The B10's Weaponization of clean cash is shifting power dynamics from south to north

[fishinabarrel]

The big time teams everywhere are going to struggle to keep quality depth, it's not just the SEC.

That's true and I think that's why you have seen more parity this season. It will just look the most evident in the SEC where you have many more teams recruiting at high levels bc that's where most of the talent is at.

 

[osubuckeye89]

That's true and I think that's why you have seen more parity this season. It will just look the most evident in the SEC where you have many more teams recruiting at high levels bc that's where most of the talent is at.

I laugh because this is 100% the angle the SEC honks at ESPN and co will use "the transfer portal is not fair to the SEC because it's taken away their ability to stay dominant across the board" don't be shocked if ESPN goes on a crusade against the portal sometime in coming years because it hurts their financial interests in the SEC.

 

[fishinabarrel]

I laugh because this is 100% the angle the SEC honks at ESPN and co will use "the transfer portal is not fair to the SEC because it's taken away their ability to stay dominant across the board" don't be shocked if ESPN goes on a crusade against the portal sometime in coming years because it hurts their financial interests in the SEC.

I didn't mean to infer "it's not fair to the SEC" just, IMO, the reason behind their stumbles as of late moreso than just "paying players"

scUM, Texas, Ohio State, Oklahoma, USC, the Florida schools, ND et al have been paying players for years just like the SEC. You aren't going to convince me otherwise. You have to add something else into the equation.

As for ESPN railing against transfers, they can whine all they want should they choose, that box has been opened and it isn't closing. If anything, you might, MIGHT, see eventually some sort of limitations on additional transfers after the first.

 

[Tharvot]

This is the fun talking head topic in CFB now. Time will tell, but for me its a complete overreaction.

The real reason why the SEC is down or has returned to the pack isn't due to NIL money. It's due to Nick Saban retiring. His coaching and his program were so dominant for so long that by proxy they elevated the stature of the rest of the conference.

The SEC is still probably the best CFB conference in the country, the only thing that has changed in the past few years is that it isn't BY FAR the best conference in the country. The B1G isn't far behind and those 2 behemoths will probably be 1a and 1b for years to come since they control all the power and money in the sport.

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

I laugh because this is 100% the angle the SEC honks at ESPN and co will use "the transfer portal is not fair to the SEC because it's taken away their ability to stay dominant across the board" don't be shocked if ESPN goes on a crusade against the portal sometime in coming years because it hurts their financial interests in the SEC.

Will be interesting to see if historically big name schools fall to the wayside because while they might have larger fan support, they don't have wealthy fan support.

 

[Tharvot]

I think the Saban era coming to an end is playing a part in this. 2020 Bama was a juggernaut, then he lost 2 games a season for his final 3 seasons (something he had never done), and then obviously this year was a relative disaster for Bama (first single digit win season in over 15 years).

As myself and many others predicted, BK at LSU is an awful fit. Lane at Ole Miss is still wildly inconsistent. A&M still clearly has a ways to go. Tennessee may have hit their peak. That leaves Texas and Georgia as the only true NC contenders in the conference right now. It's still an extremely deep and competitive conference, and I'm sure they'll produce another national champ soon, but it's not the juggernaut it was. This isn't even a dig at the conference, it just is what it is.

Bingo.

Saban and Bama elevated the whole conference.

 

[osubuckeye89]

Will be interesting to see if historically big name schools fall to the wayside because while they might have larger fan support, they don't have wealthy fan support.

Can't think of many schools where this might happen. Maybe Penn State? They don't seem to really be in on many NIL bag chases.

It's more likely we see programs emerge because of money. Like SMU where there is a ton of money.

 

[fordman84]

Will be interesting to see if historically big name schools fall to the wayside because while they might have larger fan support, they don't have wealthy fan support.

I certainly hope so!

 

[Deep Creek]

Maybe I don't get it, but I don't see EVERY team in the B1G or the SEC regularly reaching "the top" regardless of how much money is thrown at it. It is a given that their players will probably receive larger payments overall.

Where I do see the financial support helping is in the other sports. Even then, I don't see Rutgers dominating collegiate golf just because they have more money.

 

[fordman84]

Can't think of many schools where this might happen. Maybe Penn State? They don't seem to really be in on many NIL bag chases.

It's more likely we see programs emerge because of money. Like SMU where there is a ton of money.

Probably has less to do with "wealthy fanbases" and more to do with "wealthy, hungry, rabid fanbases". I'd put USC in this category. They have plenty of wealthy alum, but do they have wealthy alum that are obsessed? not so sure.

 

[PeoplesChicken]

This is a non-story. I don't give a shit what the old stodgy B1G does. Here is what I have seen with NIL

The programs that were powers before, are still powers now.


Consider this scenario:
If it were simply about money, then why doesn't a program like Northwestern thrive?
If it's about location then Alabama would be in Honolulu

 

[fordman84]

This is a non-story. I don't give a shit what the old stodgy B1G does. Here is what I have seen with NIL

The programs that were powers before, are still powers now.


Consider this scenario:
If it were simply about money, then why doesn't a program like Northwestern thrive?
If it's about location then Alabama would be in Honolulu

northwestern don't have wealthy fans that care about football.

 

[osubuckeye89]

Probably has less to do with "wealthy fanbases" and more to do with "wealthy, hungry, rabid fanbases". I'd put USC in this category. They have plenty of wealthy alum, but do they have wealthy alum that are obsessed? not so sure.

USC does not have a obsessed fan base at all. I can 100% assure that nobody cares about USC unless they are winning big. Nobody is going to unload the checkbook for them until they win first.

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

Can't think of many schools where this might happen. Maybe Penn State? They don't seem to really be in on many NIL bag chases.

It's more likely we see programs emerge because of money. Like SMU where there is a ton of money.

I don't have any data on alumni wealth AND willingness to support athletics but I could imagine teams like A&M/SMU shooting to the top of this if they figure things out, and teams like Clemson or even some SEC powers without deep pockets falling pretty fast. And by falling I mean, becoming average or below and not necessarily turning into Eastern Michigan.

like USC alumni have a lot of money but so far have seemingly been unwilling to unload into NIL. SMU alumni have a lot of money AND have been willing to unload in that arena. Oregon has 1 wealthy alumni who seems hell bent on getting them a title. Ect.

 

[Tharvot]

Will be interesting to see if historically big name schools fall to the wayside because while they might have larger fan support, they don't have wealthy fan support.

Can't think of many schools where this might happen. Maybe Penn State? They don't seem to really be in on many NIL bag chases.

It's more likely we see programs emerge because of money. Like SMU where there is a ton of money.

The big state schools have plenty of cash. I wouldn't worry about that much.

You're right about other smaller schools that have boosters that desperately want to compete (SMU is a good example). They can pool together funds to compete with the big boys. But, they need the infrastructure in place to succeed. They can spend all the money in the world on good players, but if the coach, scheme, facilities, etc., are sub par, they won't win anything consistently.

I certainly hope so!

Aggie certainly has the cash

 

[Red_Alert]

The Big Ten's weaponization of clean cash -- and lots of it -- is shifting power dynamics from South to North

The Big Ten can pay players now -- guilt-free. Does it mean the end of the SEC's utter dominance?

www.cbssports.com

"In the current media rights deal with NBC, CBS and Fox, Big Ten schools will be making an average of $100 million annually in media rights alone when the current deal expires in 2030. The SEC is expected to top out at $75 million."

Unless the Big 10 gets a lot better in the 'middling' teams I don't see that coming to fruition. ABC is kicking ass in viewership and those media rights contracts are fluid year-to-year.
i.e. More eyeballs garners higher advertising costs paid to the networks = higher payouts by the networks to the conferences.

 

[fordman84]

USC does not have a obsessed fan base at all. I can 100% assure that nobody cares about USC unless they are winning big. Nobody is going to unload the checkbook for them until they win first.

Like SMU was mentioned before, they have very wealthy fans and they have wealthy fans that suffered through the death penalty and are going to write blank check after blank check to get SMU back to the top.

I think A&M is in the same category, without the NCAA-boogeyman to rally around.

 

[osubuckeye89]

I don't have any data on alumni wealth AND willingness to support athletics but I could imagine teams like A&M/SMU shooting to the top of this if they figure things out, and teams like Clemson or even some SEC powers without deep pockets falling pretty fast. And by falling I mean, becoming average or below and not necessarily turning into Eastern Michigan.

like USC alumni have a lot of money but so far have seemingly been unwilling to unload into NIL. SMU alumni have a lot of money AND have been willing to unload in that arena. Oregon has 1 wealthy alumni who seems hell bent on getting them a title. Ect.

You can spend all the money in the world but that doesn't mean it's going to work all the time, when it comes to trying to buy a championship. The players who are only out there looking for the biggest bag a lot of the time end up being locker room cancers and pain in the asses. I think you have to find a nice balance in use of the portal and unloading a ton of NIL. Writing a check to everyone who will say yes is not a long term strategy.

 

[fordman84]

I don't have any data on alumni wealth AND willingness to support athletics but I could imagine teams like A&M/SMU shooting to the top of this if they figure things out, and teams like Clemson or even some SEC powers without deep pockets falling pretty fast. And by falling I mean, becoming average or below and not necessarily turning into Eastern Michigan.

like USC alumni have a lot of money but so far have seemingly been unwilling to unload into NIL. SMU alumni have a lot of money AND have been willing to unload in that arena. Oregon has 1 wealthy alumni who seems hell bent on getting them a title. Ect.

Miami is one to watch as well. Lots of money and hungry to get back to the glory days.

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

Miami is one to watch as well. Lots of money and hungry to get back to the glory days.

And Miami seems to be hitting on a lot of recruits AND portal prospect.