Smoke your cigars and enjoy the band while you can....

[CyberToothCat]

I wouldn't be shocked in the slightest if we end up taking Cincy, Rutgers, UConn, and Louisville.  At all.  That pretty much gives a lifeboat to the remaining "true" Big East schools (sans USF), and it gives ESPN five conferences to work with instead of six.

Would take.  In a heartbeat.

1. Bring those four schools in with WVU and TCU to form a 14-team conference. 
2. Sign long-term contract with ESPN for Tier 1 deal. 
3. Sign over TV rights to conference for length of ESPN contract (10 years? 15 years? whatever). 
4. Form conference network  with ESPN as partner for Tier 3 broadcasts (would exclude UT, unless they want to fold the LHN into the Big 14 network).
5. Pray like hell that no one tries to leave and we can keep our place at the table.

[sonofdaxjones]

No worries . . . best time zone in college athletics.

[Houstoncat93]

The Pac12/Big 10 thing is going to put pressure on ND to join the Big 10.

due to Pac schools not scheduling ND? 

And Big 10 schools. They took an OOC game from 5 of ND's "rivals" off the table all at once.

Pat Forde seems to think they are taking away a conference game to make this happen, which would be stupid.

“I don’t anticipate it having much of an impact,” Swarbrick told Yahoo! Sports. “I was aware it was coming; they sort of kept us informed. I think it’s a great thing for the two conferences.”

A more likely scenario than dropping Notre Dame is a reduction in conference games from nine to eight. Thus, the Big Ten vs. Pac-12 game would be a substitute for that league game on the schedule, which means Notre Dame’s spot would not have to be sacrificed in favor of a “guaranteed” home game against a lesser opponent.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=pf-forde_notre_dame_rivalries_big_ten_pac_12_122811

[Trim]

The Pac12/Big 10 thing is going to put pressure on ND to join the Big 10.

due to Pac schools not scheduling ND? 

And Big 10 schools. They took an OOC game from 5 of ND's "rivals" off the table all at once.

Pat Forde seems to think they are taking away a conference game to make this happen, which would be stupid.

“I don’t anticipate it having much of an impact,” Swarbrick told Yahoo! Sports. “I was aware it was coming; they sort of kept us informed. I think it’s a great thing for the two conferences.”

A more likely scenario than dropping Notre Dame is a reduction in conference games from nine to eight. Thus, the Big Ten vs. Pac-12 game would be a substitute for that league game on the schedule, which means Notre Dame’s spot would not have to be sacrificed in favor of a “guaranteed” home game against a lesser opponent.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=pf-forde_notre_dame_rivalries_big_ten_pac_12_122811

One significant adjustment the Big Ten will make is that it will not be going to a nine-game conference football schedule, as it had planned to do in 2017. Delany said the eight-game schedule works because it is balanced and each team has four games at home and four on the road. The Pac-12 will most likely stick with its nine-game schedule, but will discuss it further.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/29/sports/ncaafootball/pac-12-and-big-ten-announce-scheduling-partnership.html?_r=2&ref=sports

[Panjandrum]

The Pac12/Big 10 thing is going to put pressure on ND to join the Big 10.

due to Pac schools not scheduling ND?  

And Big 10 schools. They took an OOC game from 5 of ND's "rivals" off the table all at once.

Pat Forde seems to think they are taking away a conference game to make this happen, which would be stupid.

“I don’t anticipate it having much of an impact,” Swarbrick told Yahoo! Sports. “I was aware it was coming; they sort of kept us informed. I think it’s a great thing for the two conferences.”

A more likely scenario than dropping Notre Dame is a reduction in conference games from nine to eight. Thus, the Big Ten vs. Pac-12 game would be a substitute for that league game on the schedule, which means Notre Dame’s spot would not have to be sacrificed in favor of a “guaranteed” home game against a lesser opponent.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=pf-forde_notre_dame_rivalries_big_ten_pac_12_122811

One significant adjustment the Big Ten will make is that it will not be going to a nine-game conference football schedule, as it had planned to do in 2017. Delany said the eight-game schedule works because it is balanced and each team has four games at home and four on the road. The Pac-12 will most likely stick with its nine-game schedule, but will discuss it further.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/29/sports/ncaafootball/pac-12-and-big-ten-announce-scheduling-partnership.html?_r=2&ref=sports

Notre Dame can't dodge bullets forever.

[bws]

I hope we wait to commit to a long term deal until the BCS negotiations end in the spring. Groundswell for a 4 team playoff in some form is pretty strong starting when the current BCS contract ends after next season I think.

There is talk of the BCS completely separating itself from the bowl system. Depending on what a playoff looks like and how its structured, it may be more advantageous for the Big 12 to remain at 10-12. Whatever happens its probably smart to wait to see.

[bigDcat]

Orangebloods.com has learned #TCU will play Texas on Thanksgiving in Austin in 2012 and #WVU will also play Texas in Austin in 2012. #cfb

[michigancat]

Orangebloods.com has learned #TCU will play Texas on Thanksgiving in Austin in 2012 and #WVU will also play Texas in Austin in 2012. #cfb

man. what a letdown.

[MadCat]

Texas Tech is gonna be pissed.

[Pete]

They should play red river on Thanksgiving.

[Skipper44]

Texas Tech is gonna be pissed.

ehhh,even even sand aggys realized a game in Lubbock over Tday would have attendance issues

[MakeItRain]

They should play red river on Thanksgiving.

They have a contract with Texas State Fair and the city of Dallas.  They'd also have to move it to campus then, don't see that happening

[Gooch]

They should play red river on Thanksgiving.

To late in the season for either team to recover from the loss poll wise.

[Skipper44]

OU getting a half assed Sooner Network, not a good sign for a possible Big 12 network

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2012/01/02/Colleges/Oklahoma.aspx

[MadCat]

If they ever created the Red River Network they could probably take over most of the regional FSNs.

[Panjandrum]

OU getting a half assed Sooner Network, not a good sign for a possible Big 12 network

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2012/01/02/Colleges/Oklahoma.aspx

That honestly sounds just like what we do with basketball.  Seems pretty stupid, if you ask me.

[Winters]

Orangebloods.com has learned #TCU will play Texas on Thanksgiving in Austin in 2012 and #WVU will also play Texas in Austin in 2012. #cfb

I would do unthinkable things to play WVU on thanksgiving/black friday

[powercat_62]

Per some WVU board via the Shag

I was told Louisville and Rutgers have been approached

Their lawyers and Big 12 lawyers drafting working agreement!

No word on WVU exit as my guy has no information. He was told it's a separate issue.

Word is Big 12 contract will be finalized before NCAA bb tourney.

Louisville 

Rutgers

[MadCat]

Per some WVU board via the Shag

I was told Louisville and Rutgers have been approached

Their lawyers and Big 12 lawyers drafting working agreement!

No word on WVU exit as my guy has no information. He was told it's a separate issue.

Word is Big 12 contract will be finalized before NCAA bb tourney.

Louisville 

Rutgers

You don't like the oldest land grant university in this great nation? 

[Panjandrum]

Per some WVU board via the Shag

I was told Louisville and Rutgers have been approached

Their lawyers and Big 12 lawyers drafting working agreement!

No word on WVU exit as my guy has no information. He was told it's a separate issue.

Word is Big 12 contract will be finalized before NCAA bb tourney.

Louisville 

Rutgers

People are really underestimating the value of Rutgers, here.

[SkinnyBenny]

Yeah but playing Rutgers is so boorrrrrrring. 

[CNS]

Isn't rutgers where Wally went?  could you imagine a Wally v cats game at OOD?

[OK_Cat]

rutgers gives us new york/new jersey.   

[Panjandrum]

Yeah but playing Rutgers is so boorrrrrrring. 

Yeah, but no other Big East school out here can boast AAU status and 8 million people in it's state with a 45 minute proximity to NYC.

[Panjandrum]

rutgers gives us new york/new jersey.   

I mean, Frank may as well buy a condo there and just live there half time and recruit.