New Pac

[osubuckeye89]

At one point the old Big West had

Northern Illinois
Louisiana Lafayette
Louisiana Tech
Arkansas State
Utah State
UNLV
New Mexico State
San Jose State
Pacific
UNLV

The OG geographically wild conference.

 

[Deep Creek]

At one point the old Big West had

Northern Illinois
Louisiana Lafayette
Louisiana Tech
Arkansas State
Utah State
UNLV
New Mexico State
San Jose State
Pacific
UNLV

The OG geographically wild conference.

Football or all sports?

 

[Deep Creek]

Viewership and media revenue is irrelevant to the expansion. The media revenue is going to be the same whether they get Texas State, UNLV or if UCLA came back. ESPN, CBS and most likely WBD are just buying content/time slot.

There are two reasons UTSA and Texas State are even an option and it’s making it easier to recruit Texas 2 star recruits and they won’t be competitive at first and won’t be full share members at first like UNLV would be.

If media revenue is irrelevant, I’ve been under a rock this entire conference realignment started!

The article ralphie posted seemed to indicate the Texas State president was only interested if they received a full share. Or did I read that wrong?

 

[osubuckeye89]

Football or all sports?

I believe it was only for football, not sure about the other sports but Basketball didn't have this configuration.

I know Northern Illinois was in the old "Midwest Conference" which became the Horizon League.

Arkansas State, UL-Lafayette and La Tech were in the Sun Belt, but the Sun Belt didn't become a football conference until 2001

 

[Deep Creek]

I believe it was only for football, not sure about the other sports but Basketball didn't have this configuration.

I know Northern Illinois was in the old "Midwest Conference" which became the Horizon League.

Arkansas State, UL-Lafayette and La Tech were in the Sun Belt, but the Sun Belt didn't become a football conference until 2001

I can understand football only conferences. That expense isn’t really a huge financial issue…even for most members of “poorer” conferences.

And it doesn’t appear travel isn’t an issue for the P2 or middling two either. Or at least I haven’t heard much about it. But those four have deeper pockets.

 

[osubuckeye89]

I can understand football only conferences. That expense isn’t really a huge financial issue…even for most members of “poorer” conferences.

And it doesn’t appear travel isn’t an issue for the P2 or middling two either. Or at least I haven’t heard much about it. But those four have deeper pockets.

I bet in 1995 it was way more of a issue than it is today.

 

[OlyDuck]

There are two reasons UTSA and Texas State are even an option and it’s making it easier to recruit Texas 2 star recruits and they won’t be competitive at first and won’t be full share members at first like UNLV would be.

Wont be competitive?
This wont be like when Utah joined.
UTSA beat coveted Memphis just last year. They have been otherwise competitive with like teams of AAC which has been regarded higher than MWC.
TX barely lost to Big XII champ ASU last year. beat Baylor in 23. Also has been competitive against like team of the Sun Belt.
TX St had a higher rated recruiting class than Fresno State, Utah State, and Colorado State and only 4 spots behind SDSU, and only 13 behind WSU.

 

[Deep Creek]

I bet in 1995 it was way more of a issue than it is today.

Yep. Probably a lot more air travel routes than there was then.

 

[Deep Creek]

Wont be competitive?
This wont be like when Utah joined.
UTSA beat coveted Memphis just last year. They have been otherwise competitive with like teams of AAC which has been regarded higher than MWC.
TX barely lost to Big XII champ ASU last year. beat Baylor in 23. Also has been competitive against like team of the Sun Belt.
TX St had a higher rated recruiting class than Fresno State, Utah State, and Colorado State and only 4 spots behind SDSU, and only 13 behind WSU.

I agree. I think they’d be very competitive on the field/court. If it works financially, they’ll be fine.

Their head football coaches are pretty dang good. UTSA had a damn good baseball season too.

 

[wazzu31]

If media revenue is irrelevant, I’ve been under a rock this entire conference realignment started!

The article ralphie posted seemed to indicate the Texas State president was only interested if they received a full share. Or did I read that wrong?

You have been then when it comes to this Pac then. Media revenue hasn’t been a priority and it’s been stated several times. Exposure is priority number 1. The floor for the media revenue has always been around $10 million or so cause the conference pays for everything except distribution

Maybe he did say that, but it isn’t a reality. For WSU and OSU, UNLV is and has been plan A-Y. Plan Z is Memphis and the Texas schools. Realistically if I were Texas State or UTSA I wouldn’t join but that’s just me personally.

 

[wazzu31]

Wont be competitive?
This wont be like when Utah joined.
UTSA beat coveted Memphis just last year. They have been otherwise competitive with like teams of AAC which has been regarded higher than MWC.
TX barely lost to Big XII champ ASU last year. beat Baylor in 23. Also has been competitive against like team of the Sun Belt.
TX St had a higher rated recruiting class than Fresno State, Utah State, and Colorado State and only 4 spots behind SDSU, and only 13 behind WSU.

They wont be competitive for a conference championship in football or basketball is what I meant, not that they wont be competitive in games, my bad if it came off that way. Either Texas school or schools are just to get to the requirement if they indeed are joining the conference.

 

[Deep Creek]

You have been then when it comes to this Pac then. Media revenue hasn’t been a priority and it’s been stated several times. Exposure is priority number 1.

I have been out of it then. I was under the impression Boise, Fresno, SDSU, CSU and Utah State were going to get a significant financial increase by moving to the PAC 12. No?

 

[Deep Creek]

They wont be competitive for a conference championship in football or basketball is what I meant, not that they wont be competitive in games, my bad if it came off that way. Either Texas school or schools are just to get to the requirement if they indeed are joining the conference.

If past success is an indicator I think you are correct. IIRC, neither has won conference championships in either sport. UTSA may have in football a few years ago. I’ll check.

 

[osubuckeye89]

If past success is an indicator I think you are correct. IIRC, neither has won conference championships in either sport. UTSA may have in football a few years ago. I’ll check.

UTSA won the CUSA title in 2021 & 2022

 

[Deep Creek]

UTSA won the CUSA title in 2021 & 2022

I stand corrected. Thanks.

 

[ralphiewvu]

That could be the Big East's position. They seem to have a pretty cozy/tight knit group of private schools...sans UConn. But as much as schools seem to chase the dollar, they'd probably let them in if adding Memphis increased the media offer where ALL the schools get a fatter check.

I found this part of the article interesting. I'm sure Texas State alum George Strait could come up with the exit fee so I don't see that as a big issue. But taking less than a full share to begin with seems to be one.

"The exit fee looms as a significant motivator, as Texas State would join to start the 2026 season.

What would an offer look like? Well, Damphousse's social media hinted at the expectations of that again. In April, he tweeted about his love of lobster bisque: "People sometimes think that I'd be happy with half a bowl of soup. After all, a cup of soup is better than no soup at all. But for me, it's a full bowl or nothing."

That line was in response to speculation that Texas State would go to the Pac-12 for part of a media share. It appears Damphousse desires a full one."

I think there’s an appetite for Memphis basketball in the BE which is why this could happen but honestly who knows.

Believe it or not Texas St has a ton of leverage over the PAC here. The PAC needs one more full member to be considered a conference again for the 2026 season. There is virtually no cheaper realistic option for them with value besides Texas St. New Mexico St would be an option by that would be a significan’t downgrade from the PAC. If I were a betting man I’d bet Texas St is getting that full share year one.

 

[ralphiewvu]

the other thing to remember that could still make UTSA a 26 possibility is that what ever the exit fee is there is likely a negotiated discount as well as it isnt a 1 time pay now lump sum and could be broken down across many years.

It could be, but it drops significantly with a 27 month notice. The AAC did negotiate with the 3 that left for the B12 so it is possible. But those teams paid I believe in the teens (18 I think) million to ultimately make almost $50 mill next year in the B12. UTSA isn’t going to make half of that going to the PAC. And they would be on the hook for the exit fee themselves, no help from the PAC.

 

[ralphiewvu]

pretty sure July 1 is the deadline or rather the day before.

June 30, 2026 is technically the very last day to add someone. Ideally they’d like that done waaaaaaay before that and will likely get it. But this is still cutting it close. It’s crazy to think the PAC didn’t learn from their media rights debacle in 2023. Yet here we are.

 

[wazzu31]

I have been out of it then. I was under the impression Boise, Fresno, SDSU, CSU and Utah State were going to get a significant financial increase by moving to the PAC 12. No?

Compared to the MWC, sure. But getting more money isn’t why they jumped cause they went from a concrete certain number to a fictitious number.

 

[Deep Creek]

Memphis and the PAC 12

"The Pac-12 has not announced plans for its next media rights deal, so it isn't yet clear how much that deal will pay to each school. Memphis received about $11 million from the AAC for the 2023-24 academic year, but Thamel reported that the Pac-12 likely will pay its schools less than that."

If this turns out to be true, then @wazzu31 is correct. Move wouldn't be for financial reasons. Sans reduced early payments, has any other team moved for lesser money?

I know, I know, SMU did and even had to fork out a chunk but they are an unusual situation.