Comments on: What Notre Dame’s Move Means For The SEC

By: JRsec

JRsec — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 15:28:32 +0000

Concise, rational, and accurate. There are only two attractive and significantly profitable programs left, Texas and Oklahoma. I doubt anything will happen with the Big 12. Even if the Horns decided to move it would require 8 votes out of 10 to disband the Big 12. In order for that to happen 7 other teams would have to find newer more profitable homes. Since only 6 (including Texas) could likely place themselves easily I don’t think this happens either. And, should the Big 12 add Louisville and another it will be a definitive sign that no movement for the foreseeable future will be happening from within the Big 12.

By: JRsec

JRsec — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 15:18:27 +0000

Concise, rational, and accurate. I agree further realignment is not likely. If it does occur it will likely originate in Austin, but only if 7 other members of the Big 12 can find new more profitable homes. 8 votes is what they require to disband. Not very likely since only 6 (including Texas) could likely find new homes easily. Outside of the Horns and Sooners there are many options out there attractive enough to generate significant movement.

By: safety guy

safety guy — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 15:04:59 +0000

Great article. This is why you are a daily read. Now if we can get the SEC network up and running as soon as possible, all will be good. I had the longhorn network shoved down my throat by ATT two weeks ago (although they did give me a $30 credit for complaining). Having a SEC network will provide year round great sports for us that like all the sports.

By: hangtime79

hangtime79 — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 20:55:34 +0000

Good summary article John,

The ND move to the ACC was about ND maintaining its status quo, while giving up 1 additional conference game (4 to 5 | BE vs ACC) and staying independent. I have read a number of articles the last few days alluding to ND’s continuing hunt for teams to play deep into conference game season; the UMass game next year continues to come up as a bug for them. If you look at the ACC, ND sees a lot of old friends from the Big East – BC, Miami, Pitt, Cuse, VT and a number of frequently played opponents FSU and GT. In fact, we can all call the ACC now Big East 2.0 and while it will not have the problems of Catholic Basketball vs Football that the Big East did/still does; it is going to have a fracturing effect on the conference. With the need for inventory I see no reason for NBC to not rebid and up Notre Dame now that five ACC opponents are locked into the foreseeable future. Just as you have discussed the LHN is a thorn/splinter/wedge/jackhammer into the Big 12 so will Notre Dame’s independence, exalted position, and NBC contract to the rest of the ACC. While it won’t happen immediately, eventually it will turn out 2 – 4 teams. My only stipulation it will happen immediately – within the next year to avoid $50MM payout in court (very unlikely) or 2018-2020. The Big 12 isn’t going to move for the ‘ville and BYU, the Big 10 is done – not going to take anyone without ND, the SEC is fine at 14, and the ACC has no need to move anymore; we have in fact found Nash equilibrium…for now.

By: DanHogan

DanHogan — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 20:53:15 +0000

Interesting comment about NBC in there. Do you see NBC making a real play for SEC football in addition to being involved in the network? I’m really intrigued by who will end up on NBC and their sports network. I could see NBC and NBC Sports doing a reverse mirrored broadcast like ESPN does with ABC and ESPN2 at times. Imagine mirrored/regional coverage of the Big East at noon, Notre Dame at 3:30, and then mirrored coverage of 2 SEC games in the evening. That’s not a bad line-up. And if ND is on the road, they could air 2 Big East games at 3:30 instead.

By: Bubba Gump

Bubba Gump — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 20:52:47 +0000

John,

I never understand the Kentucky and Vanderbilt to the ACC thing either. Granted football drives the bus but Kentucky is the Alabama of basketball and Vanderbilt is the Ivy League of the SEC. Since Vanderbilt started the pre SEC and Kentucky ran the early SEC – both were charter members of the SEC – why would they go? Going forward the power of the conference in a tier 3 network is the value of schools to put the SEC on TV in the non football months. Kentucky has basketball and Vanderbilt has baseball and solid women’s sports. More importantly they are the buffer on the B1G border. Vanderbilt can shoot up the interstate and recruit against Notre Dame in Indiana. Southern Ohio may be Ohio State football but when basketball season rolls in that area flips to Kentucky basketball.

I think you are correct about realignment being over until these TV contracts expire in the 2020′s. People miss that while Notre Dame may think it is still independent, a 5 game contract yearly means they are not. In an 8 game conference those 5 games a year is the look of a conference member. When we hit the 2020′s they will be an ACC school and the ACC will be playing 8 conference games just like the SEC. That 9th conference game everybody keeps talking about will become a cross conference game against a top conference school. The ACC and SEC will not give up the UF vs FSU, UGA vs GT, and USC vs CU games anytime soon. My guess is over time the rest of the SEC schools will adopt a rival or high visibility game as a part of future media contracts. I may be in the minority but I can see Texas vs TAMU and Kansas vs Missouri joining the rival games in the east. Just too much money on the table not to have this happen.

The big issue will be the B1G as Notre Dame will not join them and they just got shut out of border expansions with Missouri in the SEC, Colorado in the PAC, and Pittsburgh + Syracuse + Notre Dame in the ACC. The best schools left are now the B12 and BE scrap teams which all have issues in academics and demographics. I think the Nebraska add was good for them but they had strong walls put up on all 3 fronts they could have expanded to. This leaves the north and Canada has limited sports value schools that will fit the academic demands. The best expansion left for them is Texas and Austin would go to the PAC first. The biggest loser are the Big East teams like Louisville that have no place to move up and will become another CUSA school. The next biggest loser was the B12 and even adding 2 more schools and a CCG may not be enough to restore luster to that group. I think the biggest winner will wind up being the ACC. They will not be as strong but no conference moved so far from the bottom to the top. All they have to do now is wait till around 2020 and see who Notre Dame wants for the 16 full members.

By: WillieT

WillieT — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 19:22:04 +0000

All-in-all, I’d say i agree with your article. True, you have received some rather silly questions. I actually commented yesterday on the announcement of the ND/ACC compact and stated there that this move would not lead to the SEC expanding.

I’m actually commenting because of the mention of the phrase “fair to midland”. Are yunz from England or maybe Texas? (’cause those are the only places I’m aware of where folk can’t say “fair to middling” or “fair to middlin’”

I guess now that the SEC stretches well into the Lone Star state, those of us from the Ol’ South will have to get used to such nonsense…

By: MoKelly1

MoKelly1 — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 19:13:03 +0000

Very nice article. I hadn’t thought about the recruiting impact of Notre Dame in the South given the new ACC tie in. Very smart of Notre Dame —- getting rid of the shrinking Big 10 states and accessing the growing ACC states.