+1

That feels like the landscape to me.

44cuse

At his point I'm hoping we (as in the ACC, how weird is that sheet) lock up UConn and ND follows.

Thinking seems spot on.

Let's see if ND is willing to give up its indepedence in football. That's a big leap for them.

In the end, I hope it's Rutgers and UConn because it creates a nice group of Northeast schools with SU, Pitt and BC (plus Maryland).

That's what I envisioned would happen many years ago: an eastern seaboard conference.

Let ND stay indy in football and remain with the catholic schools (and likely others) in a Big East basketball onlies league.

I can agree with this scenario ... I definitely think part of the ACC's motives were to c0ck block the Big 10 from the East Coast.

However ... I believe TCU will be able to go where it pleases. They can probably get out of it's contract with the BE by arguing that this is not the conference they signed up for.

I wouldn't even be surprised if the have a certain clause for this scenario. If there isn't then they are probably part responsible for not seeing a situation like this coming.

The Texas to the ACC rumor was "leaked" by Chip Brown and picked up by Andy Katz. CB is a UT lackey. Texas probably never had intentions of going east, west was realistic. Texas knew that the ACC would never accept Tech, like the B1G.

I agree that Swofford may have in mind tightening the noose around ND's neck, so to speak. But I'm not sure this forces ND's hand. As long as ND has a decent conference in which to dump all sports not called football, they will. Even if Big East football is not salvaged (some conglomeration of the BE and B12 leftovers into an AQ conference), the BE basketball schools are quite a viable conference in basketball and other sports. Add a few more basketball schools and it may still be among the most powerful basketball conferences. As we speak, there are only 4 decent basketball teams in the ACC. The ACC needs to step it up in their traditional strong suit (Yes, Maryland, NCState, Wake, UVA, I'm talking to you!).

Still. the loss of two schools which ND has wanted to associate with in all sports does limit ND's choices. Who knows, maybe Swofford gets lucky.

Notre Dame a fish out of water in the Big Ten?

With all due respect... Notre Dame has been involved with Purdue, Michigan and Michigan State for many years. The Big East was something of a newer thing for them. The only reason they were hitched to those schools is hoping they could preserve independence, not because of loyalty to the schools themselves.

They've played their Big Ten (UM, MSU and Purdue) over 190 times combined, with potential, natural rivalries awaiting against Ohio State, Penn State and Northwestern plus being able to participate in the newly formed Big Ten hockey conference. They've played all the Big East football teams combined less than 100 times.

To say they're a fish out of water in the Big Ten is ridiculously inaccurate. Heck, their faculty dearly wants to join the Big Ten because of the relationship with the CIC and what it would mean to institutional research.

The only reason they were in the Big East to begin with is simply because they needed a place to park their conference sports so they can share in the Men's Basketball Fund. The Big Ten wouldn't let them be an associate member, so they had to find someone who would.

Either way it plays out, the ACC wins. The question is how badly does ND want to stay football independent. With their other sports home gone I think they absolutely have no choice but to consider joining a conference. The ACC is a much better fit academically and athletically for the Irish than the Big 10. I was thinking before that UCONN and Rutgers would finish the ACC expansion but now I'm not so sure. UCONN/Rutgers is strong but ND/UCONN would be a great final piece to a fantastic eastern conference.

Ideal outcome:

ACC:
SU
Pitt
UConn
ND

B1G (stops at 14):
KU
MU

SEC (stops at 14):
TAMU
WVU

PAC16:
TT
UT-A
OU
OSU

Nightmare scenario:

ACC:
SU
Pitt
L'ville
KU
MU
USF

B1G:
UMd
UVA
ND
RU

SEC:
FSU
VT
TAMU
WVU

PAC16:
TT
UT-A
OU
OSU

More teams in the clear with the nightmare scenario but ACC is decimated and clearly the weak sister there.

Hate to say it but ND is the linchpin here. If they come to the ACC, the conference will remain intact. No one would want to leave that lineup. Don't feel so good about it, though, if the SEC and B1G are intent on going to 16 (with or without ND). I think Swofford understands this too, and the annexation of SU and Pitt is more bait to get them to commit.

While getting ND for all sports would be a major coup for the ACC, I'm not too sure the ND alum base would be thrilled with it.

They want to protect their annual games with USC, Michigan, Mich State and possibly Purdue. Going to the ACC kills a few of those games each year. Going to the B1G keeps those games going.

ND is a difficult one to figure out. They clearly bring a lot of clout and lock up NYC for the ACC, but I'm not sure they are the best fit.

They cannot stay independent. They have known this for a while and planned on going to the BIG10 eventually, but now with the ACC adding SU/Pitt the timetable has changed and they are now in the same boat as anyone else . . . . . better get one of those 64 seats.

You may be on to something here. The ND AD said the "seismic thing" last year. Well seismic is happening. Seismic may make the alumni a bit more forgiving as far as conferencing up. And as I've expressed in other posts, on a gut level the ACC seems like a better fit for ND than the gloomy Big 10.

SU - Pitt - BC - UConn - ND is a major Northeast cockblock. All the Big 10 would have left in the market is Penn State, and that's only for football. Them adding Rutgers at that point does little for them so they look west to a Missouri and maybe a Kansas.

If the SEC doesn't stop at 14, wouldn't TCU be on deck for the next round? Maybe TCU and Mizzou?

I honestly would associate ND more with the BIG than the ACC. I always remember them playing BIG schools MI, MIState, Purdue, PSU etc. They are located in the MW, I honestly think IF they are forced to choose they would choose the BIG. Just my opinion, but than again I thought the BE was going to stick it out when Big 12 folds and add a few, get new contract to be strong. Shows what I know

I think TCU is doomed to the BigXII/Big East leftovers conference. A small private school in TX was only a fit in the Big East. SEC will aim higher and there's nowhere for them to turn but the ACC. The big question is whether they can get their targets (VT? GT? FSU? CU?). ND in the ACC would likely ensure that the conference stays raid-free.

I was looking at ND's schedule this year and found it rather interesting that they are playing 3 games vs ACC teams (in a row) later this year, @ Wake, vs Maryland and Boston College.

Boston College could have some pull to bring ND to the ACC (along with Pitt and SU).

There's just a lot of logistics that need to work out with ND. First, they will want to maintain their NBC home game contract. That means the ACC will have to give up rights to at least 4 premier games each year. Second, ND has less flexibility in their scheduling. If they have 3 or 4 open slots outside of ACC play, you know they will always use 2 to schedule USC and Michigan. Will they use the other two for Mich St or Purdue?

I still think Uconn and Penn st are the best options

I don't think they'd remotely be a fish out of water. They routinely play B10 teams and their travel would be easier than in the ACC. Enrollment-wise, they're more like an ACC school but the similarity ends there. Everything else about them is oversized. They have B10-size $$$, B10 sized following, B10 sized traditions, B10 sized stadium and on and on and on. They are more like a B10 school than a number of current B10 members, to be honest.

Jake:

you have read Swofford's mind...

that is exactly why these moves were made, but even if ND does not join up (no school will be admitted to the ACC for limited purposes), we will still be among the winners and we have now locked up that NE corridor and all those TV sets...

ND and the B1G were caught napping and their public comments show it...

there will be negative impact upon those in the BE who are ultimately left behind, and no one really wanted that, but there is no perfect answer just smart, timely moves and those that are less smart...

Swofford got this right...

If Notre Dame still is going to try to be an associate member, thinking it can still survive as an independent, Swofford's plan might work. But if Notre Dame is forced into a conference, it's still much more feasible for them to go to the Big Ten with their natural for all sports. It's still more money and far less travel. Despite Notre Dame's attraction to the East coast (which is undoubtedly legit), they still have tried on a few occasions to become associate members of the Big Ten. Had Delany and the Big Ten presidents ever agreed to that arrangement, they'd be in the Big Ten long before now.

I think you're overthinking Swofford's actions on this. He took Syracuse and Pitt because they were the best, most obvious candidates for ACC expansion. Swofford realistically had no other place to look except for the Big East, and Syracuse and Pittsburgh were the two no-brainers for him. He acted because he needed to kill or be killed. This didn't have anything to do with Notre Dame (though I'm sure he'll do what he can to lure them). This was all about ACC survival.

The absolute best options are Notre Dame AND Penn State to the ACC. But we all know that is a pipe dream at best.

You push hard to get at least one, with ND being the first target. Maybe pitch them at the same time? Could be appealling to both knowing the other would come.

Knowing you probably, at best, could only get one, you fill in the remaining slot with UConn.

If you can't get either, you fill in the last two slots with UConn and either Rutgers or Lville or Kansas.

Obviously the most likely scenario would be UConn and RU, but I think it will take a while for the ACC to make that move. They have to know 100% that ND and PSU are off the table before they cap out at 16 with UConn and 1 other.

UConn and RU are going to be "gap fillers" when all is said and done. They will find a place at the table when all the chips fall, but they won't have much leverage to get the seat that they want. It might work out for them in the end, but they won't be the one's controlling their own fate.

kill or be killed was a part of this too...

but it is for everyone, as all will jockey for position...

ALL of the other conferences need to make the right moves going forward as mistakes will impact your bottom line...

but Jake didn't over-analyze anything, this was calculated all the way and on more than one level...

otherwise, throw all the East Coast BE members who play football into a cup and take out the first 4 and offer them...

Excellent post, Jake. That all makes a lot of sense.

Excellent analysis Jake. Thank you for the insight.

I think ND goes to the Big Ten.

For many reasons.

It already plays a Big Ten schedule.

It is in the midwest.

It sees itself as a true academic institution that would benefit from the research money that the Big Ten generates.

And, Coach K talked today about preserving the eastern time zone character of the conference.

I agree with this - I don't think ND drove this decision at all.

ND is in the eastern time zone half the year, if that counts for anything. Unless they changed that, I don't pay much attention to that state. But regardless I can't imagine Coach K wanting to preserve an eastern time zone would have single ounce of weight in the decision.

I don't think the ACC move was as calculated as Jake's post re: SU, Pitt, ND. But I'm sure Swofford is awared that ND thinks highest of Pitt and SU of all of the all sports teams in the now old Big East.

ND to the Big 10 makes the most sense. They throw in Mizzou, Kansas and one other (can't imagine they want K State or Iowa State) and they'll have a nice 16 team all sports super conference that generally sits in the same region.

How about their blood brother connection to Navy? Or is that just another casualty in the Brave New World?