USC Traveler

I finally figured it out. mdmost=Yormark Yormark's understanding of realignment has been impressive. He's made all the right moves, and this explains it. Yormark has been on the Shag and Surly sharpening his skills, gaming things out, and preparing for this moment for the last 13 years. md- when you say "out of town", you mean you were bunkered down in your war room in Dallas getting these deals closed, right ? Well done sir!!!🤘

Yeah- the BIG will say "We want all our schools to play each other more often, so every athlete can play at every stadium over four years", but the two year rotation gives Fox, CBS, NBC what they want- the largest number of high-profile games each year. That means it's either a 1-8-8 or a 3-7-7 schedule. BIG would be stupid to go to 10 games with SEC at 8, so my money is on the 1-8-8. Every BIG team would take one trip to the West coast each year under a 1-8-8. Year 1: USC vs UCLA, UW, UM, WI, NE, IA, etc UO vs UW, UCLA, OSU, PSU, MSU, IL, etc Flips in year 2, then flips back in year 3 with locations flipped, etc. There's a lot of games there that would drive big ratings, on top of the existing BIG games.

That's how I picture the ideal endgame for the BIG. Totally agree about the schools, the divisional setup, and ND wanting to be in the West or SE. A 5-2-2-2 schedule would be best for travel, and I think the rotation can offset the relative weakness of the Plains division. Year 1: Iowa- USC/UCLA, OSU/RU, Miami/UNC WI- ND/Stanford, MSU/IU, FSU/UVA NE- UW/UO, UM/PU, PSU/MD Year 2: WI- USC/UCLA, OSU/RU, Miami/UNC NE- ND/Stanford, MSU/IU, FSU/UVA Iowa- UW/UO, UM/PU, PSU/MD Year 3: NE- USC/UCLA, OSU/RU, Miami/UNC Iowa- ND/Stanford, MSU/IU, FSU/UVA WI- UW/UO, UM/PU, PSU/MD // While we're sitting at 18 waiting to carve up the ACC with our friends in the SEC, what do you think of a 1-8-8 schedule ? The BIG's COO said they want to stay closely aligned to the principles they had for the 16 team model: getting teams in the playoff, competitive balance, and full rotation in two years. If that's the case, then the only two options are 1-8-8 (9 games) and 3-7-7 (10 games). Going to 10 games would hurt their playoff chances when the SEC is still at 8 games, so I can't imagine they'd be dumb enough to do that. That's Scott/Klownkoff level stupidity. There were also some complaints about travel being unequal under the 3-6-6, with some teams not going to the West Coast in a given year. Under a 1-8-8, every current BIG school would make 1 trip per year to the West Coast, and no more, so that will have some appeal. The drawback to the 1-8-8 is that UM-MSU IA-MN, IA-WI and IL-PU turn into every other year games. UM seems like they'd be happy about that, and IL-PU isn't going to stop the networks from getting the full rotation they want. How hard would Iowa fight against the 1-8-8, and how much juice do they have in the boardroom ? I think the networks will ultimately get what they want, but wanted to get your take.

I wonder if Clownzano is still saying everyone is sticking together, and that getting a better deal than the B12 is a "layup" ? 🤣 Scheer has nailed this whole saga since USC and UCLA left. He was calling out the bad tv deal early on. SDSU and OSU could make sense for the B12, especially at a deep discount. Would bring them up to 6 schools to host "After Dark" games. If each school hosts 2-3 After Dark games, that gives them a season plus worth of games. SDSU has beaten a lot of the PAC the last few years, has high level hoops, and brings recruiting access in a talent-rich area. OSU will be competitive. They won't be a perennial power, but as long as Smith is there, there will be years where they're in the mix at the end. Full disclosure- I have a soft spot for the Beavs, so even though I have enduring nightmares of some SC games in Corvallis, I hope they make it to the B12. // It says a lot about how pathetic Cal is that they're not the other school in the mix with SDSU. Probably a bunch of B12 schools enjoying some payback. Brutal news for Wazzu. As always in realignment, everyone is committed to their conference until they're not. // 3 pods of 6 ? Not the cleanest fit. 3-7-7 with a 10 game schedule would work well. Networks probably kick in some extra cash to pay for these last two additions for the full "After Dark" window and the 10th game. Then sit back and wait to pick up 2-6 ACC schools once the final reckoning happens.

"Sorry guys, that deal with all the new tv partners that I talked about at media days fell apart right before this meeting, but we have a great deal with Apple!"🤣 Has there ever been a more gullible, clueless group than the past 13 years worth of PAC Presidents ? Klownkoff and Champagne Larry found the one group of people dumb enough to buy their bs, all the while thinking they were the smartest guys in the room. That Michael Crow press conference speaks for itself. What a buffoon. He and Ed Ray (OSU) were Scott's biggest enablers. Those clowns, along with the rest who backed Scott and rejected bringing in UT, OU and the gang b/c of LHN were the people who killed the PAC. USC and UCLA wanted to do it even with LHN, but all the other schools were so opposed to unequal revenue for Tier 3 that they dug their own graves. You also had a bunch of schools who thought they'd never get to the Rose Bowl again if the PAC had USC, UT and OU in it. How'd that work out ? I feel sorry for Stanford, Cal, WSU and OSU fans, but not the institutions. UT would have been in the PAC a long time ago if it wasn't for Stanford. Fuck all of them. They definitely got what they deserved.

I love the BIG, but this is laughable. It's almost like he's got some type of agenda, because Klatt is going full Clownzano here. Hmmmmmm.........

Great post. Really cool to hear about the two sides of it, and was blown away by the above. That's like something out of a movie.

Fox is clearly driving everything, and they're going to want as many USC, UO, UW vs OSU, UM, PSU as possible. So I think there's a good chance the BIG goes with a 1-8-8 model. Schedule stays at 9 games, and you still get every other year rotation for all schools. USC year 1: UCLA, UW, OSU, PSU, WI, IA, NW, RU, IN UO year 1: UW, UCLA, UM, MSU, MN, NU, IL, MD, PU USC year 2: UCLA, UO, UM, MSU, MN, NU, IL, MD, PU UO year 2: UW, USC, OSU, PSU, WI, IA, NW, RU, IN Every existing BIG team would take one West Coast trip per year, so no one gains an advantage by not playing out West, which some BIG schools were grumbling about when the schedules came out last month. Nine protected rivalries: OSU-UM USC-UCLA UW-UO PSU-MSU WI-MN IA-NU IN-PU IL-NW RU-MD Iowa would cry about not getting MN and WI every year, but those aren't huge ratings drivers. The only game with substantial ratings that would get dropped would be UM-MSU, but UM has seemed fine with that. MSU would be furious, but if Fox wants this type of schedule, they'll probably get it.

Yeah- I think it's that plus a few other things for Fox: 1. It makes the conference tv package stronger overall. The other tv partners might have been underwhelmed with what game they're going get in some weeks when they had 3rd pick. Adding UW and UO gives the BIG more games with solid, tier 2 brands, so easier to have 3 solid games per weekend. 2. Those additional games also means more good games for BTN and FS1. And more West Coast games for "After Dark" on FS1. 3. This also gives the BIG two more teams to host East Coast Primetime games in November, which existing BIG schools have been resisting. // From the BIG side, we kept hearing last year from legit people like Thamel that UW and UO were dilutive for existing BIG schools, so they didn't have support. But then it came out last month that BIG schools owed Fox about about $5m each due to Warren giving NBC the CCG and from games lost in 2020. So now the BIG schools were going to make less money than they thought, and with Fox getting the PNW schools at 1/2 price, the additional inventory Fox gained probably allowed them to make the BIG schools whole, so the PNW schools are bringing a little more money to the existing BIG schools. Ironically, Kevin Warren fucking up the tv deal helped pave the way for the West Coast expansion he couldn't get his members to sign off on last year.😂

Clownzano is obviously a total hack, but it's stunning that so-called "journalists" like Mandel and Wilner never expressed skepticism or looked below the surface to see what the real story was with the PAC tv negotiations. There were so many signs along the way. Marchand and Ourand's reporting should have been sounding alarm bells. B12 closing their tv deal quickly, all of the missed deadlines, etc, etc- everyone in this thread saw it a mile away- Klownkoff was full of bs and was stalling for time. But Wilner just kept moving the goalposts and carrying water for Klownkoff, while Mandel refused to believe the PAC was vulnerable. Not coincidentally perhaps, they are both based in the Bay Area, and their attitudes reflect the PAC's general mindset for the last 20 years that led to this- hubris, arrogance, lack of vision, incompetence. Complete loss of credibility on all levels for Mandel and Wilner, who became propagandists a year ago, and then got worse over time.

UL and Pitt also bring added value due to WV and UC already being in the conference. That's a fun, salty pod. VT would fit in well with those teams also, although VT and NCSt could easily end up SEC if UVA/UNC go BIG.

Fify.

I look forward to it. But I need to reintroduce the concept of productivity back into my life, so hopefully it either all blows up this month if FSU goes rogue and starts a chain reaction, or it doesn't happen for 5-10 years.😂 Interesting that 2010 was the failed PAC16 merger and Nebraska going BIG, which was the beginning of the end for both the B12 and the PAC to be able to stay at the same level as the BIG/SEC. 13 years later we have the official death of the PAC in 2023. 13 years from now ? The end of the ACC GOR. I'm sure it will happen sooner, but if it doesn't happen in the next few years, the closer it gets to the end, the easier it becomes for a school to jump. Either way, by 2036 at the latest, we'll be in a superBIG/superSEC world, with a pumped up B12 firmly established as the best of the rest conference.

You sure PA is an exception ? PSU is a good school, but it's not in Penn's league (figuratively or literally.) PSU is a much bigger school, so I guess it has more physical assets, but the value of a Wharton MBA vs a PSU MBA ? Not close. Without looking, I would assume Penn has a much bigger endowment also.

After CU, they were the next PAC school most receptive to going B12 (b-ball, unhappiness with PAC second only to USC), so they were an important domino to get the whole thing to collapse and allow the B12 to get all of the 4C schools.

I'm here- eating some brisket (not from Riley's house🤣), drinking a beer and trying to catch up on threads on my SC board and Surly, while reading posts on other 247 boards. For realignment sickos like myself, we're never going to see another day like today. I'm strangely feeling okay with the Zeros joining the BIG. Now I've got a team to hate in the conference, and it makes the conference stronger overall. The overwhelming emotion for me today is happiness at the PAC dying the death it has deserved for over 10 years- ever since Champagne Larry and idiotic Presidents passed on UT, OU and the B12 gang, the PAC has deserved this. You don't get to pass on UT and OU twice and live to tell the tale. This conference fucked SC over for most of the last 20 years, so USC starting the chain reaction that led to its demise is very satisfying. Knowing Scott, Klownkoff, Wilner, Clownzano, etc will all go down in history as complete frauds, each in their own way is the cherry on top.

Great post. I love how UT and OU moving to the SEC keeps RRS, while adding aggy and Arky back onto UT's schedule, and gives us UT-Bama, OU-UGA, etc every other year. Same thing with USC, and the former PAC schools playing BIG heavyweights. There will be a few great games every weekend from 2024 onwards. That includes games in the B12, which is going to be a really balanced league that's going to provide a lot of great games to watch. Games like KSU-TCU, TCU-Baylor and BYU-Baylor (future conference game)were great last year.

I would think ISU and the KS schools will fight hard to stay together, and CU fits perfectly b/c of the history and location. Right @Al_4_ISU ? UH makes some sense with Cincy, UCF and WV, since the the first three all came from the AAC together, and those 4 probably have the least juice in the boardroom. I'd think OSU would be fine giving up some longer-term Big 8 rivalries to have more games in TX every year. @'stache, @oSuJeff97 is that the case ?

IIRC, most people in this thread (myself included) felt like CU and UA were going to end up in the B12 after the B12 got their media deal done at a solid number with good exposure, while Klownkoff was still asking for $50m per school/year and Clownzano/Wilner were talking about streaming. My mistake was thinking UW and UO would end up in an 18 team B12 with ASU and Utah once the PAC collapsed. Glad I didn't bet on it! Once again, props to you and McMurphy for nailing it!!! // PS- Can't wait for the Wilner/Clownzano podcast that has the WACPAC postmortem- their last pod was comedy gold!

That was me. I took the L in detail in a post where I replied to bullet. Since bullet was the person who was most adamant that the Zeros would get in the BIG, I wanted to give him his props. From the looks of it, I was probably typing that as you were posting this.

They should, but instead they'll be a remora attached to UCLA for the foreseeable future. UCLA should be lobbying furiously to get Cal into the BIG, as your alimony payment could be crazy if Cal ends up in the MWC. Although a crazy alimony payment is very on-brand for CA, and wealth re-distribution is right out of a bunch of the UC Regents' party manual, errr....playbook.

You had this nailed, my friend, while I misread it. Props to you. 🤘 I'll take the L here. I owe you a burger and a beer the next time I'm in the ATL. I'll pay for McMurphy too.😂 I never thought BIG would add PNW schools until after they saw which schools they could get from the ACC. But I wasn't factoring in that BIG schools owe Fox about about $5m each due to Warren giving NBC the CCG ($40m) and from games that weren't played during 2020 (another $30m+). The additional inventory Fox gained from adding the PNW schools at 1/2 price probably enabled them to cut a deal where the existing BIG schools stayed whole. I also wasn't factoring in that the tv partners might be underwhelmed with what game they would get in some weeks when they had 3rd pick. Adding UW and UO gives the BIG more games with solid, tier 2 brands. Makes the conference stronger overall. It also gives the BIG two more teams to host Primetime games in November (sticking point for existing BIG schools). // For some reason, I'm actually not bummed about this. I loved the idea of the Zeros getting relegated, but this is going to give USC an opponent in the BIG that fans truly hate. That wasn't the case before, as UCLA is little brother, but respected as an institution, and not hated. Most USC folks have friends/family that went to UCLA. Not worried about recruiting or beating the PNW schools on a regular basis. If LFR can't beat them regularly on the field and on the trail, SC has much bigger problems, because if we're not beating the PNW schools, we're not beating OSU, UM or SEC schools. // No surprise the PAC died- everyone itt saw through Klownkoff for the last year. He's as incompetent and arrogant as Grifter Larry. 2024 is going to be insane- USC, UCLA, UW, UO to the BIG. UT and OU to SEC. 4C to B12, which will clearly be the #3 conference whenever the ACC implodes. Klownkoff, Clownzano, Wilner, and the PAC to the dustbin of history. And oh btw, a 12 team playoff. Bring it on!

Utah 247 board mod said he thinks Utah will join the AZ schools and head to B12. 95% of their board is in a full state of mourning about all the glories of the PAC that they will miss. These are the same people who were the most positive that Klownkoff had this in the bag, who believed every word Clownzano said, and who dumped on the B12 the hardest. They have finally realized that they were played for fools, and hate the idea of going to the B12. Karma is a bitch, and yes, I am enjoying their tears. I actually feel bad for the rational 5% of the people on that board who smelled a rat in Klownkoff/Clownzano/Wilner. The PAC-pumpers shit on the realists for being too negative for the last year, and now they're shitting on them for being too happy about the fact that they have a lifeline in the B12 instead of the MWC.

Wilner piece below from last September, when he was still an actual reporter instead of a cheerleader. To his credit he was spot on about a lot of the future scenarios for realignment, but his timetable for when Klownkoff was going to present the tv deal was 2-6 weeks, so mid-October 2022 at the latest. He has moved the goalposts for the last 11 months carrying water for the PAC. Complete loss of credibility. He, Clownzano, the PAC Presidents and Utah fans are the only people dumb enough to buy Klownkoff's bs for the last year. I love that Klownkoff has finally been exposed for the clueless, emtpy suit that he is.

Well said my friend- across the board. The PAC is getting what it deserves after passing on bringing in UT and OU two different times. It's crazy. As we always said, realignment is CFB Game of Thrones- you win or you die. USC wasn't going to vote to expand in 2021 and be forced to sign a new GOR in the process. No fucking way. None of the other PAC schools wanted to expand anyway. They just blame USC now to cover up for their decades of mismanagement, including passing on B12 schools multiple times over the years due to a combination of coastal elitism, academic snobbery, and religious bigotry. If you and I were in charge of the B12 and PAC (or any of the other OGs from Shaggy realignment like mdmost, hagbard, camel, burntorange&white, and bullet were in charge), we'd have a 3 superconference world with a PAC16 merger that went through with the LHN because we all knew that was the PAC's only shot at staying on a level playing field with the big boys. We'd have added FSU, Clemson and Miami 10 years ago to collapse the ACC and brought in ND to make it Prestige Worldwide 20. Conference headquarters in Hawaii. CCG in the Rose Bowl. Conference tourneys in Vegas and conference meetings rotating between Ibiza, Bangkok and Cartagena. What could have been........instead we had Larry Scott, Klownkoff, Beebe and Bowlsby. Literally, a clown show. Oh well, I'm fired up for the BIG, fired up for UT and OU in the SEC, and fired up to watch a lot of fun B12 games. Hopefully we see you guys in the playoffs soon. Still the highest-rated CFB game of all time.