In true PAC-12 form, the final competitive athletic event for the conference that once was came to an end shortly after midnight, losing to Kentucky on a wild pitch that allowed a runner to score…from 2nd.
End of an era, or end of an error? Or, perhaps, the start of an error. There’s too many plays on words here it could become a Monty Python skit.
Also, please note:
But, but, but all those frequent flyer miles has nil written all over it…
If Kliakoff the casino boss never goes along with Kevin Warren and the “alliance” to throw Warren’s temper tantrum over Texas and Oklahoma, is the Pac 12 still in existence with the expanded playoff in place 2 years prior? Jim Phillips can probably say the same thing about the ACC when UNC, FSU, Clemson and Miami leave after a court fight or a negotiated settlement. Early approval of playoff expansion probably keeps USC and UCLA (and, as a result, Oregon and Washington) in the Pac 12 and likely keeps the ACC schools in place for at least the remainder of their grant of rights. What a bunch of dumbasses.
Notice how Brett Yormark and the B12 responded when Texas & Oklahoma said they would not renew their media rights. He went out and found schools that made sense for the league instead of whining about the SEC.
Someone is going to write a Harvard Business School case on the collapse of the Pac 12.
If the early adoption of the playoff’s happened as was expected prior to Texas and OU joying the SEC. The PAC gets its tv contract including USC and UCLA as members. Totally agree the alliance rejecting the SEC proposal allows the PAC to fall apart.
Don’t worry. They’ll be back as western conference of the NCFL.
Everyone talks about a Super League or some splinter of college football from the other sports at a university. I really don’t see how that ends up working. The conference networks aren’t driven by any other sport than football. Does ESPN keep the SEC Network and the ACC Network (for example) in business if the prime property (football) doesn’t exist as a conference sport?
Maybe the money from the Saudi PIF or some group of private equity/venture capitalists/billionaires with nothing else to do attracts the 30-40 biggest brands out of their conference affiliation. I just don’t see it.
I tend to think that money always wins out. The reason that the pac-10 died was because no one was willing to pay to broadcast their product at a competitive rate. A few teams could bolt and get more money under a different flag. Others are left behind.
The acc will be next. Eventually there will only be two conf who have content worth paying for. The acc could sign with another network for some football and bb but the balance of the sports will be lopped off and they won’t have the resources that the sec/big10 have. If you are fsu or clemson you have to be looking to jump ship right? Either that or drown. Once espn gets the apples in the barrel that they want, then they will explain that they don’t want to buy Alabama vs. Georgia State any longer. Where is the sec to go at that point?
For me the only question is how long it takes for all of that to come together? Whether non-revenue sports within those two conferences continue to be broadcast, I would assume so. Why else have all of those channels and formats? Is it possible that the non-revenues break off and reform more sensible conferences? Its possible. But that doesn’t change the fact that football will eventually have a nfl-like structure.
The one variable that could change that is if the playoffs somehow don’t generate revenue. If the market doesn’t show an appetite for the new structure it could change the course of things.
The only thing I think that can happen to keep the “Power 4” in the NCAA is they get their own Division. The fact that Division 1 has 130+ teams is stupid. Having a Group of 5 team get an automatic qualifier is a waste of one space. The committee selection process needs to go. Back to the computers to determine the top 12. How do you think the number 12 team is going to feel getting left out in favor of a number 20 Group of 5 team. Oh yea we know about getting left out.
Only two conferences have teams in the final 8 of the NCAA baseball tournament? This will never stand. Gotta figure a way to get more conference representation. We don’t want the best, more representation. Right, right?