add the remaining teams, Louisville, Cincinnati, and West Virginia would be the 3 teams I would want. Admittedly, I could take or leave South Florida, because of the fact that they would struggle to compete in the Big 12, but they're the only other BEC refugee that would be worth it, their addition could work, considering they bring in a major TV market and the most fertile recruiting ground in the country, but for me, geography will ultimately prevent an addition of the Bulls. As for Rutgers and UConn? The Scarlet Knights will probably try for Big 10 membership, but they'll probably wind up in the ACC with Pitt, Syracuse, and UConn. But if the Big 12 did form a superconference, divisions would be difficult to work out, so it probably won't happen for now.

 

[Road to Gotham]

Looks like West Virginia maybe moving to the Big 12.

Whats Next? The Sun Belt and the MAC joining forces?

 

[Tommy Lawson]

I don't think the "Big East" can call themselves the "Big East" anymore. From ESPN, the Big East will soon add Boise State, San Diego State (?!?!), Southern Methodist University, Houston, and Central Florida. While SDSU football may be going to the Big East, their basketball program will not be, as they are likely going to have to go to a different conference. I think the Mountain West is much weaker now, and IMHO, considering how fans have been complaining about the 10 year TV deal and lack of national TV presence, I would not be surprised if more schools are looking to exit the conference shortly.

 

[bigddan11]

I don't think the "Big East" can call themselves the "Big East" anymore. From ESPN, the Big East will soon add Boise State, San Diego State (?!?!), Southern Methodist University, Houston, and Central Florida. While SDSU football may be going to the Big East, their basketball program will not be, as they are likely going to have to go to a different conference. I think the Mountain West is much weaker now, and IMHO, considering how fans have been complaining about the 10 year TV deal and lack of national TV presence, I would not be surprised if more schools are looking to exit the conference shortly.

Keep in mind the merger with CUSA for football also gives them games on Fox Sports, so they'll have more of a national TV presence than ever before.

However the MWC has lost all its power hitters.
Utah: Pac-12
BYU: Independent and WCC
TCU: Big 12
Boise State: Big East and ??? (rumor is WAC)
San Diego State: Big East and ??? (rumor is Big West)