Look, we all agree:
1. ACC is a somewhat boring brand of football with weaker schedules( on average).
2. ACC would renew old rivals
3. BigTen would be more profitable & higher levels of competition, though less likely of being invited.
4. WVU is not in a position to "choose". It'll take some work on Gee, Lyons, & Politicians part to get us in to any new conference, for which we need to be grateful, either way as long as its a P5/P4.
5. WVU is in a far better position now then it was in the last realignemt
Those things aside, I havent researched this because Im swamped with work, but between the ACC & BigTen which is the best Basketball conference? Or, which conference would value our basketball program the most from an acquisition perspective?
While Football is the main focus lately, what other sports do conferences value? Does WVU have anything else to bring more value?
Lately our Basketball, Soccer, Rifle, Baseball, & Wrestling have been better then average.
Also, what data/metrics would conferences value?
Facility's quality
History/Wins/Accomplishments
Brand Familiarity
Brand Sales
Attendance
Recruiting
Tier1(R1) Research Status
Rhode Scholars
Land Grant exceptions - Land grant universities typically have lower academics than others.
While we will never be a blueblood like a BAma, OSU, LSU, etc, we are damn sure head & shoulders better then many ACC programs and some BigTen programs holistically. We dont meet some of the criteria they weighted years ago, but when a certain conference lays all else to the side and only focuses on athletics, I would imagine some of these conferences will be forced to adapt their weighting strategy.
There is a chance the BIG12 expands..
Under an "optimal" hypothetical situation lets say Bolsby adds:
UCF BoiseSt Houston BYU Cinci
Arizona ArizonaSt & Utah
That makes a BIG16. However, now you are splitting revenues 16 ways. There would be an organic benefit by expanding media footprints, still not sure WVU's BIG16 revenues would be equal to a projected ACC revenues.
Unless, the "founding members + old Pac12 teams" got a higher % revenue split then the new Go5 teams, at least for the first 4-6 years.
IN my mind, this is the only way the Big12/16 can survive/thrive. It'll need to add the top 5-6 Go5 teams, and at least 1 - 2 Pac12 teams(which I have zero faith in Bolsby to accomplish). Even if he does, would WVU's revenues be higher in the ACC??
If the revenues are >= ACC's, would the conference be able to survive future realignments? Would that be a safe play by WVU?
With the ACC's low revenue splits, what is the possibility in the next realignment SEC or BigTen go after the top ACC schools? If Clemson, FSU, Miami, ND, & UNC all left the ACC, could the conference survive?
To mitigate the future aggressive acquisition strategy by the SEC or BigTen, if I was the ACC or Pac12 I would expand to a 20 team league now. There is strength in numbers & diversified media markets, and this would help alleviate future losses should a few of the bigger brands leave.
The best move for the ACC or Pac12 is to accept all remaining Big12 teams into their conference. While Im not sure that will happen, it would be a "Protectionist" strategy, insightful. At this point, its about strength & size, you cant apply a weight to factors that inhibit competitiveness from a revenue perspective.
So, will it be an all out acquisition war? Will conference throw historical Academic standards/preferences to the side in order to expand media markets? Will actions be based on a business / Merger perspective? I suppose we will see.
Im curious to see how these conference choose to move forward, and which are most aggressive at securing their future via expansion, to mitigate the average brand size of the SEC programs.
If so, which conferences will target which schools, if both conferences move forward aggressively? If that is the case, WVU may be in a position to be acquired by both conferences. Though, I seriously doubt any conference will be this aggressive.
Im confident WVU will be ok, I have faith in the current staff/org/leadership, I suppose at this point Im more curious to see which of these other conferences are Gordon Gecko 2.0
