Southside

This is all about keeping up with the SEC and TV contracts. The B10 doesn't need help with academics. The FB money funds the other sports, so that's really the true help if we're being honest. Clemson BB isn't great, but isn't horrible either. They are currently ranked higher than Ohio St, Wisconsin, and several other B10 schools. And like I said on Stanford, they have a lot of great things. But their fans are ultra low enthusiasm. Especially students. Stanford gives away student tickets (to students) for free, and that still doesn't help. The players call the stadium "The Library" lol. Nice market, horrible fans. Many articles written about the topic if interested. The B10 will likely stop at 20. Saying though that having 16 FB teams does not work is silly. The SEC is clearly heading that direction. No reason the B10 can't. But like I said. This is all personal preference polling/voting. Everyone has different opinions. I'm sure very few will get it right (picking the next 4 teams).

Saw your similar post in the other thread so responding to both. Stanford has a lot of great qualities no doubt. But their FB and BB have both declined. But more importantly, the realignment looks to be 99% about football TV and market capture. Stanford FB stands are pitiful at times, and their overall fan enthusiasm is pretty low. Read that their viewership was more about national viewers, and less about the Bay (USC and UCLA are watched just as much there). Having UCLA and USC more or less captures Cali, and has the national kicker as well. I would not be shocked at all if they did end up in the B10 though. Maybe a little surprised. But this is all about personal preference, so let your Stanford flag fly :-)

Thought a two round poll might be fun. I'll take the tops of each poll and do a second/final poll. Going to assume 20 (UCLA/USC + 4 more) at this point, but that's really irrelevant for the sake of the poll. ND is not listed in this round, but will be one of the final choices for obvious reasons. If there is a team I left out that you'd like to see, let me know. Vote with whatever you want (logic or heart, or mix lol), but keep in mind that FB $$ and market are two big forces, likely bigger than academics. I'm sure academics will eliminate some though.

Good article on UNC/Duke in terms of them staying tethered or not. https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/article263209423.html

I chose Baylor as my #1. Checks every box. Strong FB, MBB, and WBB. Elite market. Not AAU but respectable academics. Better than Oregon who is another one of my favs. UNC is up there for me too, but UNC and Duke would likely be a package deal. Love Duke in BB, but FB doesn't add much. UNC is at least respectable in FB. And if I can't get UNC alone, probably would rather just take Clemson. Voted FL market. It's elite too.

We should make efforts to conserve. But saying it will solve the problem, or even happens, is just not reality. And you're incorrect about food. Our exports are heavily slanted to soybeans. Our total net ag import/export is either already net importer, or at minimum will be a net importer within the next year or two. The USDA says so as well... The first two charts are imports. The third shows export of 131B, import of 151B. The 4th is the import/export + net view.

The academic rank would definitely hold them back. They are making strides in sports though. They used the dome in the past. Center Parc (old Turner Field) stadium could be reconfigured or rebuilt to be much bigger. It's pretty strange in it's current state. Still, as is, it's about he size of OR State....

Didn't he win that though? lol.. I didn't follow much wrastlin' after Purdue Person the Bruiser (my grandfather loved him) retired. Wasn't really a fan at the time to be honest, it was just on his TV lol.

The processes are improving, and the price is decreasing. Many countries are even using solar and wind turbines to offset the energy required. Never heard that it's labor intensive. Like I posted, the production cost (not initial capital outlay) for Tampa is about 7 bucks a household. That's simply not much. I'd add that water for irrigation and other uses require less processing than drinking water. I read a few articles yesterday after posting. The Carlsbad plant cost only $1B to build, and provides 50M gallons a day to SD County. If Cali can spend $5B on a train to nowhere, a few more desal plants sounds like a solid investment. And I don't mean to sound snotty at all, but turning the ag world upside down, or poo pooing golf courses and waterparks, just isn't reality. Sure some changes are probably needed, but ag is already highly over-regulated. We've driven cost up so much already we're having to import which creates a ton of other problems and vulnerabilities. And that's about as silly as buying oil from other countries which use far dirtier extraction and processing than we do here in the US. But in simple terms, when only 0.83% of the water on this planet is fresh water, and we have giant oceans of saltwater that are rising, makes a lot sense to figure out how to take that water and make it usable.

4 buddies and I decided to make a wager on the B10 expansion outcome, so I went down the rabbit hole digging into resumes. I just hate the spreadsheets that are floating around out there... And I really want that $500 lol. Here's a cut/paste of what I found. Tried to clean it up. Enjoy. Plan to the do the final poll tomorrow or over the weekend. This may help with your votes. TLDR - only 4 teams really check all the boxes. Another 13 teams that you could consider well rounded. The rest have flaws in one way or another. What's included Team Name / Abbreviation Football Ranking First number is 2021 final AP I included other votes as "OV" Second number is the 2022 preseason rank (example UM is 3-10, 3rd last season and preseason ranked 10 this year) Basketball current Torvik rank (example UM is 32nd) https://barttorvik.com/ US News Academic Rank for 2022 https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges AAU (simple yes or no, with history if relevant) Football Program Value Rank within the top 25 (example UM is #3 MVFBP) Football TV viewership rank within the top 50 (example UM is also the #3 most watched football program - MWFBP) I've grouped these teams as follows Current/future B10 Candidates Teams that check all the boxes, more or less Top 25 FB, Top 68 (Dance-ish teams), and Top 100 academic rank Teams that check both the T25FB and T68BB box, but fail the academic test Teams that are well rounded across the board, but may not light your sox on fire in different areas. Some FB tradition, and T100 in both BB and academics. Teams that plain suck at FB, but are good BB schools and pass the academic test Teams that are borderline in one aspect or another, but have some positive traits Teams that have made noise in at least one sport, but likely fall too far outside the academic profile (not top 150) Current B10 resume UM / 3-10 / 32 / 23 / Yes - #3 MVFBP (most valuable FB program) / #3 MWFBP (Most Watched FB Program in 2020) MSU / 9-9 / 23 / 83 / Yes - #22 MVFBP / #15 MWFBP OSU / 6-2 / 61 / 49 / Yes - #5 MVFBP / #1 MWFBP IA / 23-25 / 38 / 83 / Yes - #21 MVFBP / #21 MWFBP PU / OV / 28 / 49 / Yes WI / OV / 64 / 42 / Yes - #23 MVFBP / #12 MWFBP MN / OV / 120 / 68 / Yes - #43 MWFBP IU / NR / 12 / 68 / Yes - #34 MWFBP IL / NR / 13 / 47 / Yes MAR / NR / 50 / 59 / Yes RUT / NR / 56 / 63 / Yes PSU / NR / 81 / 63 / Yes - #13 MVFP / #10 MWFBP NEB / NR / 90 / 136 / No, left in 2011 - #20 MVFBP / #22 MWFBP NW / NR / 94 / 9 / Yes - #40 MWFBP USC / NR-4 / 40 / 27 / Yes - #18 MVFBP / #16 MWFBP UCLA / NR / 7 / 20 / Yes - #32 MWFBP Candidates Checks all the boxes (T25 FB, T68 BB, T100 Academic). ND / 8-7 / 34 / 19 / No - #8 MVFBP / #5 MWFBP Bay / 5-18 / 2 / 75 / No - #35 MWFBP Clem / 14-12 / 54 / 75 / No - #25 MVFBP / #9 MWFBP OR / 22-16 / 33 / 99 / Yes - #15 MVFBP / #26 MWFBP Checks both the T25 FB and T68 BB boxes, outside the T100 academically. High bang for the buck if you don't care about academic profile. OKST / 7-11 / 30 / 187 / No - #19 MWFBP HOU / 17-13 / 6 / 179 / No CIN / 4-23 / 52 / 148 / No UTST / 24 / 67 / 249 / No SDST / 25 / 11 / 148 / No FRST / OV / 66 / 213 / No Well rounded. Have some tradition in FB (or were good at times in the past), T100 in BB and Academics Miami / NR / 20 / 55 / No - #23 MWFBP FSU / NR / 73 / 55 / No - #15 MVFBP / #14 MWFBP UW / NR / 83 / 59 / Yes - #19 MVFBP / #28 MWFBP TCU / NR / 24 / 83 / No - #24 MWFBP STAN / NR / 39 / 6 / Yes - #25 BWFBP BYU / 19-19 / 75 / 79 / No - #48 MWFBP UNC / NR / 4 / 28 / Yes - #45 MWFBP Wake / 15-17 / 85 / 28 / No NCST / 20-8 / 87 / 79 / No - #49 MWFBP VT / NR / 22 / 75 / No - #31 MWFBP BC / NR / 77 / 36 / No GT / NR / 96 / 38 / Yes CO / NR / 78 / 99 / Yes Stink at FB, but check BB and academic boxes. Big East expansion candidates? lol Duke / NR / 5 / 9 / Yes UVA / NR / 16 / 25 / Yes SYR / NR / 84 / 59 / No, left in 2011 UCON / NR / 59 / 63 / No Borderline teams in one way or another, but also has some good to great qualities. Pitt / 13-15 / 115 / 59 / Yes - #44 MWFBP - peaks and valleys for both FB and BB Utah / 12-6 / 127 / 99 / Yes - #41 MWFBP - has been improving in FB the last decade ASU / NR / 49 / 117 / No - #50 MWFBP - Both BB and FB has peaks and valleys ISU / NR / 46 / 122 / No, left in 2022 - #46 MWFBP - BB and FB peaks and valleys UCF / NR / 99 / 148 / No - has fielded good teams in both FB and BB, and nice market AZ / NR / 14 / 103 / Yes - Good BB, and an occasional good FB team KS / NR / 8 / 122 / Yes - BB only school. Bad at FB, AAU, but not a great USN rank CAL / NR / 130 / 22 / Yes - good for bringing the confernece grad rate up lol Has made noise in both FB and BB at times, sometimes elite, but perhaps to far outside the academic profile (150+ USN) for the B10 KSU / NR / 70 / 162 / No - has made noise in both BB nd FB at times LOU / NR / 88 / 187 / No - #33 MWFBP - same, with some elite BB TTU / NR / 27 / 213 / No - #38 MWFBP - noise in both BB and FB WVU / NR / 29 / 249 / No - #30 MWFBP - same MEMP / NR / 36 / 249 / No - same BST / NR / 98 / NR / No - same WSU / NR / 53 / 179 / No - #39 MWFBP - very meh now that Leach is gone ORST / NR / 268 / 162 / No - super meh

Thanks. On Clemson, perhaps. IMO we need some southern teams to stay relevant. We're now coast to coast, so I don't really see the south as a huge step or barrier. Less of a jump than the Cali teams we just picked up. Distance wise, if you use IU or PU as the traditional center of the B10 geo, Clemson would be closer than several existing B10 schools like Rutgers, Maryland, MN, and Nebraska. Initially, I'd be a little concerned about the TV market in the Carolinas (compared to some of the others), but there were a top 10 most viewed team nationally. I'd probably prefer a FL team to Clemson if I had to pick. Need a TX team too IMO.

Neither team has a football team. So not a fit for the PAC.

lol

Yup, there's always FB and BB recruiting clashes, which historically has pushed a lot of intra state teams to split conferences. TX A&M for instance was tired of UT (TX) for many reasons, one big one being recruiting. Now UT is following. And there's even a little chatter about one of them ending up in the B10. If I were either, no way I'd leave the SEC, but I could understand either move. It's why I think Miami and FSU will end up splitting between the B10 and SEC once the music stops.

I think after the dust settles, we might see a trend toward more basketball first, or basketball only, super conferences. Sorta like the Big East out West. Zags and St Mary's are WCC, not MW. And BYU is leaving the WCC for the B12, so I'm sure they'll be making changes one way or another.

It's simply a business a now (NIL, TV), and IU needs to start acting more like a business. They need to start taking their equal shares in the broadcasting contracts, and improve the FB team. It's that simple. And assuming the PAC, B12, and ACC start to weaken or fold, that means IU will have more opportunity to improve recruiting. But IU has more value than you think outside of FB. We're pretty decent in Baseball, and pretty good in soccer. Overall, we're ranked in the top 25 of most NCAA Championships.

Same with several B10 teams. Lately though, they have made the tournament twice in the last 4-5 years, and also made the Sweet 16 in one of those trips. But currently, their FB is blue chip, their BB is passable, market good, etc.. That's a better profile than most candidates.

Me either, but I took a peak at all the teams that have been kicked around on Torvik. Did you know Clemson BB is #54 (#70 to end last season) right now. That is higher than Rutgers, Ohio St, Penn St, NW, Nebraska, MN, and Wiscy from the B10. And about the same as Maryland. So considered equal or better than almost half the B10 going into the season.

Per an inerview "he's supposed to be taking a trip to IU soon" or something like that. IIRC, says he talks to Woodson a few times a week. He's got a "top 10", and most see Maryland as the fav, with UCLA making noise. It's early though. Said he'll announce in the fall.

ESPN article is suggesting ND and Clemson are easily the two biggest prizes at this point. Hard to argue with that when talking football.

Just having two states like TX and FL would be at huge boom for both market and recruiting. FL and TX are #1 and #2 in blue chip talent. Cali is #4, and we just checked that box. And NC is #5... There are several other SE states in the top 10, but just setting up camp in FL makes us a player in GA, SC, Bama, LA, etc. https://247sports.com/LongFormArticle/national-signing-day-recruiting-college-football-2020-Florida-Texas-Georgia-Alabama-143260166/#143260166_9

A canal would be so crazy expensive, not to mention the impact to the environment. IIRC, they have one in Carlsbad/SD, or at least were building one about 5 years ago. I have a buddy in Cardiff that was all excited about the news when it broke. Not sure if it got stopped though. Not sure the rank now, but I think Saudi leads in production. Something like 25% of the world total. But the land of down under has been really been going all in per one of my old employees in Sydney. It's fuzzy now, but pretty sure he told me that they were building plants that would be powered by wind turbines, so pretty much a net/net boom for what is considered a process that is a little energy intensive. But yes, given the train to nowhere... nothing surprises me about gov clusters in Cali.

That sounds crazy. For the life of me, can't understand why they don't focus on desalinization. Several other countries and states are building plants left and right. Saudi produces a ton. MX too. Australia is going all on in on it. Tampa has the largest plant in the US, and does like 20+M gallons a day, costing about 0.003 per gallon. That's a cost to an average household of about $7/month (purely production costs).

Note, I forgot to at Louisville, but assume they are in the MW geo

No problem. Slow week lol. I wish we could see poll results like this from other B10 fanbases. I'm partially in that camp as well, but overall I value overall conference strength over adding more WC teams. I do want to add OR though. I also want a TX team, so a USC, UCLA, OR, Baylor/TTU/Houston, and Nebraska division (assuming we go to 20 and have 4x5) isn't bad at all for travel (FB). Or even an AZ team instead of a TX team. USC for instance already travels to ND every other year, and just signed a home and home with Ole Miss. Riley is on record saying he wants to improve their OoC scheduling, so they were likely going to have 1-2 big trips a year east.