Following a series of alternating “it’s happening” and “it’s not happening” reports over the past 24 hours, it seems likely at this point that, yes, it is capital-H Happening. The era of the Super-Conference is formally upon us.
Oregon and Washington informed Pac-12 presidents earlier that they plan to accept an invitation from the Big Ten, sources tell me and @DanWetzel. An invitation from the Big Ten is expected soon. https://t.co/KhebqNamPV
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) August 4, 2023
This move will reportedly take effect for the 2024 season. As in the season immediately after the season we’re about to play. So those ‘24-‘25 schedules? Throw ‘em out. We gotta start over.
It also goes without saying that the Pac-12, a 108-year-old stalwart of college athletics, is functionally dead. They were mostly dead 24 hours ago, as this move was the comes on the heels of Colorado departing for the Big 12, Arizona and Arizona State flirting with the Big 12, and Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff announcing an Apple TV-centric media rights deal that was underwhelming by today’s standards. But today, they are all the way dead.
The remaining question is what happens to the scraps. The Arizona schools may end up in the Big 12 after all, and may bring their Four Corners buddy Utah. There has been suggestions that the Big Ten or Eighteen or Whatever might be interested in Cal and/or Stanford. Oregon State and Washington State… uh… please come to HR, and bring your badge and keys with you.
This may not be a universal opinion, but… man, this sucks.
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Slim Whitman
August 4th, 2023 at 2:25 PM ^
Does Oregon have to fix the crown in the field in order to join? Asking for a former coach.
Joined: 11/09/2018
MGoPoints: 1798
stephenrjking
August 4th, 2023 at 2:33 PM ^
Special teams cost us that game. And that's with a td in our favor. Cost us the Iowa game that year, too.
Joined: 03/15/2012
MGoPoints: 20124086
KBLOW
August 4th, 2023 at 4:31 PM ^
The crown was made to a normal/standard slope a few years after our game.
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 16504
snarling wolverine
August 4th, 2023 at 5:43 PM ^
Lloyd said that to defend John Navarre when he was getting some flack.
Lloyd then got bashed for being a "sore loser" but that ultimately served his purpose: to take the heat off his QB.
Big John Navarre went on to lead us to the Big Ten title, including a two-TD destruction of OSU.
Joined: 12/14/2011
MGoPoints: 86930
Tex_Ind_Blue
August 4th, 2023 at 7:27 PM ^
JN never made any excuses. That's true. He's one of the few players that have never complained. Just worked his arse off. I was so glad that he got to start in the NFL.
Joined: 12/31/2014
MGoPoints: 5075
hfhmilkman
August 4th, 2023 at 8:49 PM ^
If I recall, he was with the Cardinals and he played the Lions. I also recall for interceptions. No knock for anyone trying their hardest. But the Wolverines could have done better at QB.
Joined: 04/15/2009
MGoPoints: 705
UM Indy
August 4th, 2023 at 2:32 PM ^
PAC 8 or whatever the hell it is needs Miracle Max!
Joined: 03/05/2009
MGoPoints: 19120
bassclefstef
August 4th, 2023 at 3:03 PM ^
Maybe they could offer him a nice MLT? Especially if the mutton is nice and lean
Joined: 09/01/2019
MGoPoints: 2865
S.D. Jones
August 4th, 2023 at 8:30 PM ^
All you can do with the Pac-10 is go through their pockets and look for loose change.
Joined: 01/28/2011
MGoPoints: 5909
Kermits Blue Key
August 4th, 2023 at 2:32 PM ^
College football as we knew it is dead. Not necessarily saying that’s a bad thing, but between NIL and conference expansion the tradition will start getting tossed aside at a greater pace. Can’t stop the money train now.
Joined: 09/04/2010
MGoPoints: 13944
iawolve
August 4th, 2023 at 2:45 PM ^
It would really suck if we weren't the ones doing the raiding. I know there is a lot of concerns and I get it, but we are damn lucky to be ahead of this to remain relevant. The alternative is to hold on to tradition and end up joining God knows what conference what have start expanding around the SEC. We will get to a point of college being the AFC/NFC playing for a single championship. This will continue for a while.
Joined: 11/03/2008
MGoPoints: 7223
Sleepy
August 4th, 2023 at 2:54 PM ^
Yup. 20-ish-team conferences, 12-team playoffs, players being compensated for their services—it’s officially the NFL Lite.
Joined: 10/23/2012
MGoPoints: 10411
Kermits Blue Key
August 4th, 2023 at 3:47 PM ^
It is strange to think that the B1G is going to have more teams than either the AFC/NFC. Winning conference championships is going to be incredibly difficult.
Joined: 09/04/2010
MGoPoints: 13944
OysterMonkey
August 4th, 2023 at 5:27 PM ^
It’s going to be hard but also functionally irrelevant since like 8 teams that didn’t win their conference will likely make the playoff. I hate all of it.
Joined: 08/22/2009
MGoPoints: 5649
snarling wolverine
August 4th, 2023 at 5:48 PM ^
Or we might go back to having shared titles. The BTCG has always been pretty pointless but it's going to be a lot more so when you have totally unbalanced schedules. We should just dump it already.
Joined: 12/14/2011
MGoPoints: 86930
Westside Wolverine
August 4th, 2023 at 3:22 PM ^
The other loss we are experiencing in this process is regionality. I am going to miss regionally-based conferences. I like having a friendly rivalry with schools in close proximity. I like being able to visit fun midwestern towns only a few hour car ride away (yes, Iowa City is actually fun). I like football on cold afternoons with colorful leaves as the backdrop.
I acknowledge that this move helps us and brings in revenue but I am also sadden by what we are losing.
Joined: 12/24/2011
MGoPoints: 2701
rice4114
August 4th, 2023 at 5:06 PM ^
If the Bigten was the original big ten right now with a full round robin what would we as fans be missing? Maybe we are making 2/3 of what we make now but that is all just a bunch of slush fund money anyway that goes to buddies in admin positions. Our facilities would be just as nice. Our schedule would still be kick ass with one marquee OOC team. Our players would make no more/no less. Our tickets would be the same price. The commercials would be just as long and jarring. So what has Nebraska, Rutgers, Maryland brought us exactly?
More Rutgers and less Minnesota?
More Maryland less Iowa?
I dont know man we all seem to like this but nobody is benefitting in any real way that I can tell unless you consider the mini-jobs program Im sure that has followed for white collar positions.
Joined: 08/26/2010
MGoPoints: 34161
rposly
August 4th, 2023 at 6:39 PM ^
I agree with the sentiment. However, I have a feeling the way this shakes out actually ends up looking like the Big Ten of old. It'll be split into two divisions, with a West that includes the former Pac-12 schools and maybe Nebraska/Iowa, and an East that looks a whole lot like the Big Ten we all knew and loved (plus, unfortunately, Rutgers and Maryland). Or maybe three divisions. Either way, I have to believe some regionality will remain in the "finished" product.
Joined: 11/01/2014
MGoPoints: 1740
Sione For Prez
August 4th, 2023 at 2:33 PM ^
I feel really bad for fans of Pac 12 schools.
Joined: 11/16/2015
MGoPoints: 9955
J. Redux
August 4th, 2023 at 2:57 PM ^
Me too. All three of them.
Joined: 10/15/2020
MGoPoints: 8771