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Well there are a lot of former Southland Conference members-Arkansas St., ULL, ULM, Troy.

There's a political factor in that scenario they really don't want to get into. I think it was Sankey who talked about when they tried to get more exclusive, they always ran into legal and political problems. Most likely, I think they just spend a lot of schools into irrelevance.

Well there was the unsportsmanlike on Kentucky where he drove the guy down and tackled him blocking. It could have been both ways, but probably should have been just on UK. But after that was over a different Georgia player comes over and shoves the UK player down right by the refs. That should definitely been unsportsmanlike, but they didn't call it. Yeah. I've seen a lot of that this year.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/41226997/sources-boise-state-four-schools-set-join-pac-12 Another discussion of it. Separate article, said the 2Pac was relying on their consultant Navigate who said their deal would be worth about $10 million a school. https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/41230791/pac-12-conference-expansion-adding-four-teams-mountain-west

Don't remember the exact numbers, but there was one year, the top Texas player we got was something like #15 in the state and I think A&M got only 1 of the top 11 and OU 1 of the top 11. The next year, Texas, Texas A&M and OU got something like 8 of the top 11, dominating in a way I don't remember happening. UT hasn't done quite as well since then, but its not as bad as it got before. And we are in the running for 5 star players around the country. I think we just picked up the #1 safety in the country for 2026. He plays in Georgia.

You weren't watching the Texas recruiting closely. The difference makers were going out of state. We got plenty of good players, but the great players started to elude us. A lot of that had to do with the 4 team playoff. But a lot had to do with network's focusing on the Big 10 and SEC while paying limited attention to the Big 12 and ACC and ignoring the Pac 12.

Actually we moved because Alabama, Georgia, Ohio St. and Clemson were coming into Texas and taking the blue chips. The money was the least of our concerns. As DeLoss said, "We are the Joneses." and "We have money." to the Pac 10.

Well he's wrong about Texas, OU, USC and UCLA and their motivations and how logical it was. But as far as the MWC schools, he's spot on. They're trading getting 3 peanuts and a pecan for 3 peanuts and an almond.

Just get rid of the stupid number!!!! Why look stupid like the Big 12, Big 10 and Atlantic 10? SEC and ACC are good enough without numbers. Fact is that if this deal doesn't blow up like the Boise St./SDSU to AAC deal, the numbers will change over time. Its not like the number has a lot of history. 13 years as Pac 12. 33 years as Pac 10. 14 years as Pac 8.

Nobody is doing divisions but the Sun Belt. You want the best team to compete for that single G slot.

I don't think Texas St. has any upside potential. The students all go to Austin on weekends. Its only 30 miles form Austin.

No. Its WSU/OSU who didn't want to merge. MWC was all for it.

Its going to cost $111 million just for those 4 schools. $17 each exit fees and $43 million as part of the contract with the MWC. I just don't see how its worth it to dump a few schools. There really isn't much difference in the MWC after Boise St.

Today it was announced the UConn to Big 12 discussions were "paused." So its dead until the House fallout gets understood and/or FSU/Clemson get their situation settled.

Illinois??? And while they have bigger fan bases, KSU, Okie St., TCU, Baylor and Colorado have had seasons better than Wisconsin, Iowa and Michigan St. can claim in the last 50 years. Oregon, Washington and Nebraska, are of course, different stories. The Big 10 lower class looks like Kansas in football. Its just that the Big 12 has nothing to match the top 7 or 8.

Colt really had "it." In a way few other QBs ever had.

Sun Belt lost 21 all conference players to transfers, 18 to the P5. MAC 20, 16 to P5. CUSA 20-15 to P5. AAC 12, 11 to P5. MWC only 6, all to P5.

https://www.wsj.com/sports/football/college-transfers-power-five-conferences-aee82375?st=b1p1yoiho3kwcr1&reflink=article_copyURL_share Interesting data: "...The impact of the transfer portal is striking: After eliminating those who graduated or departed for the NFL, a whopping 40% of the remaining players with all-conference honors switched to another program. The vast majority of them bolted to a team in the Power Four (the Atlantic Coast, Big 12, Big Ten and Southeastern conferences). Even when adding second- and third-team all-conference picks, 36% wound up transferring. The data shows the extent to which the balance of power has shifted in college football. The smaller conferences have always had a disadvantage compared with their larger peers. Now, they have effectively become a farm system—developing talented players only to lose them to their wealthier competitors. Competing against the likes of Alabama and Michigan was always hard, even before those juggernauts could just snatch up players like books in the campus library. “Some of those leagues,” former Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher said in a radio interview earlier this year, “they’re becoming glorified junior colleges...."”

That argument is over. There are no walk-ons at the big schools. Everyone will be getting a scholarship and NIL money and, soon, directly paid. That's part of the House settlement, not that they have to give scholarships to everyone, but the scholarship limits are gone. Its roster limits. 100 for football. Baseball I think was 39. And they will get full scholarships in the P4, no longer partials. Sankey has been talking about that for several years.

Not only that, but you can pick up wins from a name school as opposed to a school viewed as no different than FCS. How many typical fans would know that Troy or Jacksonville St. or Sam Houston St. or James Madison play in a different division than Tennessee Tech, Western Illinois or Northern Colorado?

https://www.extrapointsmb.com/p/heres-expect-conference-realignment-slow-near-future Matt Brown thinks nothing is happening in the near future. Matt writes a newsletter, extra points. He is really knowledgeable and connected on non-P4 schools. This article is not restricted to subscribers. Basically, the ACC lawsuit is holding every up from doing anything. And, he's hearing the same thing as McMurphy, network money is tight even for an FSU. G5 is also tied down because of what the Pac 2 might do. Finally, the House settlement isn't finalized and so conferences and schools don't know all the implications.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/08/02/pac-12-survival-washington-state-oregon-state-engaged-in-strategic-discussions-with-multiple-conferences/ Not according to Wilner, but the ACC is possible. “"...Some form of affiliation with the Mountain West is likely,” the source said. “But given other uncertainties, (WSU and OSU) could have other options to consider....” If the Seminoles and Tigers depart, a restructuring could ensue. “That’s what has changed since last summer,” the source said. When the Pac-12 fractured in August 2023, “those lawsuits didn’t exist. They have caused people to re-think the situation: ‘If this, then that.'” The conversations are not based on the presumption the ACC will collapse in the next year. “It’s more about possible changes in 12 to 36 months,” the source said. “Washington State and Oregon State are strong football brands … They drive viewership. What are the opportunities over the next 36 months for two strong brands?” The Big 12 is “not interested” in adding the Cougars and Beavers as members, a second industry source said...."

My understanding is they can totally opt out of the deal in 2027 if they do so by February 2025. The deadline was February 2021 until the commissioner's office extended the option without a vote by membership.

You wonder if it was because they hated Texas, hated Strong or were getting a cut of the gambling. Or all 3?

You don't watch much SEC football, do you? One thing they don't call is late hits. More players get hurt in the SEC.