More college football dominoes: strange Big XII expansion news

Long story short, the Big XII Expansion is a big mess. Oklahoma doesn't want it and that may be enough to kill the whole effort. That's great news for the ACC and BC.

No promotion of UConn and UMass
Our nearest football neighbors, UConn and UMass, are both hoping to improve their football standings. If there is no Big XII expansion, UConn remains a mid-major in football in the American Athletic Conference. UMass wants to join the AAC, but if a UConn or Cincinnati doesn't join the Big XII, there is less likely to be a backfill slot for the Minutemen in the AAC. It is petty of me to want to keep those schools in their respective places, but I do think it helps BC. We already battle elite schools for the best prospects in New England. We don't need added local competition from the two state universities. Remaining the only Power 5 program in the area is one of our slight advantages.

The ACC is okay
As long as the Big XII continues flip flopping and infighting, the ACC looks better. We are less likely to get poached and remain a good landing spot for Texas (due to their shared deal with ESPN). That position means we will get more slots in the playoff and have more bargaining power in the playoff discussion. If the Power 5 ever becomes the Power 4, the ACC is in a good position.

BC has a host of challenges and needs to decide many things related to athletics, but for now it is nice to know that conferences issues are not one of our challenges.

Unhappy Oklahoma is good for the ACC

Oklahoma stirred the pot in College Football over the last few days by publicly complaining about the current Big XII. There are a host of issues but the main two are Longhorn Network undermining any chance of a Big XII Network and the lack of good expansion prospects. Nothing will happen this summer, but Big XII weakness is great for the ACC.

As long as there is just a four-team playoff and five major conferences, there will be plenty of selection controversy. Four major conferences with four auto-bids would make more sense. And if you take the next step, four-auto bids as part of a eight team playoff would work well. Some form of consolidation will come. It the Big XII is the weakest conference, then that means the ACC is safe. Plus the ACC's flexibility with Notre Dame is a clear signal to Texas or any other unhappy Big XII team, that we are the best destination for their athletic programs.

BC is never going to drive the conference shuffles, but we can influence things. I hope Brad Bates is working the back channels in the conference and the Big XII in a way that makes the ACC and BC stronger.

Gene's role in conference shuffle, BC-ND in Ireland? and other links

This is a good rundown of all the crazy moments of conference realignment. Of course Gene saying that ESPN pulls all the strings won't be forgotten.

Irish Central is reporting that BC and Notre Dame are considering a game in Ireland in 2015. BCI is against the idea, but I am for it. Losing out on one road trip to South Bend is not a big deal. For all those BC students who miss the experience, they can instead replace it with an unforgettable trip to Ireland. The only downside for BC is the logistical one. But I am sure we could play it in a slot that works for both teams. We need events like this to get excitement going. I cannot think of a better game for BC than one against Notre Dame in Ireland.

Addazio had a positive outlook on the loss of the Spring Game. It really meant no injuries and more one-on-one time with recruits.

Tuesday's baseball game with Hartford was cancelled due to rain.

Does the Grant of Rights finally secure the ACC?

The ACC agreed to a shared Grant of Rights until to 2027. Many are saying this keeps the conference secure for years to come. I still have my doubts. Let me explain:

The Good
The grant means all of the ACC's content is now pooled. BC's local radio deal, online rights for Wake Forest Field Hockey, or a Duke-North Carolina game all have the same owner and manager -- the conference. No more local, or team only deals. It also protects new media/internet rights. Obviously not all team's rights are equal. Florida State's radio network is worth much more than say the rights to BC softball. So it is a good sign that every team was willing to sacrifice control and that potential revenue in order for it to be shared by the group. (Perhaps there is some allocation method so a valuable property -- like a BC hockey or Syracuse Lacrosse -- might get a reward for performance. We will know more in the coming days.) The deal also creates another trigger with ESPN, so I predict we will hear about the new financial terms of the ACC-ESPN agreement shortly. It also puts us in the same financial and content standing as the Big 12, which neutralizes one conference as a predator.

Finally, it moves the ACC one step closer to an ACC Network.

The Bad
Financially this doesn't level the playing field with the Big Ten, Pac 12 or SEC. The ACC remains in a catch up position. It also doesn't include Notre Dame. Without the Irish and in a secondary money position, any of the big 3, but most likely the SEC of Big Ten could poach an ACC team.

While a new conference partner wouldn't get the new (former ACC) school's home games or radio content, the Big Ten or SEC would still get to market to those cable homes in the new markets and would still get all of their conference away games.

One only needs to look towards Maryland to realize what the big conferences are willing to do and pay for. Maryland's content is not worth the $50 million the Big Ten is paying upfront. But the long-term potential is when you factor in Maryland cable homes. And think of how much more valuable other programs are when compared to Maryland.

What's next?
I think this will cool things off for a few months. The next domino is the SEC's new network and if the ACC is finally willing to get our network on cable. I am glad BC is secure, but I know enough about this process to know it won't end soon.

Louisville won't save the ACC

With basketball on everyone's mind, I've read and heard a lot of talking heads and experts say that Louisville  (along with Notre Dame, Pitt and Syracuse) make the ACC the premier basketball conference. Adding the defending champs is nice, but it doesn't mean much when you look at the whole picture. Being the best and deepest basketball conference is a good thing, but football still runs college athletics. 

Things have been silent lately on conference shuffling, but I hope Bates is still working on BC's backup plan. The ACC is now as vulnerable as ever. TV contract windows are coming for the Big Ten and SEC. If they feel it makes sense to go to 16, they will. Maryland is proving that debt and penalty money is not a factor. 

As much as I love the NCAA Tournament, I think its appeal just makes a power conference breakoff that much more likely. If the football factories leave the NCAA, they can create their own basketball tournament and keep all of that TV money. 

While Bates works the backrooms, he also needs to make sure our basketball and football teams get better faster. On-field performance doesn't mean anything (see Maryland, Rutgers) but we want to be as strong as we can be when thing shake out again. 

The Big East is the Big East again

The Big East started as a basketball conference made up of predominately Catholic colleges. With the news that the Catholic basketball schools are getting to keep the name "The Big East" and the association with Madison Square Garden, the Big East is what it always should have been. BC won't be part of the organization this time around, but this is an example of college teams making sound decisions, taking their legacy into their own hands and understanding the value of association. For all of our collective complaining about the "basketball schools" over the years, they finally did something right. That is a lesson to BC and our athletic leaders.

Overall this won't impact BC much. We will still play Providence regularly and it might speed up Notre Dame's transition to the ACC. But other than that, it should be status quo. It will diminish the exiled football schools a bit more. Until UConn and Cincinnati find better homes and better branding, they are sliding towards mid-majordom. That should help our recruiting in both areas and help when we recruit against USF and UCF in Florida.

I truly wish these programs success. Catholic schools helped make college basketball what it is today and it would be nice to see these guys rebuild their brand again.