71Bear said:

---

Andy Staples of The Athletic suggested the Big Ten invite the following schools to join their league:

USC
UCLA
Cal
Stanford
Oregon
Washington

The next step would be to divide the reconstituted 20 team league into four 5 team divisions:

Rutgers
Maryland
Penn State
USC
UCLA

Michigan
Ohio State
Michigan State
Cal
Stanford

Wisconsin
Minnesota
Indiana
Illinois
Purdue

Iowa
Northwestern
Nebraska
Oregon
Washington

Each team would play the other four teams in their division and every team in one other division each year (9 conference games). The interdivisional opponents would rotate every two years to enable every school to play a home and home v. every other team in the league within a six year period.

Given the tenuous situation that all schools currently face, securing a spot in a prestigious conference like the Big Ten would be quite a coup for Cal.

Now, let's talk about that assignment to the division which includes Ohio State.

---

Cal and Stanford have more appeal to a conference like the Big10 than many here would assume.

Each division is allotted a couple of power programs and some cannon fodder. We would be considered cannon fodder.

B1G Twitter is convinced they're raiding the PAC for all of those schools. It's been talked about for days now.

calumnus said:

---

Cal and Stanford have more appeal to a conference like the Big10 than many here would assume.

Each division is allotted a couple of power programs and some cannon fodder. We would be considered cannon fodder.

---

There's no one unbeatable on that list except Ohio St.

BearForce2 said:

---

calumnus said:

---

Cal and Stanford have more appeal to a conference like the Big10 than many here would assume.

Each division is allotted a couple of power programs and some cannon fodder. We would be considered cannon fodder.

---

There's no one unbeatable on that list except Ohio St.

---

Agreed, I'd like our chances., I am just stating what appears to be the intention behind the groupings. Some of our best players on offense of late are transfers who barely even saw the field at Michigan.

From ESPN

Sources said the Big Ten likely would only consider schools that are members of the Association of American Universities, a group of top research institutions that matters a lot to Big Ten presidents. Every Big Ten school but Nebraska has AAU membership, and Nebraska was in the AAU when the Big Ten pursued the school in 2010. Texas is an AAU member but Oklahoma is not. Other than Texas, Iowa State and Kansas are the only other Big 12 schools part of the AAU. There's strong AAU membership in both the Pac-12 (Arizona, Cal, Colorado, Oregon, USC, UCLA, Washington)

I think they missed Stanford

oooh, and we get to see Harbaugh again. joy.

calumnus said:

---

71Bear said:

---

Andy Staples of The Athletic suggested the Big Ten invite the following schools to join their league:

USC
UCLA
Cal
Stanford
Oregon
Washington

The next step would be to divide the reconstituted 20 team league into four 5 team divisions:

Rutgers
Maryland
Penn State
USC
UCLA

Michigan
Ohio State
Michigan State
Cal
Stanford

Wisconsin
Minnesota
Indiana
Illinois
Purdue

Iowa
Northwestern
Nebraska
Oregon
Washington

Each team would play the other four teams in their division and every team in one other division each year (9 conference games). The interdivisional opponents would rotate every two years to enable every school to play a home and home v. every other team in the league within a six year period.

Given the tenuous situation that all schools currently face, securing a spot in a prestigious conference like the Big Ten would be quite a coup for Cal.

Now, let's talk about that assignment to the division which includes Ohio State.

---

Cal and Stanford have more appeal to a conference like the Big10 than many here would assume.

Each division is allotted a couple of power programs and some cannon fodder. We would be considered cannon fodder.

---

Better to be wearing big boy pants and be considered cannon fodder in a power conference than wearing a onesie and be considered a player in a rinky-dink conference.

I mean seriously, these LA schools will have to go to Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania every year. That's insane.

71Bear said:

---

calumnus said:

---

71Bear said:

---

Andy Staples of The Athletic suggested the Big Ten invite the following schools to join their league:

USC
UCLA
Cal
Stanford
Oregon
Washington

The next step would be to divide the reconstituted 20 team league into four 5 team divisions:

Rutgers
Maryland
Penn State
USC
UCLA

Michigan
Ohio State
Michigan State
Cal
Stanford

Wisconsin
Minnesota
Indiana
Illinois
Purdue

Iowa
Northwestern
Nebraska
Oregon
Washington

Each team would play the other four teams in their division and every team in one other division each year (9 conference games). The interdivisional opponents would rotate every two years to enable every school to play a home and home v. every other team in the league within a six year period.

Given the tenuous situation that all schools currently face, securing a spot in a prestigious conference like the Big Ten would be quite a coup for Cal.

Now, let's talk about that assignment to the division which includes Ohio State.

---

Cal and Stanford have more appeal to a conference like the Big10 than many here would assume.

Each division is allotted a couple of power programs and some cannon fodder. We would be considered cannon fodder.

---

Better to be wearing big boy pants and be considered cannon fodder in a power conference than wearing a onesie and be considered a player in a rinky-dink conference.

---

This scenario is the only chance Cal has to stay solvent. We could be like Vanderbilt and Purdue, laughing all the way to the bank and funding a quality athletic program without any real notion of seriously competing in football. From the B1G's perspective, Colorado might be preferable to Cal for media market purposes if they already have the Bay Area covered, but the UC Regents will not allow UCLA to move without Cal so that offers a lot of protection.

The top west coast schools leaving also allows dumping OSU and WSU which no one cares about and ridding ourselves of the inferior conference office in SF. Dang this realignment is fun stuff.

CaliforniaEternal said:

---

71Bear said:

---

calumnus said:

---

71Bear said:

---

Andy Staples of The Athletic suggested the Big Ten invite the following schools to join their league:

USC
UCLA
Cal
Stanford
Oregon
Washington

The next step would be to divide the reconstituted 20 team league into four 5 team divisions:

Rutgers
Maryland
Penn State
USC
UCLA

Michigan
Ohio State
Michigan State
Cal
Stanford

Wisconsin
Minnesota
Indiana
Illinois
Purdue

Iowa
Northwestern
Nebraska
Oregon
Washington

Each team would play the other four teams in their division and every team in one other division each year (9 conference games). The interdivisional opponents would rotate every two years to enable every school to play a home and home v. every other team in the league within a six year period.

Given the tenuous situation that all schools currently face, securing a spot in a prestigious conference like the Big Ten would be quite a coup for Cal.

Now, let's talk about that assignment to the division which includes Ohio State.

---

Cal and Stanford have more appeal to a conference like the Big10 than many here would assume.

Each division is allotted a couple of power programs and some cannon fodder. We would be considered cannon fodder.

---

Better to be wearing big boy pants and be considered cannon fodder in a power conference than wearing a onesie and be considered a player in a rinky-dink conference.

---

This scenario is the only chance Cal has to stay solvent. We could be like Vanderbilt and Purdue, laughing all the way to the bank and funding a quality athletic program without any real notion of seriously competing in football. From the B1G's perspective, Colorado might be preferable to Cal for media market purposes if they already have the Bay Area covered, but the UC Regents will not allow UCLA to move without Cal so that offers a lot of protection.

The top west coast schools leaving also allows dumping OSU and WSU which no one cares about and ridding ourselves of the inferior conference office in SF. Dang this realignment is fun stuff.

---

How does the B1G already have the Bsy Area covered? Agree, that Cal, Stanford and UCLA are pretty much a package deal. Either we all go or we all stay. USC/UCLA is more problematic. USC would leave without regard for UCLA and declare Norte Dame their rival. End of the day though, the 4 California schools are likely considered a prize as a package. It would kill the PAC-12.

Agree that coming right on the heals of ridding ourselves of Scott and before the new guy is established is an opportunity to jettison a lot of baggage, especially expensive offices and bad TV deals.

We're back to where we were 10 years ago - with talk about four mega conferences.

My question is why are we talking about Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC when ACC schools like Clemson, Va Tech, Miami, and FSU would make so much more sense?

calumnus said:

---

CaliforniaEternal said:

---

71Bear said:

---

calumnus said:

---

71Bear said:

---

Andy Staples of The Athletic suggested the Big Ten invite the following schools to join their league:

USC
UCLA
Cal
Stanford
Oregon
Washington

The next step would be to divide the reconstituted 20 team league into four 5 team divisions:

Rutgers
Maryland
Penn State
USC
UCLA

Michigan
Ohio State
Michigan State
Cal
Stanford

Wisconsin
Minnesota
Indiana
Illinois
Purdue

Iowa
Northwestern
Nebraska
Oregon
Washington

Each team would play the other four teams in their division and every team in one other division each year (9 conference games). The interdivisional opponents would rotate every two years to enable every school to play a home and home v. every other team in the league within a six year period.

Given the tenuous situation that all schools currently face, securing a spot in a prestigious conference like the Big Ten would be quite a coup for Cal.

Now, let's talk about that assignment to the division which includes Ohio State.

---

Cal and Stanford have more appeal to a conference like the Big10 than many here would assume.

Each division is allotted a couple of power programs and some cannon fodder. We would be considered cannon fodder.

---

Better to be wearing big boy pants and be considered cannon fodder in a power conference than wearing a onesie and be considered a player in a rinky-dink conference.

---

This scenario is the only chance Cal has to stay solvent. We could be like Vanderbilt and Purdue, laughing all the way to the bank and funding a quality athletic program without any real notion of seriously competing in football. From the B1G's perspective, Colorado might be preferable to Cal for media market purposes if they already have the Bay Area covered, but the UC Regents will not allow UCLA to move without Cal so that offers a lot of protection.

The top west coast schools leaving also allows dumping OSU and WSU which no one cares about and ridding ourselves of the inferior conference office in SF. Dang this realignment is fun stuff.

---

How does the B1G already have the Bsy Area covered? Agree, that Cal, Stanford and UCLA are pretty much a package deal. Either we all go or we all stay. USC/UCLA is more problematic. USC would leave without regard for UCLA and declare Norte Dame their rival. End of the day though, the 4 California schools are likely considered a prize as a package. It would kill the PAC-12.

Agree that coming right on the heals of ridding ourselves of Scott and before the new guy is established is an opportunity to jettison a lot of baggage, especially expensive offices and bad TV deals.

---

In the scenario where B1G adds 6 new schools to get to 20 members total, they could invite AAU members furd, the LA schools, UW, Oregon, and Colorado but not Cal and they would still get the Bay Area media market and the Denver market as well. The saving grace for Cal here is the UC regents, although I wonder if furd and SC would also insist on a package deal. How do they really feel about us lol?

Detaching from the mountain schools and the Arizonas would also be great because the west coast schools don't have real rivalries with any of them. The OOC games vs. MSU, OSU, Minnesota etc generated more enthusiasm than any Utah or Arizona games.

UC Davis Big Game will have to do.

SoFlaBear said:

---

We're back to where we were 10 years ago - with talk about four mega conferences.

My question is why are we talking about Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC when ACC schools like Clemson, Va Tech, Miami, and FSU would make so much more sense?

---

One word - TEXAS. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Any other questions?

calumnus said:

---

How does the B1G already have the Bsy Area covered? Agree, that Cal, Stanford and UCLA are pretty much a package deal. Either we all go or we all stay. USC/UCLA is more problematic. USC would leave without regard for UCLA and declare Norte Dame their rival. End of the day though, the 4 California schools are likely considered a prize as a package. It would kill the PAC-12.

Agree that coming right on the heals of ridding ourselves of Scott and before the new guy is established is an opportunity to jettison a lot of baggage, especially expensive offices and bad TV deals.

---

Not accurate. USC and UCLA are working together with FOX. FOX has huge $$$$ wrapped up in the B1G and want to protect that investment by expanding the league to grab market share against the SEC/ESPN juggernaut.

B1G could add anywhere from 4 - 6 schools. B1G like Colorado, and Oregon, along with the LA schools. The other two spots are up for grabs.

Notre Dame has no interest in B1G membership at this time.

CaliforniaEternal said:

---

calumnus said:

---

CaliforniaEternal said:

---

71Bear said:

---

calumnus said:

---

71Bear said:

---

Andy Staples of The Athletic suggested the Big Ten invite the following schools to join their league:

USC
UCLA
Cal
Stanford
Oregon
Washington

The next step would be to divide the reconstituted 20 team league into four 5 team divisions:

Rutgers
Maryland
Penn State
USC
UCLA

Michigan
Ohio State
Michigan State
Cal
Stanford

Wisconsin
Minnesota
Indiana
Illinois
Purdue

Iowa
Northwestern
Nebraska
Oregon
Washington

Each team would play the other four teams in their division and every team in one other division each year (9 conference games). The interdivisional opponents would rotate every two years to enable every school to play a home and home v. every other team in the league within a six year period.

Given the tenuous situation that all schools currently face, securing a spot in a prestigious conference like the Big Ten would be quite a coup for Cal.

Now, let's talk about that assignment to the division which includes Ohio State.

---

Cal and Stanford have more appeal to a conference like the Big10 than many here would assume.

Each division is allotted a couple of power programs and some cannon fodder. We would be considered cannon fodder.

---

Better to be wearing big boy pants and be considered cannon fodder in a power conference than wearing a onesie and be considered a player in a rinky-dink conference.

---

This scenario is the only chance Cal has to stay solvent. We could be like Vanderbilt and Purdue, laughing all the way to the bank and funding a quality athletic program without any real notion of seriously competing in football. From the B1G's perspective, Colorado might be preferable to Cal for media market purposes if they already have the Bay Area covered, but the UC Regents will not allow UCLA to move without Cal so that offers a lot of protection.

The top west coast schools leaving also allows dumping OSU and WSU which no one cares about and ridding ourselves of the inferior conference office in SF. Dang this realignment is fun stuff.

---

How does the B1G already have the Bsy Area covered? Agree, that Cal, Stanford and UCLA are pretty much a package deal. Either we all go or we all stay. USC/UCLA is more problematic. USC would leave without regard for UCLA and declare Norte Dame their rival. End of the day though, the 4 California schools are likely considered a prize as a package. It would kill the PAC-12.

Agree that coming right on the heals of ridding ourselves of Scott and before the new guy is established is an opportunity to jettison a lot of baggage, especially expensive offices and bad TV deals.

---

In the scenario where B1G adds 6 new schools to get to 20 members total, they could invite AAU members furd, the LA schools, UW, Oregon, and Colorado but not Cal and they would still get the Bay Area media market and the Denver market as well. The saving grace for Cal here is the UC regents, although I wonder if furd and SC would also insist on a package deal. How do they really feel about us lol?

Detaching from the mountain schools and the Arizonas would also be great because the west coast schools don't have real rivalries with any of them. The OOC games vs. MSU, OSU, Minnesota etc generated more enthusiasm than any Utah or Arizona games.

---

Why would Colorado be a better fit with the B1G than Cal. To me Colo's glory days are behind it. And Colo's recruiting has been toward the bottom of the PAC-12.
But maybe I'm wrong.
It also strikes me that Stanfurd by itself does not lock up the NorCal TV market. It has long had poor fan attendance in person. Not sure how that translates into major TV audience.

GivemTheAxe said:

---

CaliforniaEternal said:

---

calumnus said:

---

CaliforniaEternal said:

---

71Bear said:

---

calumnus said:

---

71Bear said:

---

Andy Staples of The Athletic suggested the Big Ten invite the following schools to join their league:

USC
UCLA
Cal
Stanford
Oregon
Washington

The next step would be to divide the reconstituted 20 team league into four 5 team divisions:

Rutgers
Maryland
Penn State
USC
UCLA

Michigan
Ohio State
Michigan State
Cal
Stanford

Wisconsin
Minnesota
Indiana
Illinois
Purdue

Iowa
Northwestern
Nebraska
Oregon
Washington

Each team would play the other four teams in their division and every team in one other division each year (9 conference games). The interdivisional opponents would rotate every two years to enable every school to play a home and home v. every other team in the league within a six year period.

Given the tenuous situation that all schools currently face, securing a spot in a prestigious conference like the Big Ten would be quite a coup for Cal.

Now, let's talk about that assignment to the division which includes Ohio State.

---

Cal and Stanford have more appeal to a conference like the Big10 than many here would assume.

Each division is allotted a couple of power programs and some cannon fodder. We would be considered cannon fodder.

---

Better to be wearing big boy pants and be considered cannon fodder in a power conference than wearing a onesie and be considered a player in a rinky-dink conference.

---

This scenario is the only chance Cal has to stay solvent. We could be like Vanderbilt and Purdue, laughing all the way to the bank and funding a quality athletic program without any real notion of seriously competing in football. From the B1G's perspective, Colorado might be preferable to Cal for media market purposes if they already have the Bay Area covered, but the UC Regents will not allow UCLA to move without Cal so that offers a lot of protection.

The top west coast schools leaving also allows dumping OSU and WSU which no one cares about and ridding ourselves of the inferior conference office in SF. Dang this realignment is fun stuff.

---

How does the B1G already have the Bsy Area covered? Agree, that Cal, Stanford and UCLA are pretty much a package deal. Either we all go or we all stay. USC/UCLA is more problematic. USC would leave without regard for UCLA and declare Norte Dame their rival. End of the day though, the 4 California schools are likely considered a prize as a package. It would kill the PAC-12.

Agree that coming right on the heals of ridding ourselves of Scott and before the new guy is established is an opportunity to jettison a lot of baggage, especially expensive offices and bad TV deals.

---

In the scenario where B1G adds 6 new schools to get to 20 members total, they could invite AAU members furd, the LA schools, UW, Oregon, and Colorado but not Cal and they would still get the Bay Area media market and the Denver market as well. The saving grace for Cal here is the UC regents, although I wonder if furd and SC would also insist on a package deal. How do they really feel about us lol?

Detaching from the mountain schools and the Arizonas would also be great because the west coast schools don't have real rivalries with any of them. The OOC games vs. MSU, OSU, Minnesota etc generated more enthusiasm than any Utah or Arizona games.

---

Why would Colorado be a better fit with the B1G than Cal. To me Colo's glory days are behind it. And Colo's recruiting has been toward the bottom of the PAC-12.
But maybe I'm wrong.
It also strikes me that Stanfurd by itself does not lock up the NorCal TV market. It has long had poor fan attendance in person. Not sure how that translates into major TV audience.

---

Add to those considerations that NorCal is a far deeper recruiting pool than CO and I would think that the conference schools would rather have a couple of games in NorCal rather than one in CO.

71Bear said:

---

Andy Staples of The Athletic suggested the Big Ten invite the following schools to join their league:

USC
UCLA
Cal
Stanford
Oregon
Washington

The next step would be to divide the reconstituted 20 team league into four 5 team divisions:

Rutgers
Maryland
Penn State
USC
UCLA

Michigan
Ohio State
Michigan State
Cal
Stanford

Wisconsin
Minnesota
Indiana
Illinois
Purdue

Iowa
Northwestern
Nebraska
Oregon
Washington

Each team would play the other four teams in their division and every team in one other division each year (9 conference games). The interdivisional opponents would rotate every two years to enable every school to play a home and home v. every other team in the league within a six year period.

Given the tenuous situation that all schools currently face, securing a spot in a prestigious conference like the Big Ten would be quite a coup for Cal.

Now, let's talk about that assignment to the division which includes Ohio State.

---

That amalgamation of the Big 10 and the Pac-12 is similar to what I proposed in the other thread, and you basically ridiculed it. What changed your mind?

GivemTheAxe said:

---

CaliforniaEternal said:

---

calumnus said:

---

CaliforniaEternal said:

---

71Bear said:

---

calumnus said:

---

71Bear said:

---

Andy Staples of The Athletic suggested the Big Ten invite the following schools to join their league:

USC
UCLA
Cal
Stanford
Oregon
Washington

The next step would be to divide the reconstituted 20 team league into four 5 team divisions:

Rutgers
Maryland
Penn State
USC
UCLA

Michigan
Ohio State
Michigan State
Cal
Stanford

Wisconsin
Minnesota
Indiana
Illinois
Purdue

Iowa
Northwestern
Nebraska
Oregon
Washington

Each team would play the other four teams in their division and every team in one other division each year (9 conference games). The interdivisional opponents would rotate every two years to enable every school to play a home and home v. every other team in the league within a six year period.

Given the tenuous situation that all schools currently face, securing a spot in a prestigious conference like the Big Ten would be quite a coup for Cal.

Now, let's talk about that assignment to the division which includes Ohio State.

---

Cal and Stanford have more appeal to a conference like the Big10 than many here would assume.

Each division is allotted a couple of power programs and some cannon fodder. We would be considered cannon fodder.

---

Better to be wearing big boy pants and be considered cannon fodder in a power conference than wearing a onesie and be considered a player in a rinky-dink conference.

---

This scenario is the only chance Cal has to stay solvent. We could be like Vanderbilt and Purdue, laughing all the way to the bank and funding a quality athletic program without any real notion of seriously competing in football. From the B1G's perspective, Colorado might be preferable to Cal for media market purposes if they already have the Bay Area covered, but the UC Regents will not allow UCLA to move without Cal so that offers a lot of protection.

The top west coast schools leaving also allows dumping OSU and WSU which no one cares about and ridding ourselves of the inferior conference office in SF. Dang this realignment is fun stuff.

---

How does the B1G already have the Bsy Area covered? Agree, that Cal, Stanford and UCLA are pretty much a package deal. Either we all go or we all stay. USC/UCLA is more problematic. USC would leave without regard for UCLA and declare Norte Dame their rival. End of the day though, the 4 California schools are likely considered a prize as a package. It would kill the PAC-12.

Agree that coming right on the heals of ridding ourselves of Scott and before the new guy is established is an opportunity to jettison a lot of baggage, especially expensive offices and bad TV deals.

---

In the scenario where B1G adds 6 new schools to get to 20 members total, they could invite AAU members furd, the LA schools, UW, Oregon, and Colorado but not Cal and they would still get the Bay Area media market and the Denver market as well. The saving grace for Cal here is the UC regents, although I wonder if furd and SC would also insist on a package deal. How do they really feel about us lol?

Detaching from the mountain schools and the Arizonas would also be great because the west coast schools don't have real rivalries with any of them. The OOC games vs. MSU, OSU, Minnesota etc generated more enthusiasm than any Utah or Arizona games.

---

Why would Colorado be a better fit with the B1G than Cal. To me Colo's glory days are behind it. And Colo's recruiting has been toward the bottom of the PAC-12.
But maybe I'm wrong.
It also strikes me that Stanfurd by itself does not lock up the NorCal TV market. It has long had poor fan attendance in person. Not sure how that translates into major TV audience.

---

The B1G prefers Colorado for a variety of reasons. B1G presidents would absolutely want Stanford to join their league for "prestige".

bluehenbear said:

---

I guess the players can get all their schoolwork done while sitting in airplanes? We'd better buy a new equipment truck.

---

Can we get a deep-pocketed alum to find a private jet/Bearliner?

GivemTheAxe said:

---

CaliforniaEternal said:

---

calumnus said:

---

CaliforniaEternal said:

---

71Bear said:

---

calumnus said:

---

71Bear said:

---

Andy Staples of The Athletic suggested the Big Ten invite the following schools to join their league:

USC
UCLA
Cal
Stanford
Oregon
Washington

The next step would be to divide the reconstituted 20 team league into four 5 team divisions:

Rutgers
Maryland
Penn State
USC
UCLA

Michigan
Ohio State
Michigan State
Cal
Stanford

Wisconsin
Minnesota
Indiana
Illinois
Purdue

Iowa
Northwestern
Nebraska
Oregon
Washington

Each team would play the other four teams in their division and every team in one other division each year (9 conference games). The interdivisional opponents would rotate every two years to enable every school to play a home and home v. every other team in the league within a six year period.

Given the tenuous situation that all schools currently face, securing a spot in a prestigious conference like the Big Ten would be quite a coup for Cal.

Now, let's talk about that assignment to the division which includes Ohio State.

---

Cal and Stanford have more appeal to a conference like the Big10 than many here would assume.

Each division is allotted a couple of power programs and some cannon fodder. We would be considered cannon fodder.

---

Better to be wearing big boy pants and be considered cannon fodder in a power conference than wearing a onesie and be considered a player in a rinky-dink conference.

---

This scenario is the only chance Cal has to stay solvent. We could be like Vanderbilt and Purdue, laughing all the way to the bank and funding a quality athletic program without any real notion of seriously competing in football. From the B1G's perspective, Colorado might be preferable to Cal for media market purposes if they already have the Bay Area covered, but the UC Regents will not allow UCLA to move without Cal so that offers a lot of protection.

The top west coast schools leaving also allows dumping OSU and WSU which no one cares about and ridding ourselves of the inferior conference office in SF. Dang this realignment is fun stuff.

---

How does the B1G already have the Bsy Area covered? Agree, that Cal, Stanford and UCLA are pretty much a package deal. Either we all go or we all stay. USC/UCLA is more problematic. USC would leave without regard for UCLA and declare Norte Dame their rival. End of the day though, the 4 California schools are likely considered a prize as a package. It would kill the PAC-12.

Agree that coming right on the heals of ridding ourselves of Scott and before the new guy is established is an opportunity to jettison a lot of baggage, especially expensive offices and bad TV deals.

---

In the scenario where B1G adds 6 new schools to get to 20 members total, they could invite AAU members furd, the LA schools, UW, Oregon, and Colorado but not Cal and they would still get the Bay Area media market and the Denver market as well. The saving grace for Cal here is the UC regents, although I wonder if furd and SC would also insist on a package deal. How do they really feel about us lol?

Detaching from the mountain schools and the Arizonas would also be great because the west coast schools don't have real rivalries with any of them. The OOC games vs. MSU, OSU, Minnesota etc generated more enthusiasm than any Utah or Arizona games.

---

Why would Colorado be a better fit with the B1G than Cal. To me Colo's glory days are behind it. And Colo's recruiting has been toward the bottom of the PAC-12.
But maybe I'm wrong.
It also strikes me that Stanfurd by itself does not lock up the NorCal TV market. It has long had poor fan attendance in person. Not sure how that translates into major TV audience.

---

If I were in athletic administration I might prefer Colorado to Cal because adding one program in the Bay Area is enough to capture the market and adding two doesn't bring much marginal value. As much as it pains us to acknowledge, furd is one of the top overall athletic programs in the country and has the financial and administrative resources to run a high level football program if it chooses. Neither Cal nor Colorado offer much in the way of football (at this point the only notoriety Cal has is aging NFL alumni) so on that level they're about even but perhaps adding the Denver market brings additional benefits. Aren't there a lot of B1G alumni in the Denver area, which is a fast growing region? The Bay Area and Northern California is also a very weak college football market due to the demographics and they might not overexposure with 2 programs here.

The same issue exists in the LA market where you would be really excited to add USC but adding UCLA for football doesn't bring in that much more than the additional exposure of playing more games in LA. Plus now you have 2 NFL teams competing for attention so that adds some risk.

As for the B1G presidents, Cal will be a far more appealing choice than Colorado because of the academic component and the desire to affiliate with a superior academic institution. Ultimately the presidents are the decision makers so whatever consensus they reach amongst themselves is more important their conference office or AD's preferences.

BigDaddy said:

---

Staples layout is dumb. More likely, in a 20 team B1G you would see the conference broken up into regional pods. Assuming the B1G took 6 Pac-12 teams...

West
USC
UCLA
Oregon
Stanford
Cal

Mountain
Colorado
Nebraska
Minnesota
Iowa
Wisconsin

Midwest
Michigan
Ohio State
Michigan State
Northwestern
Illinois

East
Penn State
Indiana
Purdue
Rutgers
Maryland

Figure the winners of each pod would play in a semi final to determine who makes the championship game.

This is the first step in the sport being dominated by two Mega Conferences. 48 teams, split evenly between 24 team SEC and B1G. Not saying I want or prefer this. But it looks like the future.

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Your divisional alignment makes lots of sense.

BigDaddy said:

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Staples layout is dumb. More likely, in a 20 team B1G you would see the conference broken up into regional pods. Assuming the B1G took 6 Pac-12 teams...

West
USC
UCLA
Oregon
Stanford
Cal

Mountain
Colorado
Nebraska
Minnesota
Iowa
Wisconsin

Midwest
Michigan
Ohio State
Michigan State
Northwestern
Illinois

East
Penn State
Indiana
Purdue
Rutgers
Maryland

Figure the winners of each pod would play in a semi final to determine who makes the championship game.

This is the first step in the sport being dominated by two Mega Conferences. 48 teams, split evenly between 24 team SEC and B1G. Not saying I want or prefer this. But it looks like the future.

---

Why not go to straight to 6 teams per pod, 24 in total? UW is a strong program, has the academics and adds Seattle. Plus they have a big rivalry with Oregon.

That would open up 3 more slots for the B1G to poach teams. Could be the Arizona schools, Utah, B12 remnants, Or more teams in the east.

People need to get used to Cal games starting at 3:30 as the standard, with 7:30 often.

calumnus said:

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BigDaddy said:

---

Staples layout is dumb. More likely, in a 20 team B1G you would see the conference broken up into regional pods. Assuming the B1G took 6 Pac-12 teams...

West
USC
UCLA
Oregon
Stanford
Cal

Mountain
Colorado
Nebraska
Minnesota
Iowa
Wisconsin

Midwest
Michigan
Ohio State
Michigan State
Northwestern
Illinois

East
Penn State
Indiana
Purdue
Rutgers
Maryland

Figure the winners of each pod would play in a semi final to determine who makes the championship game.

This is the first step in the sport being dominated by two Mega Conferences. 48 teams, split evenly between 24 team SEC and B1G. Not saying I want or prefer this. But it looks like the future.

---

Why not go to straight to 6 teams per pod, 24 in total? UW is a strong program, has the academics and adds Seattle. Plus they have a big rivalry with Oregon.

That would open up 3 more slots for the B1G to poach teams. Could be the Arizona schools, Utah, B12 remnants, Or more teams in the east.

People need to get used to Cal games starting at 3:30 as the standard, with 7:30 often.

---

Washington to the West. Utah or Arizona to the Mountain. Notre Dame to the Midwest. Poach Virginia and the go to the East.

Play everyone in your division then play another division each year. Thats 11 games. Schedule a tune up against a local FBS team for 12th game. Division winner based on record against division. Tiebreaker is conference record. 4 winners play a semi against each other. Winners play in the Grand Daddy of the all. Winner of that plays for National Championship.

So.... for all you born after Jan 1,1959.....
Your Rose Bowl hopes ( as you wished them)
will be cooked, done, toast.
Pack it up, turn out the lights.
Cheers!!
Go Bears!!!
Cal Band Great!!!

As I've said many many times...

The Rose Bowl died in 2004

bluehenbear said:

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As I've said many many times...

The Rose Bowl died in 2004

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It did. However, I can see possibilities for a future where it is revived:

First scenario: the SEC becomes a mega semipro league, killing or just dominating the playoffs. The B1G absorbs most of the Pac-12 and keeps an academic component. The Rose Bowl would be the conference championship game, pitting the West Division (PAC) champ against the East Division (Big) Champ.

Second Scenario: A few schools like SC and UW or Oregon jump to the B1G and the new Mega conference structure, but most of the PAC-12 gets left behind, we poach a few MWC or B12 schools, but we and the Rose Bowl are left out of the playoff picture. The Rose Bowl returns to what was before, a non-championship bowl game featuring the PAC-10/12 champ versus an invited opponent.

Other scenarios are versions of the two above, depending on whether Cal and the apse-12 are part of the mega conferences or are left out of the mega conferences.

More likely: The CFP is played in stadiums closer to the fanbases of the participants. UCLA signs a contract to play in one of the newer NFL stadiums, closer to its campus. Pasadena sells the Arroyo Seco land to a developer and the Rose Bowl is demolished. The Rose Parade continues and people forget that it was once a prelude to a football game as they have forgotten the chariot races.

bluehenbear said:

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As I've said many many times...

The Rose Bowl died in 2004

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Actually then it died in 1998 when the BCS started. If the Rose Bowl were still the Rose Bowl in 2004, it would have been U$C playing in it, not Cal. And the first Rose Bowl to lose its traditional matchup was the 2002 Rose Bowl when Ohio State was placed in the title game.

Yes, all you write is true. But 2004 was the last time we had the hope of being in something *like* the Rose Bowl. Now there is no hope.