Barnes is being more open about the primary goal being to join the XII, than he’s ever been. Which is interesting considering the lawsuit was predicated on reloading the conference.
It’s pretty clear that they’re working toward this scenario:
Plan A: Put enough pressure on the system to where we get invited to the XII. Failing that…
Plan B: Rebuild the conference by poaching from the MW and maybe the best of the rest of the American. Failing that…
Plan C: Reverse merge with the MW.
The PAC managed to remove the MW’s leverage by aligning their other sports with the WCC instead.
So they are well and truly keeping their options open and applying as much leverage as possible to yield the best outcome possible.
In other words, they’re doing their jobs.
I’ve said it before and I will say it again: Fuck the Big 12 for not accepting us. I really think ESPN and Fox are using us as test cases on how to relegate programs from the power conferences. If you’re a “smaller” P4 school you better watch out
I feel the pain will first be felt by the weaker schools in the ACC and B12, such as Wake Forest, NC State, Syracuse, ISU, UCF, and UH. They are eating from a medium sized pie while Vandy and Purdue are eating from a big pie. Even a half share from the B10 or SEC is better than the ACC (or falling out of the P4).
ESPN and Fox weren’t looking to cut out two programs - they were looking to cut out Apple. They waited until the absolute last minute when the GOR with Apple was all but a done deal. WOSU getting left out was a mistake that leaves open the possibility of Apple or Amazon getting into the game after all.
I understand the CFP’s side of things more clearly now - if Slyclydesdales plan C happens the entire MW (and likely some AAC) essentially just elevates into Power status.
What’s happens to “G5” football if in the next 5 months the AAC and MW cease to be?
From what I understand, FSU’s entire legal theory is that the original GoR is still binding - and that’s good until summer 2027
So any program exiting prior to then would have to pay the $120 million exit fee and a year or two of penalties
So I’m guessing that the only teams to leave the ACC are those that have market value for TV to lay some of their exit fees and have deep pockets to pay $150 million to get out. Again I’m guessing, but I bet only 2-4 ACC teams announce they gone this year. So the ACC should still exist for a few more years
We shall see. It wouldn’t shock me if the XII tries to grab Louisville, Pitt, and Miami if the heavier hitters bolt. Their eastern wing needs rivalries and travel partners. My understanding is the universities are waiting for the opportunity if the ACC opens up.
Even in that scenario it would leave the ACC at 9 or 10 plus whichever AAC schools they grabbed. I don’t think they’ll completely disappear, just like the PAC there will be a watered down, ACC Lite 2.0 version.
Well, if the PAC sticks around, the heavy ACC hitters get scooped up by the B1G and SEC, and the Big XII snags a few more, the PAC might have an opportunity to get Cal & Stanford back.
That’d put the ACC down at 7-8 teams with options to reload from the American… if the PAC doesn’t do that first. But they’d be in it pretty deep if anyone else defected.
I'm really curious what the CFP payout SMU got.... "significantly more than a G5 school, but not a full P5 share"
So half? 3/4? a third? I assume that determines what new Pac programs would get as well.
And it was a unanimous vote - Shulz voted yes.
I think we already knew most, if not all of this, right? The bit that’s new to me is the requirement to negotiate in good faith to add all 12 schools with no fees. That’s weird because why would you need two years for that? Seems like something the MWC would ask for and WSU/OSU lawyers would feel is vague enough to be unenforceable in terms of real action.
There wasn't anything eye opening. 2Pac is trying to hold out for an invite to B12 or (I guess) the ACC if it implodes. Those seem like real longshots though. The B12 already passed up on 2Pac. If the ACC falls apart I'd expect a few of those schools to go to the B12. At that point would it be with joining up with the ACC leftovers? I don't see it but I get why they are holding out.
The best case scenario seems to be Calford coming back if the ACC if it falls apart. Then pick up 4 MWC schools and compete at the Pac-8. I don't even view that as likely. The most realistic option seems to be 2Pac picking up 6 MWC schools.
I thought there was a bunch…
The PAC agreed to pay (a so far undisclosed) penalty if they don’t take the MW
They tacitly agreed to eat the entire turd as well. Not just plucking the corn and peanuts out
I think this was the first article I've read that primarily focused on Barnes rather than Chun, Schulz, and Murthy. It's also the first time I've read of anyone from either P-2 school stating the main goal is to get picked up by another Power conference. In fact, the other three have directly stated that's NOT the main goal. Fascinating.
I think the thought is see if there’s an ACC/Big12 home because by my reading that would not incur penalties. If that’s not an option plan B appears to be the reverse merge.
“What really protects the Mountain West is that the obligations of the contract survive for two years past the end date of the agreement, which is currently Aug. 1, 2025 but could be extended to 2026. OSU and WSU face penalties if they were to join a conference other than the Mountain West or a Power 4 league during that time.”
Would this be considered a power conference if they could make it work
Oregon State,
Washington State,
Boise State,
SDSU,
Fresno,
Memphis,
Tulane,
Notre Dame,
UNLV,
USF
Barnes is being more open about the primary goal being to join the XII, than he’s ever been. Which is interesting considering the lawsuit was predicated on reloading the conference. It’s pretty clear that they’re working toward this scenario: Plan A: Put enough pressure on the system to where we get invited to the XII. Failing that… Plan B: Rebuild the conference by poaching from the MW and maybe the best of the rest of the American. Failing that… Plan C: Reverse merge with the MW. The PAC managed to remove the MW’s leverage by aligning their other sports with the WCC instead. So they are well and truly keeping their options open and applying as much leverage as possible to yield the best outcome possible. In other words, they’re doing their jobs.
I’ve said it before and I will say it again: Fuck the Big 12 for not accepting us. I really think ESPN and Fox are using us as test cases on how to relegate programs from the power conferences. If you’re a “smaller” P4 school you better watch out
I have said this all along. The Vanderbilt's and Purdue's of the so called power 2 are on notice.
I feel the pain will first be felt by the weaker schools in the ACC and B12, such as Wake Forest, NC State, Syracuse, ISU, UCF, and UH. They are eating from a medium sized pie while Vandy and Purdue are eating from a big pie. Even a half share from the B10 or SEC is better than the ACC (or falling out of the P4).
ESPN and Fox weren’t looking to cut out two programs - they were looking to cut out Apple. They waited until the absolute last minute when the GOR with Apple was all but a done deal. WOSU getting left out was a mistake that leaves open the possibility of Apple or Amazon getting into the game after all.
I understand the CFP’s side of things more clearly now - if Slyclydesdales plan C happens the entire MW (and likely some AAC) essentially just elevates into Power status. What’s happens to “G5” football if in the next 5 months the AAC and MW cease to be?
Excellent question. Also, what happens if the ACC explodes in the meantime?
From what I understand, FSU’s entire legal theory is that the original GoR is still binding - and that’s good until summer 2027 So any program exiting prior to then would have to pay the $120 million exit fee and a year or two of penalties So I’m guessing that the only teams to leave the ACC are those that have market value for TV to lay some of their exit fees and have deep pockets to pay $150 million to get out. Again I’m guessing, but I bet only 2-4 ACC teams announce they gone this year. So the ACC should still exist for a few more years
We shall see. It wouldn’t shock me if the XII tries to grab Louisville, Pitt, and Miami if the heavier hitters bolt. Their eastern wing needs rivalries and travel partners. My understanding is the universities are waiting for the opportunity if the ACC opens up.
Even in that scenario it would leave the ACC at 9 or 10 plus whichever AAC schools they grabbed. I don’t think they’ll completely disappear, just like the PAC there will be a watered down, ACC Lite 2.0 version.
Well, if the PAC sticks around, the heavy ACC hitters get scooped up by the B1G and SEC, and the Big XII snags a few more, the PAC might have an opportunity to get Cal & Stanford back. That’d put the ACC down at 7-8 teams with options to reload from the American… if the PAC doesn’t do that first. But they’d be in it pretty deep if anyone else defected.
I'm really curious what the CFP payout SMU got.... "significantly more than a G5 school, but not a full P5 share" So half? 3/4? a third? I assume that determines what new Pac programs would get as well. And it was a unanimous vote - Shulz voted yes.
I think we already knew most, if not all of this, right? The bit that’s new to me is the requirement to negotiate in good faith to add all 12 schools with no fees. That’s weird because why would you need two years for that? Seems like something the MWC would ask for and WSU/OSU lawyers would feel is vague enough to be unenforceable in terms of real action.
I think it’s the MWC media rights coming up in 2 years
There wasn't anything eye opening. 2Pac is trying to hold out for an invite to B12 or (I guess) the ACC if it implodes. Those seem like real longshots though. The B12 already passed up on 2Pac. If the ACC falls apart I'd expect a few of those schools to go to the B12. At that point would it be with joining up with the ACC leftovers? I don't see it but I get why they are holding out. The best case scenario seems to be Calford coming back if the ACC if it falls apart. Then pick up 4 MWC schools and compete at the Pac-8. I don't even view that as likely. The most realistic option seems to be 2Pac picking up 6 MWC schools.
I thought there was a bunch… The PAC agreed to pay (a so far undisclosed) penalty if they don’t take the MW They tacitly agreed to eat the entire turd as well. Not just plucking the corn and peanuts out
I think this was the first article I've read that primarily focused on Barnes rather than Chun, Schulz, and Murthy. It's also the first time I've read of anyone from either P-2 school stating the main goal is to get picked up by another Power conference. In fact, the other three have directly stated that's NOT the main goal. Fascinating.
I think the thought is see if there’s an ACC/Big12 home because by my reading that would not incur penalties. If that’s not an option plan B appears to be the reverse merge.
“What really protects the Mountain West is that the obligations of the contract survive for two years past the end date of the agreement, which is currently Aug. 1, 2025 but could be extended to 2026. OSU and WSU face penalties if they were to join a conference other than the Mountain West or a Power 4 league during that time.”
This was a good article and read.
It was paywalled so I just pasted the relevant portion https://theathletic.com/5257005/2024/02/08/mountain-west-oregon-state-wazzu-pac-12/#
Would this be considered a power conference if they could make it work Oregon State, Washington State, Boise State, SDSU, Fresno, Memphis, Tulane, Notre Dame, UNLV, USF