Tom Holmoe has clarified where BYU stands with the Big 12. Please see this Deseret News article. We learned 2 things.
1. BYU has not been offered a chance to join the Big 12.
2. The only demand that BYU has made is to not play on Sunday.
That is all that has been revealed. Anything else is conjecture. It's hearsay. It's rumor. It's not going to happen.
That part about not playing on Sunday IS a big deal, especially in basketball and baseball. But let me take an exception to what was in the Deseret News article about Sunday play and what TV partners might be thinking.
First of all, most of the NCAA basketball season, which runs from late November to early March, runs along side the NFL season. In November, December and January, sports channels are not going to be showing Kansas, Duke and the other big boys on Sunday. It would be a wasted opportunity. Even if you are Duke basketball, you are not going to compete against the NFL.
And what do NFL fans do in February, anyway. I can't find a study that tells me anything. I think it depends on the climate. Some watch other sports, including college basketball. Some golf, bike, hike. Some go to their regular bars and drink, even though there is no football on. You could ask 100 NFL fans, and you would have 100 different answers.
I also found out that Kansas has no Sunday games this year. And the Big 12 championship game is on Saturday. The Big Conference want the best NCAA seeding possible, and therefore want their championships played on Saturday so that they are not playing games when the NCAA committee is meeting. Only conferences with guaranteed high bids, only where the championship won't affect seeding, will play on Sunday. Right now that is the Big 10, Big East and ACC. For the Big 12, if Kansas looses before the championship, you probably want the members of the NCAA committee watching.
The smaller conferences, the ones who would get TV games on Sunday afternoon are the ones that would be hurt by no Sunday play. The WCC is doing more to accommodate BYU than the Big 12 would ever need to make.
The Sunday play issue is a bigger problem for the non-TV sports. When I was at Nebraska, someone explained this to me when we were talking about BYU. If you play on Friday night/Sunday afternoon, a team can make a road trip and not miss any classes. That is not true for Thursday/Saturday/Monday.
It is even more of a problem for baseball and softball. Usually, a college baseball/softball team will play a 3-game series on Friday/Saturday/Sunday. Again, few if any classes are missed. BYU would require a Thursday/Friday/Saturday schedule.
But the Big 12 could accommodate BYU's no-Sunday policy if they really wanted to. Student athletes and coaches understand that missing classes from time to time is part of the deal. They are, in fact, willing to make those sacrifices. Often, when athletes travel to a Friday game, they are missing classes on Thursday. Often, when they play a Sunday game, they are missing classes on Monday. It all depends on what travel arrangements one can make.
But there are other speculations that could cause BYU trouble with the Big 12. First, if BYU gets into the Big 12, they potentially bring the 4th largest market to the conference, behind Dallas/Ft Worth, Kansas City and Austin. They would have the 2nd largest enrollment, behind Texas. They would have the 3rd largest football stadium, behind Texas and Oklahoma. And they would have the largest basketball arena. They would be a power player right away. Some schools would be surrendering power to add BYU.
However, power will add value to the Big 12. BYU will increase their TV revenue potential.
Now, let me speculate on my own a bit. The Big 12 is not going to expand to 11. Someone has to come in with BYU. Who else could even come close to offering to the Big 12 what BYU does. Boise State, perhaps. But they are in a small market. UNLV might be better because they are in Las Vegas, which is a growing market. And even though football has not been lighting things on fire, they are building a new on-campus football stadium. But when it comes to good, potential BCS conference members, UNLV doesn't exactly come to mind. Air Force, but then again, they recruit pilots, not football players.
The lack of a partner is probably, at least in my opinion, the reason BYU is not in the Big 12.
There are dozens of scenarios that could land BYU in the Big 12. Perhaps the ACC goes after Kansas. Perhaps the PAC 12 gets Oklahoma. Something like that will open a spot for BYU...a last ditch replacement.
Preferably, however, the PAC-12 has a change of heart and decides to take BYU after all.
Right now all of this is crazy talk. But conference realignment has been crazy, lately, hasn't it. For now, I expect that BYU will remain independent.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
MWC Schedule rotation
The MWC has announced the schedule rotation for the next four years. For Utah State, it could have been worse, and it is better than I thought that it would be. For starters, the Aggies get Boise State in Logan in 2013. Even Martha Stewart would agree that this is a good thing.
There are a trio of minor disappointments. First, they get San Jose State on the road for two consecutive seasons. Air Force and Utah State have only hooked up once in their history, and that was at the Academy in the 1960s. USU will travel to Colorado Springs in 2013. And finally, the San Diego State series, where most of the games have been played on the coast, will open again in 2015 in San Diego. There is bound to be some sort of conference and/or division realignment before the Aztecs are scheduled to come to Logan in 2016.
In retrospect, the MWC athletic directors did the best that they could and one could not expect the the schedule to be perfect.
For the Aggies, here is how it turns out
Divisional opponents.
Odd years (like 2013): Home: Boise State, Colorado State and Wyoming. Road: Air Force and New Mexico
Even years (like 2014) Home: Air Force and New Mexico. Road: Boise State, Colorado State and Wyoming
Cross Division:
Year 1 (2013, 2017, etc): Road: San Jose State and UNLV. Home: Hawaii
Year 2 (2014, 2018, etc): Road: Hawaii. Home: San Jose State and UNLV
Year 3 (2015, 2019, etc): Road: San Diego State and Fresno State. Home: Nevada
Year 4 (2016, 2020, etc): Road: Nevada. Home: San Diego State and Fresno State
The MWC is usually the last FBS conference to announce dates because they have, perhaps, the only program left, San Diego State, that still shares a stadium with an NFL team. The Q usually asks the MWC to avoid having both the Aztecs and the Chargers playing on the same weekend. It can't always be avoided, however. If rumors are true, 2013 may be the last year of this conflict.
Utah State will have the option of scheduling a 13th game in 2014. Right now, USU only has one non-conference game scheduled, at BYU.
The goal for the Aggies is to host the MWC title game. With BSU at home, they have a good realistic shot at a 11-1 regular season. Likely, however, 10-2 will be the outcome with the losses to Boise State and USC. The games against BYU and Utah are not in the bag and San Jose State is no pushover, but I expect 8-4 will be the worst likely outcome as the Aggies should win at least one of these three games. Anything less than that will be a disappointment. Outside of Boise State and Utah State, the MWC Mountain is weak. USU has an advantage that they also play the weaker part of the MWC West and get Hawaii and UNLV.
Here is who is on the schedule for 2013.
8/29--(Thursday) @ Utah
9/7--Open
9/14--Weber State
9/21--@ USC
9/28--Open
10/4--(Friday) BYU
10/12--Open
10/19--Open
10/26--Open
11/2--Open
11/9--Open
11/16--Open
11/23--Open
11/30--Open
12/7--MWC Championship at the home of the higher ranked opponent.
MWC Home Games: Boise State, Colorado State, Hawaii, Wyoming
MWC Road Games: Air Force, UNLV, New Mexico, San Jose State
There are a trio of minor disappointments. First, they get San Jose State on the road for two consecutive seasons. Air Force and Utah State have only hooked up once in their history, and that was at the Academy in the 1960s. USU will travel to Colorado Springs in 2013. And finally, the San Diego State series, where most of the games have been played on the coast, will open again in 2015 in San Diego. There is bound to be some sort of conference and/or division realignment before the Aztecs are scheduled to come to Logan in 2016.
In retrospect, the MWC athletic directors did the best that they could and one could not expect the the schedule to be perfect.
For the Aggies, here is how it turns out
Divisional opponents.
Odd years (like 2013): Home: Boise State, Colorado State and Wyoming. Road: Air Force and New Mexico
Even years (like 2014) Home: Air Force and New Mexico. Road: Boise State, Colorado State and Wyoming
Cross Division:
Year 1 (2013, 2017, etc): Road: San Jose State and UNLV. Home: Hawaii
Year 2 (2014, 2018, etc): Road: Hawaii. Home: San Jose State and UNLV
Year 3 (2015, 2019, etc): Road: San Diego State and Fresno State. Home: Nevada
Year 4 (2016, 2020, etc): Road: Nevada. Home: San Diego State and Fresno State
The MWC is usually the last FBS conference to announce dates because they have, perhaps, the only program left, San Diego State, that still shares a stadium with an NFL team. The Q usually asks the MWC to avoid having both the Aztecs and the Chargers playing on the same weekend. It can't always be avoided, however. If rumors are true, 2013 may be the last year of this conflict.
Utah State will have the option of scheduling a 13th game in 2014. Right now, USU only has one non-conference game scheduled, at BYU.
The goal for the Aggies is to host the MWC title game. With BSU at home, they have a good realistic shot at a 11-1 regular season. Likely, however, 10-2 will be the outcome with the losses to Boise State and USC. The games against BYU and Utah are not in the bag and San Jose State is no pushover, but I expect 8-4 will be the worst likely outcome as the Aggies should win at least one of these three games. Anything less than that will be a disappointment. Outside of Boise State and Utah State, the MWC Mountain is weak. USU has an advantage that they also play the weaker part of the MWC West and get Hawaii and UNLV.
Here is who is on the schedule for 2013.
8/29--(Thursday) @ Utah
9/7--Open
9/14--Weber State
9/21--@ USC
9/28--Open
10/4--(Friday) BYU
10/12--Open
10/19--Open
10/26--Open
11/2--Open
11/9--Open
11/16--Open
11/23--Open
11/30--Open
12/7--MWC Championship at the home of the higher ranked opponent.
MWC Home Games: Boise State, Colorado State, Hawaii, Wyoming
MWC Road Games: Air Force, UNLV, New Mexico, San Jose State
Sunday, February 10, 2013
BYU's possible 2014 opponents.
Updated March 4, 2013
BYU does not have a lot left to schedule for 2014. Currently there are 11 games on the docket. The Cougars may even have 7 home games. A game against UCF, which is now in the Big East Conference needs a date. And it is more than a private secret that that Southern Mississippi wants to cancel the series.
BYU does not yet have a 2014 date against teams from the Big 10, MAC, Pac-12, SEC or Sun Belt conferences. In independence, BYU has never scheduled the MAC or the Sun Belt Conference, although Middle Tennessee has moved from the Sun Belt to Conference USA recently.
UConn is not the "SEC-Caliber, one and done" that I was expecting to open the 2014 schedule. But, the Huskies have been to a BCS bowl in recent history. It will be a "tougher than you might expect" kind of game. And it does fulfill Bronco's desire to play games in some of the great cities in the US. East Hartford Connecticut is about 100 Miles NE of New York City. In August, it becomes one of those "Cougar Club" travel with the team games.
BYU could still finish the schedule with a one and done with a big-name school...there are plenty of schools in that category that have an opening for BYU. But there are not many that would give up a late-November bye to play BYU.
If Notre Dame and BYU continue their series in 2014, the only date that will work is November 22. But if this was going to happen in 2014, my hunch is that the game would have already been announced. Notre Dame travels to USC the week after and may not want 2 western games in consecutive weeks, but I could be wrong about that.
As the Big East, Mountain West and Conference USA are already heavies on the BYU 2014 schedule, I do not expect another game against a team from these conferences. I expect a 7th home games against either the MAC or Sun Belt Conferences, or a game against Idaho (in Moscow) or a games against New Mexico State or the schedule will be finished with another games against the Big Sky Conference. I would expect that USM, if cancelled, will be replaced with an FCS opponent.
2014 Schedule
August 30--@ Connecticut
September 6--@ Texas
September 13--Open (Probable, this week remains a bye.)
September 20--Virginia
September 27--Houston
October 3--Utah State
October 11--Open (Probable: the game at UCF goes here.)
October 18--Nevada
October 25--@ Boise State
November 1--@Middle Tennessee
November 8--Southern Mississippi (USM reportedly wants out of this game, could be replaced with another home game against a school from a smaller conference. UCF could go here as well.)
November 15--UNLV
November 22--Open (Possible: If Notre Dame schedules the Cougars, this is the only date it could happen. Other possibilities are a school from a lesser conference or @ Idaho. Other possibility: road game vs team from a lesser conference.)
November 28--Open (Either a school from a lesser conference or it will be left open.
TBA--@UCF
Need 2 games
For Possible Bowl Destinations, click here
Potential opponents who have 2014 opponings.
Acc
(Virginia already scheduled)
Clemson
Florida State
Louisville
Miami
NC State
North Carolina
Syracuse
Big 12
(Texas already scheduled)
Oklahoma
TCU
Texas Tech
Big 10
Illinois
Northwestern
Purdue
Rutgers
Big East
(UConn, Houston, UCF already scheduled)
USF
C-USA
(Middle Tennessee, USM already scheduled)
Louisiana Tech
North Texas
Old Dominion
Rice
Tulsa
UAB
Other indy
Idaho
New Mex State
Notre Dame (Nov 22)
MAC
Akron
Buffalo
Central Michigan
Eastern Michigan
Northern Illinois
Toledo
Western Michigan
MWC
(Boise State, Nevada, UNLV, Utah State already scheduled)
Air Force
Colorado State
San Diego State
PAC-12
California
Oregon
Stanford
SEC
Alabama
Arkansas
Auburn
Kentucky
LSU
Mississippi State
Tennessee
Texas A&M
Vanderbilt
Sun Belt
Arkansas State
Georgia Southern
Texas State
Troy
Louisiana Lafeyette
Louisiana Monroe
Western Kentucky
BYU does not have a lot left to schedule for 2014. Currently there are 11 games on the docket. The Cougars may even have 7 home games. A game against UCF, which is now in the Big East Conference needs a date. And it is more than a private secret that that Southern Mississippi wants to cancel the series.
BYU does not yet have a 2014 date against teams from the Big 10, MAC, Pac-12, SEC or Sun Belt conferences. In independence, BYU has never scheduled the MAC or the Sun Belt Conference, although Middle Tennessee has moved from the Sun Belt to Conference USA recently.
UConn is not the "SEC-Caliber, one and done" that I was expecting to open the 2014 schedule. But, the Huskies have been to a BCS bowl in recent history. It will be a "tougher than you might expect" kind of game. And it does fulfill Bronco's desire to play games in some of the great cities in the US. East Hartford Connecticut is about 100 Miles NE of New York City. In August, it becomes one of those "Cougar Club" travel with the team games.
BYU could still finish the schedule with a one and done with a big-name school...there are plenty of schools in that category that have an opening for BYU. But there are not many that would give up a late-November bye to play BYU.
If Notre Dame and BYU continue their series in 2014, the only date that will work is November 22. But if this was going to happen in 2014, my hunch is that the game would have already been announced. Notre Dame travels to USC the week after and may not want 2 western games in consecutive weeks, but I could be wrong about that.
As the Big East, Mountain West and Conference USA are already heavies on the BYU 2014 schedule, I do not expect another game against a team from these conferences. I expect a 7th home games against either the MAC or Sun Belt Conferences, or a game against Idaho (in Moscow) or a games against New Mexico State or the schedule will be finished with another games against the Big Sky Conference. I would expect that USM, if cancelled, will be replaced with an FCS opponent.
2014 Schedule
August 30--@ Connecticut
September 6--@ Texas
September 13--Open (Probable, this week remains a bye.)
September 20--Virginia
September 27--Houston
October 3--Utah State
October 11--Open (Probable: the game at UCF goes here.)
October 18--Nevada
October 25--@ Boise State
November 1--@Middle Tennessee
November 8--Southern Mississippi (USM reportedly wants out of this game, could be replaced with another home game against a school from a smaller conference. UCF could go here as well.)
November 15--UNLV
November 22--Open (Possible: If Notre Dame schedules the Cougars, this is the only date it could happen. Other possibilities are a school from a lesser conference or @ Idaho. Other possibility: road game vs team from a lesser conference.)
November 28--Open (Either a school from a lesser conference or it will be left open.
TBA--@UCF
Need 2 games
For Possible Bowl Destinations, click here
Potential opponents who have 2014 opponings.
Acc
(Virginia already scheduled)
Clemson
Florida State
Louisville
Miami
NC State
North Carolina
Syracuse
Big 12
(Texas already scheduled)
Oklahoma
TCU
Texas Tech
Big 10
Illinois
Northwestern
Purdue
Rutgers
Big East
(UConn, Houston, UCF already scheduled)
USF
C-USA
(Middle Tennessee, USM already scheduled)
Louisiana Tech
North Texas
Old Dominion
Rice
Tulsa
UAB
Other indy
Idaho
New Mex State
Notre Dame (Nov 22)
MAC
Akron
Buffalo
Central Michigan
Eastern Michigan
Northern Illinois
Toledo
Western Michigan
MWC
(Boise State, Nevada, UNLV, Utah State already scheduled)
Air Force
Colorado State
San Diego State
PAC-12
California
Oregon
Stanford
SEC
Alabama
Arkansas
Auburn
Kentucky
LSU
Mississippi State
Tennessee
Texas A&M
Vanderbilt
Sun Belt
Arkansas State
Georgia Southern
Texas State
Troy
Louisiana Lafeyette
Louisiana Monroe
Western Kentucky
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