Never has Texas State been extra priceless. Or Toledo. Or UTEP. Or North Dakota State for that matter.
Who is aware of as conference realignment rounds the most recent loopy flip and heads towards an absurd homestretch. Last week, the American Athletic Conference stood sturdy. Earlier this month, the Pac-12 raided the Mountain West … or was it the opposite method round?
Either method, the Pac-Whatever and the Mountain West proceed to be conferences in identify solely. Utah State joined San Diego State, Fresno State, Colorado State and Boise State in leaping from the MWC to the Pac-12; Air Force, San Jose State and UNLV opted to stick with the Mountain West. For a second, UNLV — 104th in whole FBS soccer viewership since 2016 — was desired by all of these three conferences. Just not by its beginning quarterback.
Meanwhile, the MWC, utilizing exit charges the Pac-12 paid to grab its 5 members, then rotated and used that money to incentivize the present six full-time members to remain. Things acquired so heated that UNLV went from being coveted by the Pac-12 to being sued by the Pac-12 within the span of a week.
You cannot make these items up, people.
We came upon the Mountain West had a grant of rights from six colleges — however granted to what? The MWC continues to be ready on two extra full pledges to truly turn into a conference once more. The telephone traces are open, and operators are standing by for any colleges . There had been reviews over the weekend that the MWC was zeroing on Texas State as fortunate No. 7.
The Pac-12 (as of this writing) additionally stays beneath the eight-team threshold after Memphis and Tulane reaffirmed their loyalty to the American. Such is present realignment as we all know it.
Add it up, and the MWC and Pac-12 have virtually assured mutual irrelevancy. Before this newest spherical of realignment, there was little doubt the Mountain West was the dominant Group of Five conference (at the least in phrases of entry to the College Football Playoff).
Now? Well, the Pac-12, if it shores itself up, might be a stable, upstanding member of what's now the Group of Six conferences. In addition to Texas State, the Mountain West is reportedly focused on Toledo and NIU from the MAC. The reality is the league has been evaluating dozens of colleges, sources inform CBS Sports. If there's any solace available, apparently the Mountain West will not dip right down to FCS to fill out its roster. So neglect about these North Dakota State and Montana State rumors. But this ain't over but.
The resolution is as apparent because the nostril on Pinocchio's face: the colleges in two almost-conferences ought to have merged. Call it the Mountain Pac, the Pac West, the Jackson Five, it would not matter. Such a conference would have a CFP berth nailed in most years.
Make that 9 out of 10 years. That lineup of colleges that ought to have been (as soon as once more on your viewing pleasure) …
Those packages have probably the most legacy within the Group of Five. By legacy, I imply the most effective packages obtainable with a postseason historical past. Oregon State, Washington State, Tulane and Boise State every performed in BCS/New Year's Six bowls. They are the “Best Of The Rest Coast” needed to supply after the outdated Pac-12 break up aside.
Oregon State and Washington State had/have a $250 million battle chest to sprinkle amongst its companions to maintain its athletic departments spending on a Power Five degree for as long as potential. (Oregon State stated lately it has sufficient money to take action for the subsequent three years.)
Instead, the pair used that cash to pry these 5 colleges away from the MWC by paying their exit charges. The new Pac-12 is now going to waste authorized charges suing the MWC.
But the most effective cause to merge is there could be one thing extra for play for. The conference champ could be within the CFP in most years. The crew would have been the final word underdog in attending to that level. Historically, faculty soccer hates underdogs. You should not should be reminded the SEC has gained 13 of the final 17 nationwide championships.
The expanded CFP just isn't solely giving the Group of Five (quickly to be Six) entry, however a probability to rewrite that historical past. Under Chris Petersen, Boise State proved it may play with the massive boys. Go Google Fresno State beneath Pat Hill. UNLV already has two wins this season over Power Five opponents.
This new CFP gave them that entry to … play … for … a … nationwide … championship. If nothing else, ESPN will commit vital assets to pumping up that underdog angle. To this level, these leagues have performed with their meals for thus long in realignment their probabilities at bogarting that Group of Five berth have diminished.
It's going to be a crapshoot on the market between the American, Pac-12 and Mountain West. May the most effective in mediocrity win. Actually, all three of them ought to have merged.
What I'm listening to proper now …
Toledo and Northern Illinois must do some soul looking to go the Pac-12. There could be a particular bump in income; the MAC averages $1.5-2 million per crew yearly in media income. The reconstituted MWC might be at someplace round $5-$7 million.
But how a lot of that new income could be eaten up in journey? Thanks to the parents at airmilescalculator.com, we all know that Toledo is 600 miles nearer to London, England, than it might be to new Mountain West rival Hawaii.
USF appeared by no means to be a candidate for the Pac-12 when its identify surfaced as a result of of that identical cause. In the MWC, the Bulls' closest highway journey could be to Colorado State, greater than 1,500 miles away. The common roadie for the rest of the conference could be greater than 2,200 miles.
But we have crossed that threshold with UCLA this season flying the equal of 89% of the best way across the circumference of the Earth within the Big Ten. Geography would not matter, apparently, till it hits the wallets of the Group of Five.
Things have been quiet with the Pac-12 after Tulane, Memphis, USF and UTSA rebuffed the conference's makes an attempt to lure the colleges. Memphis AD Ed Scott went public, saying the Pac-12's supply of $2.5 million to exit the American was method too low. Memphis confronted $25 million in exit charges from its present conference.
One business supply steered the Pac-12 might take one other run on the colleges by elevating the supply.
The MWC might have soured on filling in with FCS members as a result of of the necessary two-year ready interval for these colleges to get full FBS membership and be eligible for a bowl. James Madison was denied a waiver to play in a bowl final season whereas it was transitioning.
Plus, one supply talked about potential pushback from the ability conferences. They merely don't desire, for instance, the Sacramento State president all of a sudden armed with a vote to influence, say, the House v. NCAA settlement.
Industry sources proceed to say the worth of the reassembled MWC and Pac-12 will not be a lot completely different than the present Mountain West. The standard suspects proceed to be on the market as potential TV companions — Fox, CBS, ESPN. Could there be a wild-card bidder on the market that is keen to scratch a huge verify? TNT lately misplaced the NBA and might need a willingness to fill slots. A spokesman for TNT Sports deferred remark.
“We are diligent with our approach to sports media rights, and if there are opportunities available in the marketplace, we at least have discussions with all parties,” the spokesman stated in an e-mail.
Whatever the 2 conferences do to fill out, business sources agree these additions are going to be “dilutive.” That is, not including to the worth of the league. UNLV AD Erick Harper offered a trace of what the Pac-12 is providing when he advised CBS Sports final week that quantity was projected to be $10-$15 million per faculty yearly.
That prompted this response from veteran Jim Williams, an Emmy-winning sports activities media guide:
“From a television standpoint, who the heck is going to pay you [that] money?” Williams requested. “You took a conference [MWC] that was worth $5 million per school and you split it in half. No sense. They're not going to get that [$10-$15 million).
“How the hell does Oregon State and Washington really feel as in the event that they're entitled to huge cash?” Williams continued. “[Those leagues] do not have 4 time zones. They have two time zones the place 22% of the nation lives. I like watching Mountain West basketball and soccer, however to not the purpose the place if I'm a media particular person I'm going to provide you a verify for $7 million or $8 million or $9 million {dollars}.”
