Southside

Honestly I came very close to adding it lol... They were in a group of 3 or 4 teams that didn't make the cut.

I've traveled a lot, and simply would prefer different things. I'm flying anything over 8ish hours. But it's personal preference. Love the GC, but not something that's going to impact my choice of city. Love the ocean a lot, and my next move will to the coast (not Cali though). Sports teams don't impact my choice. I've been to MX a ton, so a long drive there isn't moving the needle either. But I do have a lot of found memories of Cali and the WC. Had the chance to travel all up and down the WC. Several business trips as well, some a week+ long that started SD and hopped to several places ending in Vancouver. I absolutely love SD. Would never live in LA or the Bay area after my last trip. And overall, just so many cons now to Cali. Taxes would be a big consideration on top of all the recent stuff going down. IIRC, Cali has the highest rate of people leaving, and one of the highest, if not highest rate of businesses moving away. So things are likely to decline more in the near future.

Only if you think LA, the Bay, and Vegas are everything. But I agree Fresno is not bad, and great if want to be in the middle of it all. It's a pretty moderate area politically, unlike the LA and Bay areas.

I think they showed improvement throughout the season. All of their top 6-7 guys took nice steps as the year went along. But more than anything, they're bringing back 4 of 5 starters. And the starter that left, is getting replaced by a likely upgrade (Nance) via the portal. Sure the peaked at the right time, but it's just really hard not to give them nod.

As I expected, a lot of folks are voting with BB eyes lol. I'd love to see the same poll results from OSU and Michigan fans.

It really just depends. ND gets 15+M/year from NBC for just FB, and a little more IIRC from the ACC for the Olympic sports like BB. There's ABC/ESPN, Fox/Fox Sports, NBC, and CBS/CBS Sports. And Amazon is trying to work it's way into the space. Fox wants the B10 to themselves, as does NBC. NBC reportedly just made an offer that was a little more than Fox. Of course it'll be a bidding war till the dust settles. ACC and SEC are ESPN's through the 2034/36. If NBC doesn't get the B10, they'll obviously want to re-up with ND. CBS is also rumored to want in on the action, and has tried to bid on the ND contract before. Keep in mind CBS lost out to ESPN on the SEC deal. And if the PAC, B12, or ACC crumble, that will likely create more value for ND. AAC - with ESPN on a 12-year through 2031 ACC - with ESPN through 2036 B10 - split between Fox and ESPN through 2023 B12 - spit between ESPN and Fox through 2025 PAC - split between Fox and ESPN through 2023 SEC - ESPN through 2034 ND - NBC through 2025

I'm a GDI. But yes, the Left Coast is pretty insane these days. I have several friends out there. I also have several that used to be out there, and have moved in the last few years (TX and FL). I've been all over the WC in the last 20 years, mostly on business. I used to love it. It's definitely changed.

Likely just fishing to explore value. Seems strange though they'd start when they just lost two of their best. If I were them, I'd quickly try to make some adds before doing this. Pac-12 Begins Negotiations for Next TV Rights https://www.si.com/college/cal/news/pac-12-tv-negotiations Pac-12 accelerates negotiations for media rights deals in wake of UCLA, USC exits https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/34198300/pac-12-accelerates-negotiations-media-rights-deals-wake-ucla-usc-exits

Left Coast

A WC buddy sent me some articles that Phil Knight (Nike) is lobbying the B10 big time for Oregon.

Yup, but it would have been a one year thing. As far as brands are concerned, Michigan is slightly more valuable than OSU. But all big programs needs Ws. And they also need homes for their Olympic sports.

If they're taking 2-4 more, and said they're standing pat for now and waiting on ND..... That tells me that they likely have other teams higher up their list than OR and WA. And I doubt their sitting on their hands. UCLA and USC instigated the move. WA and OR instigated the conversation. My guess is at the same time they were talking to, and weighing the UCLA and USC decisions, they likely were already talking to ND and a few others that top their lists. USC and UCLA were the jewels of CA and the PAC, so pretty easy decision to pull the trigger. The others, not so much depending on their list. I just hope OR is higher up their list than Stanford. Stanford FB and BB are both down, and their fans really suck. Nice market though. But so is Seattle/WA, FL/FSU/Miami, TX/Baylor, and the Carolinas/UNC/Clemson.

Assuming they've had a conversation (ND and B10), and assuming ND said I need to think about it, I'd also assume they provided a timeline for the answer. But I don't think it really handcuffs the B10 to wait anyway. They are obviously taking at minimum 2 more. So even if they are waiting on ND, they are free to lock up at least one more right now. It's likely though that they take 4 more and get to 20, which if that were the case, they could lock in 3 while waiting for ND. I'm guessing though that they are looking at ACC teams too, which might be higher on their lists than the other PAC schools.

The below is not far fetched at all Keep in mind Cinci, BYU, Houston, and UCF are already set to come on board.

Wouldn't really of worked out that year. ND even joined the ACC temporarily due to the pandemic. There's been talk about a super league for years though. TX and ND talked about forming their own super conference a decade or so ago. But as said above, all teams need Ws too. And the path to the playoffs matters.

A ton more talk about a PAC / B12 merge. And more or less confirmed that the B12 is targeting 4-6 PAC teams this week. AZ, ASU, CO, and Utah were all named by a "source" to CBS as "in conversation", and they believe OR and WA are also getting calls from the B12.

Talk about aiming low lol...

PAC is now down to 10 teams, and with OR and WA already packing their bags, that would put them at 8. That's kinda where the B12 was in 2020 when TX and OK decided to leave. But the B12 added 4 teams... So now "stronger" I guess lol. But the B12, PAC, and ACC are all in survival mode. Many say the ACC will collapse if ND goes to the B10. The SEC is already likely to raid them for at least 2 teams to keep up with the B10 and get to 18. So in 2024, you're looking at the following as it sits now. B12 Cinci Houston BYU UCF TexTech Baylor OK St ISU KSU KU WVU TCU PAC OR - trying to bolt for the B10 WA - trying to bolt for the B10 Stanford - could be poached too ASU - already talking to B12 AZ - already talking to B12 WSU ORST CAL Utah CO

Purely my opinion, but I see no comp at all with Nebraska. USC and UCLA come from one of the richest recruiting states for all sports. And I'd think the Cali kids will actually find the B10 more attractive. A lot of Cali kids leave Cali, especially for FB. Not all that sure on BB. But for FB at least, this might actually help them recruiting wise. And if you're a Cali kid and want to stay home, your options just got clearer. Lincoln Riley is already making headway at USC. I'm a little surprised CKelly hasn't seen more progress at UCLA.

Just read an article on conf expansion. Geared around most valuable FB programs (2019 Forbes list). From Forbes, the most valuable FB programs not currently in the SEC or B10, are... Clemson, WA, FSU, and OR. So not shocked OR and WA were already trying to get in line....

I'm not sure of all the Ts & Cs. I know the last SEC/ESPN deal was done at the end of 2020, but it doesn't start till 2024, and last for 10 years. And it happened before TX and OK jumped. So I'm assuming either they have something in the contract that addresses team additions, or they will likely have to renegotiate an addendum or two. At this point, both confs have 16 committed, but everyone knows the B10 is going to min 18 (public knowledge they're waiting on ND, and they're not going to have an odd number). So you have to imagine the SEC will make a move in the next 6 months to at minimum go up to 18. I'm guessing they stop at 20, but would not be shocked to see them go to 24.

Especially if she's a redhead lol.