FSU, Clemson, Louisville & Maryland.....more rumors on Big 12 expansion.... Reply
Stole this from a Clemson site....take it for what it's worth.
In the early months of 2012 the chatter of Clemson and Florida State bolting to the Big 12 started with Honus Snead from Eer Insider. Shortly there after Clemson formed an Athletic Advisory Committee, leading to speculation this group may be charged with exploring a move to the Big 12 and reporting these findings later this summer.
In an interview in February Clemson AD Terry Don Phillips disputed the Clemson-Big 12 rumors, saying "There is no substance to that. None." which is what would be expected of anyone in Clemson's Administration considering the relative infancy of the discussions and the bold nature of such a move.
But here we are on May 1st, the Big 12 meetings are a month away and the BCS meetings with an announcement on a playoff format comes next month. Already, the chatter regarding additional conference realignment is growing louder, and is expected to intensify as the various league and BCS meetings approach.
To that end, Cemetery Hill has once again spoken with Honus Snead late last week, and Snead characterized the latest rumors as follows:
- The Big 12 expansion talk of Clemson, Florida State, Maryland and Louisville is very hot. There is a high likelihood these teams will jump ship from the ACC and Big East after the B12 and BCS meetings conclude. The one question remaining is if this shift happens would the Big 12 expand to 16 teams instead of just 14? If so who else might join the party? Miami? Virginia Tech? We don't have the answers to that, but we have heard those programs mentioned.
Many have scoffed at this rhetoric before, and many will again. However, consider this: A four team playoff is coming down the line very soon, and RPI will factor into the selection of those 4 teams. Given how the ACC and Big East have fared in recent years within the RPI rankings, it's not very likely teams from these conferences would stand much chance for inclusion in a playoff format. As a result, the football powers in these conferences are looking for a safe haven, hence jumping to a conference that will have a seat at the playoff table.
This is a win-win for the Big 12 as well, as they are looking to go from possible implosion last year to rivaling the SEC in football superiority:
* It puts the Big 12 in the middle of SEC country, and captures new TV markets much like the SEC did with the Texas A&M and Mizzou additions.
* It would also expand the Big 12's recruiting footprint into the talent-laden deep south and Florida
* An expanded and enhanced Big 12 makes for a fourth super-conference, joining the SEC, Big 10 and Pac 12.
* A 14-16 team conference opens up the door for enormous national revenue streams. On a given Saturday; Clemson-Oklahoma, FSU-Texas or West Virginia-Oklahoma State could be playing, and who wouldn't want to see those type games, not to mention the TV revenues to be generated.
* It potentially provides the impetus for a framework of 64 teams in 4 conferences who will fight it out for 4 spots every year for the national championship.
Why would Clemson and FSU even consider this? They are football first in sports and don't want to be irrelevent in the discussions of the future national scene, and are the only schools in the ACC (along with Virginia Tech) that have SEC type facilities and feel. Also, the ACC's recent additions of Syracuse and Pitt only further cement its reputation as a basketball league. Furthermore, television revenues from an expanded Big 12 are projected to bring in an additional 5 million per year minimum beyond what the ACC could generate with their rights.
Speaking of the SEC, what would be there counter move, if any, should the Big 12 expand to 16 teams? It would make sense for them to look for teams in new markets in the mid-Atlantic, with the likliest additions being NC State and Virginia Tech.
The one wild card the ACC and Big East have in this whole scenario is Notre Dame. The addition of the Golden Domers would add cache to either conference, and may keep the ACC from breaking apart should they be raided by the Big 12 and SEC. However, should the ACC fracture, Notre Dame may not have any other choice than to seek out their natural home in the Big 10.
