Well, it was fun while it lasted…
Local Big 12 podcaster wannabes like John Kurtz can’t stop blathering about how the “pending” demise of the Atlantic Coast Conference will benefit K-State and KU.
Just like when the demise of the Pac 12 enabled the Big 12 to snag Arizona, Arizona State, Utah and Colorado.
Just one problem…
While teams like our lovable local losers are taking down $31.7 million in annual TV revenue, Big 10 schools are projected to get between $80 to $100 million each going forward, and SEC teams like Mizzou’s revenues are projected to soar from like $51 million a year to an estimated $68 million – more than double the Big 12’s numbers.
The bottom line: While the Big 12 may get a handful of halfway decent ACC teams like North Carolina State, Pitt and Louisville, none of those schools come close to having the impact of teams like North Carolina, Clemson, Florida State, Virginia and possibly Miami – that will likely join either the Big 10 or SEC.
In other words, the ACC’s demise will do little to bridge the massive revenue gap between “us”and the big kids.
Worse yet, check out how two of college sports biggest and brightest – Fox Sports’ Colin Cowherd and podcaster John Middlekauff see the future of college football:
“I look at college football right now as, big eats small, scale beats boutique in every business,” Cowherd says. “College football’s always been a bit lopsided. I think we’re going into (where) eight programs will basically eat the sport.”
In other words eight or so college teams will take turns vying for all the marbles.
“You start looking at the Big 10 and the SEC games, from this point forward, now that they’ve added Texas and Oklahoma. (And) there’s no reason really to watch any other conference,” Cowherd continues. “There’s just no reason to watch the Big 12 or the ACC outside of a Clemson.”
End of story…sounds like it.
“I’m just going to be watching Big 10 and SEC football – that’s all I’m going to watch,” Cowherd concludes. “I mean, thank god the Pac 12 disbanded. (If) the Big 12 and ACC are on TV, I’m sorry, I’m not going to watch it.”
Middlekauff’s response:
“I’m in agreement. People always push back that these conferences are overrated. No, that’s where all the talent is. That’s where all the NFL people spend their time, and they do it for a reason.”
Whoever had the foresight to move Mizzou out of the doldrums over to the SEC is a freaking genius.
Maybe, but all those many lackluster seasons late and lost traditions and rivalries…Time will tell
Hate to say “I told you so”, but…..
This is EXACTLY why Missouri made the move it did, and it’s paying off big time for them. Fund raising at an all time high..just got a donation for $250 million recently. Massive stadium improvements. Better gameday experiences. Recruiting at all time high, Drinkwitz has it at heights unseen even by Gary Pinkel. Mizzou is a trendsetting leader in the NIL arena, with other states scrambling to catch up to what Missouri did. Meanwhile, all the morons at KState, KU, etc who poo-poo-ed Mizzou’s move to the SEC and said it would never work, are now wiping the feces from their collective faces and twisting themselves into pretzels trying to come up with a way that they’ll be invited to the adults table. Newsflash: They won’t be. Welcome to the minor leagues. It’s no longer the Power 4 conferences…it’s the Power 2. And if you’re not in one of those conferences, you are nothing more than a glorified FCS school. Which is EXACTLY what I’ve been saying for years, but no one wanted to hear it. Welcome Irrelevance City, population: YOU
That’s a little harsh…
MU hasn’t done jack in football or basketball in percent years. They got the cash but flushed away longtime rivalries that apparently you care little of.
KU’s been trying to get into the Big 10 for several years.
So many things are up in the air going forward, who knows how things may shake out. Teams like Texas and OU are going to have to likely choke down three or more losses before they qualify for the new playoffs.
Nobody knows how things may shake out; will Vandy and Rutgers be allows to stay in the Big 10? Will the equally distributed monies change and the big schools get the full ride and the lesser schools kid kid out or take a pittance.
Chances are schools like KU and maybe K State will be b brought into one of the bigger conferences or then whole thing will be rejiggered.
Far be it for you or me to know or decide.
Yeah it was harsh, but reality IS harsh. And the harsh reality is that the Big 12 as it’s currently constructed is totally irrelevant. They’re in pure desperation mode, looking to pimp themselves out to the private equity pirates. And we all know that P.E. firms do NOT lose money. They expect something in return. So getting in bed with those vultures is like taking heroin for a headache. Oh sure it’ll kill the pain in the short term, but will kill you in the long term. And no, there almost NO chance that KU and KSU get invited to either of the real conferences. (B1G or SEC). SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey made no bones about further expansion. “We want to increase the size of the pie, not the number of pieces.” The B1G has turned up it’s nose at any school that isn’t an AAU member. So that rules out KSU. KSU doesn’t bring any great television market, or blueblood status. They offer NOTHING but a drain on resources for any conference. KU has basketball and a tie to to the KC market, but that’s not nearly enough for an SEC invite. Not to mention, KU has been begging and crying for the B1G to take them. Hasn’t happened and most likely won’t. The best the Big 12 could do is sell the conference naming rights to Tupperware, since they really aren’t anytime but leftovers anyway. LOLOL! Mizzou is doing great in the SEC, both record wise, and financially. 11-2 last year. Top 10 finish and a NY6 bowl win over Ohio State. Going to make a run for the playoffs this year. I’m going to sit back and enjoy the ride, while KU tries to figure out how to get 40,000 people to come to a football game.
Totally irrelevant?
Puh-leeze…
I suppose every other conference in the country – dozens, hundreds – is also irrelevant.
My advice, take something if you need to, count to 10,000 and find a way to face life sans predicting gloom for everybody you don’t see eye-to-eye with.
Just a thought
Yes, totally irrelevant on a national scale. Oh sure, the fans/alumni of the individual school and the parents of players care. But no one else. I’m sorry if you don’t like the dire outlook for all the little ag schools (Iowa State, Kstate) and basketball schools (KU, UConn, etc). But this is reality. Unless you are in the B1G or the $EC, you’re bush league.
The Big 12 is toast.
Maybe…probably…but don’t count out Brett Yormark!
Yormark? WTF has that buffoon done other than pick the bones of other dying conferences, and took all the schools no one else wanted? He hasn’t made any brilliant or shrewd moves. He’s not totally incompetent like past Big 12 commissioners, but he’s no Mike Slive or Greg Sankey. Arizona and Utah were decent adds, but they really didn’t have anywhere to go either.
Lemme guess…an MU or K-State fan?
Look, he helped take a conference that appeared to some poised to perish, navigated business negotiations, unlike some conferences united the schools for the most part and put it on solid footing.
“Solid footing”. Sure, with a bunch of castoffs that the big boy conferences didn’t want. Guess what, the MAC is on solid footing too, but no one thinks that’s a relevant conference. I know the current reality of college sports makes you sad/disappointed, but the old days aren’t coming back. And as the differences in revenue streams become more and more pronounced between the B1G, $EC and everyone else, it’s only going to get worse for teams like KSU, ISU, and even KU. Ask teams like Oregon State & Washington State.