OregonDucks

Unless we join the B1G or SEC, Oregon will be at a disadvantage in terms of TV contract revenues. IMO, the top of the ACC is better than the top of the Big-12. Clemson and Florida State have both won national championships recently. It would be in Oregon's best interest to align and play against the top ACC programs for a combined conference/alliance championship game. The winner of that game would have a strong case to be included in the college football playoff. Oregon may need to drop some sports programs and donors/fans would need to step up to make up for the gap in TV agreement to keep football competitive. As I have mentioned in other posts, my #1 preference would be for the top teams in the ACC, Big-12 and Pac-10 to merge into a super conference to compete against the B1G and SEC; however, this may be most complex option. An alliance with the ACC would be another good option, assuming that the B1G is not interested in adding Oregon, at this time.

I don't believe that the B1G and SEC will stop at 20, unless they are willing to shed some of the lower performing football programs in their conferences. The end game could be the B1G (FOX) champion vs. SEC (ESPN) champion for the title. For this to happen, the B1G and SEC would need all of the top teams.

I believe that the ACC TV agreement with ESPN runs through 2036, and there are significant buyouts for the schools before then. The Pac could structure its TV deal on the same timeline.

Another article linked below, lists out the options: 1) Join the B1G (author thinks this will only happen if Notre Dame accepts) 2) Merge or form partnership with ACC 3) Merge or form partnership with Big-12 4) Form a super conferences with top teams from Pac, ACC, Big-12 (least likely given complexity but might be the best option, other than #1) Pac-12 Future: Latest on Oregon and Notre Dame's Decision - On3 WWW.ON3.COM The Pac-12 is no longer as we've known it. Now what's ahead for Oregon and how is Notre Dame the key to a decision?

Canzano and some others indicate that the Pac-12 is eyeing a "loose partnership" with the ACC. "What would a “loose partnership” with the ACC look like? It could include a shared media rights deal with ESPN, who currently works with both entities. Also, it could result in the 10 remaining Pac-12 teams sticking together and the winner of that “10-team division” playing in an ACC vs. Pac-12 championship game in Las Vegas at the end of the season. Also, there could be some attractive regular-season crossover games between the entities in football and men’s basketball." Canzano: Pac-12 eyeing "loose partnership" with another conference WWW.JOHNCANZANO.COM Source: CEO Group is plotting.

I've seen everything from the Big 12 picking off 4-6 schools to a complete merger with the remaining Pac schools. My preference would still be an ACC and Pac- merger or formal alliance, with ESPN's backing. The top teams from the ACC (e.g., Clemson, Miami, Florida State) are better than those of the Big 12. ------------------------------------------ "The conference could explore an alliance — this one legally binding — with the ACC to create a bicoastal super-league that would serve as a counterweight to the SEC and Big Ten. "I can tell you the presidents of each league would love to be academically aligned with the other,'' a source noted. The merger would combine the best football brands not accounted for (Washington, Oregon, Clemson, Miami and Florida State) and relegate the Big 12 to permanent third-class status. When asked about the travel demands, the source pointed to USC and UCLA joining the Big Ten and said, "That doesn't seem to matter anymore." Why would the ACC agree? It might not. After all, the ACC currently possesses more stability than either the Big 12 or Pac-12 because its members have bound their media rights to the conference until 2036. But because of that lengthy grant-of-rights deal, the ACC cannot increase its media rights package without restructuring. A merger with the Pac-12 would open the door to additional revenue. Would it be enough? That's a question — one of many — for ESPN." Pac-12 survival guide: Merger options include the obvious (Big 12) and the not-so-obvious WWW.KSL.COM ESPN likely to be the driving force behind the conference's next move.

A future Mountain West school?

I'm very interested to learn what George has in mind.

Who knows if anything is true at this point. Assuming for a moment that it is, would the B1G take Oregon and Stanford right now, if Notre Dame decides to remain independent, so that they don't get tangled in another conference or TV contract? I would hope that the B1G would take Washington over UNC.

Another option is to merge or form an alliance with the Big-12 or ACC, preserve the Pac-10 + any expansion schools as the Western division, and play the Central or Eastern division in the combined conference championship game. This would minimize travel, as most or all of our conference games would be in the Western U.S.

So far, the Georgia Bulldog fans have been nothing but class. Reminds me of the southern hospitality we received from Tennessee and Mississippi State fans. Glad that we have them on the schedule (even if we lose) and will be cheering for Georgia the rest of the way. Thank you for Dan Lanning. We are hopeful in Oregon that he'll turn into the next great college football coach, and hopefully stick around Oregon for awhile.

Oregon will be fine, as long as it keeps winning. USC/UCLA moving to the B1G may benefit the Ducks. Neither are likely to be relevant in the B1G, as they haven’t done jack $#&@ for the PAC-12. Recruits would have the opportunity to play on the west coast, in nicer weather, win football games and prepare for the NFL. Donors and fans will need to step up to offset the TV money to attract and retain the coaches.

I’m still not sure that adding Utah and Colorado was the right move for the Pac-10. It ruined the round robin and I’m not sure it added much to the conference. Texas and Oklahoma would have been the much bigger prize.

Interesting prediction. My thoughts: 1) The author assumes that the existing member of the B1G, SEC and Big-12 will still be there in the end. I’m not sure that is a safe bet, as there are some pretty crappy teams remaining that don’t add much value (e.g., Iowa State). There is no way that Miami and Cal get left out in favor of some of those other schools, IMO. 2) The newly formed Big -12 is clearly a step below the new B1G and SEC. I don’t see them getting an automated bid to the playoffs. 3) Why should the B1G and SEC stop at 20 teams? Why not cherry pick the best programs from all of the conferences, break away from the NCAA and just have each league’s champions face one another for the championship?

I like the out of box thinking. However. I’m sure that Phil Knight and the powers that be want to compete for national championships with all that they have invested in Oregon over the past few decades. This would be essentially throwing in the towel.

I believe that there are 2 options with the ACC (which I believe has better programs than the Big 12): 1) Form a true partnership or merge with the conference. The winner of the East division could play the winner of the West division for the championship, and hopefully a spot in the playoffs. 2) Poach the best teams from the ACC, Big 12 and PAC to form a new conference. This would be harder but not impossible. It would likely require working with the ACC’s current TV partner (ESPN).

If you read some of the Tweets and articles, the PAC-12 is as good as dead. Kliavkoff is the captan of a sinking ship.

Hopefully the B1G commissioner has an end game in mind with conference expansion. If certain schools fit within that vision and are available now, it makes no sense to wait. You run the risk of those programs being tied down financially in the future with new conference/TV exit penalties. Oregon should reach out to the SEC, if the B1G is not going to expand further, at this time, assuming we haven’t already. We cannot wait for something that may or may not happen years from now.

If he were smart, he would be talking to the biggest programs left in the PAC-10 to understand their wishes and desires for the future of the conference and what it would take for them to stay. Oregon should have been his first call, IMO.

Another potential option may be for UCLA and Cal to have coaches be private employees, with salaries and benefits paid for by donors.

That's assuming that the B1G wouldn't proceed with Oregon and Washington, or some other combination of schools. Oregon would be invited to an expanded Big 12, if it wanted to be. I hope that we wait and explore other, more ambitious options, first, as I don't think that a Big 12/Pac-10 merger moves the needle.

Overall, I agree with your post, Duck Fan 76. Below are some of the questions I have re: Southern California recruiting: 1) How important is it for football recruits to play in front of family and friends once a year (note: we heard the same doom and gloom predictions when the Pac-12 split into north and south divisions, and Oregon's recruiting has never been stronger)? If it's critical, how will this impact USC and UCLA's recruiting in neighboring states (e.g., Arizona)? 2) Are Southern California kids going to want to travel 4-5 hours to play night games in the snow (e.g., Penn State in November)? 3) This now opens the door to Ohio State, Michigan and other B1G schools. Is this a bigger recruiting battle vs. the current Pac-12 schools? 4) How does USC's recruiting look if they are a mediocre B1G team? Oregon should continue to be fine in recruiting, as long as we keep winning and there is an opportunity to compete for national championships. Luckily, we have a strong brand and donors with deep pockets who are invested in the program's success.

I would have to believe that ESPN would be very interested in trying to counter Fox/B1G's latest move. Is it really in Fox and ESPN's best interest to have two super conferences (i.e., bargaining power of suppliers)? It would be a bidding war for those conferences TV rights vs. having more options.

Good point. The focus of these conversations seems to be strictly on media market size, except when talking about Notre Dame, for some reason.

As I mentioned in my other post, I hope that the Pac-10 would explore a merger or an agreement with the ACC before the Big-12, as I believe that the top teams are stronger in football (e.g., Clemson, Florida State, Miami, Virginia Tech) and in basketball (e.g., North Carolina, Duke, Virginia).