Welcome to the Big XII

[GoBearcats31]

Bob Huggins, in town for a fundraiser, asked about UC joining the Big 12:
https://twitter.com/FOX19Joe/status/1533917447526440960 (1+ minute clip)

[swilsonsp4]

John Carpenter also directed the horror flick, The Fog, but he isn’t related to our AD, John Cunningham.

I saw an article yesterday, the site of which I can’t recall, which mentioned that negotiations will start up again this coming week. The UC, UCF & UH brass have been involved in the B12 spring meetings this past week.

[Lobot]

Something random here but John Carpenter is also the name of the Freeway that Big XII HQ is on

[red_n_black_attack]

Quick google search and no articles on if a deal has been reached or final amount of buyout. Aresco is playing hardball, but he doesn't hold a winning hand. I am sure John Cunningham has a pretty accurate estimate of 23/24 payouts and will pull the trigger along with UH and UCF when they know their partial share will cover the exit fee. I cannot imagine the budget would need to increase that much for Big 12 travel< but I trust JC has a number that needs to be true to not cost the Bearcats.

On a side note, a buddy was commenting on the 22 home schedule being blah. It is, but nothing the Cats can do about it. Any new conference foes coming to Nippert will be exciting and I hope none of those games are played at PBS.

[swilsonsp4]

This doesn’t impact UC this year, but the B12 just wrapped up the spring meetings with an announcement that the per-school payout this year is $42.6M, a 20% increase over the 2020-21 school year.

https://big12sports.com/news/2022/6/...s-summary.aspx

From another source, Bob Bowlsby anticipated an increase to $50M by 2025.

[bearcatbret]

I’ll try and get on this when I get back in town. I’d like to know myself

The Houston Chronical and the San Antonio Express may have something but I am not a subscriber.

[Lobot]

I’ll try and get on this when I get back in town. I’d like to know myself

[bearcatbret]

And that’s the starting point from the look of it. 17-20 range

https://www.actionnetwork.com/ncaaf/...in-big-12-2023

From that article "Multiple sources said they are “fully confident” that a settlement will be reached this month by UC, UH, UCF and the AAC." Has anyone heard anything on the agreement? Also, has there been any news about the Commissioner hunt?

[bearcatbret]

It looks like UC is adding key staff to get ready for the Big 12. Brad Pike Joins Cincinnati Athletics as Executive Senior Associate AD - University of Cincinnati Athletics (gobearcats.com)

A long read but an interesting one about future realignment, big money, playoff, etc. College Football Problems and Ways to Fix Them: Conference Realignment | Bleacher Report | Latest News, Videos and Highlights

[bearcatbret]

What UCF is doing to prepare. Also, they have the number 47 recruiting class. Conference realignment: How UCF is preparing for Big 12 move (tampabay.com)

[Lobot]

Looks like divisions might not be happening after all.

https://theathletic.com/news/ncaa-fo.../EOTjZNYLouND/

[bearcatbret]

Spring meetings are over. Gundy and Holgorsen Reunion in the Desert at Big 12 Spring Meetings | Pokes Report

[red_n_black_attack]

LISTEN: The Big 12s makeover is coming, could be clumsy (247sports.com)


WATCH: College football trying to weather the storm (247sports.com)

College football trying to weather the storm

Here are two well-known and two well-positioned voices in college football: Paul Finebaum and Jack Swarbrick. Finebaum is a respected media personality in the south who doesn't why from the most important topics. Swarbrick is Notre Dame's athletic director. The latter for the former's attention late last month with a pretty grim outlook for the future.

"It’s not only the future — it’s the present," Finebaum said. "And I read something over the weekend from Jack Swarbrick of Notre Dame, respected individual — highly respected — and he said that he thought the NCAA current structure, Power Five, would be obsolete by the middle of the 2030s. That’s 10 years off. I think he’s being very, very generous. I don’t think this is a sustainable model that will last another couple of years. Now, it’s impossible to predict the breakup of an organization like this because it moves so slowly. But it is going to come apart. The NCAA is on its last breath. And I think college football, as we know it, is on its last breath."

That's significant, but the most notable part of such a statement is that it really isn't that bold. Look around and take inventory of changes that make you uncomfortable about the present and the future. There are many of them, right? You can't do much about it. Worse yet, the people who are in charge of safeguarding the sport don't seem very invested or interested in doing so. In the video above, Late Kick host Josh Pate addresses the tornado and who's in the middle of it all.

I agree that the NCAA as we know will most likely cease to have any influence or governance over college football, at least at the elite level. However, I don't envision a league like NFL with any number of the top tier teams only playing each other. Whether it be a 32 team or 64 team group that breaks from the NCAA, I simply don't see these teams only playing each other. First off, the money generated from extra home games is huge. Teams pay 1-3 hundred thousand dollars for directional state lower tier U to come to their house because the home team at top tier schools make a few million on top of tv revenue. The difference in operating budget between 6 and 7 home games could support one or two smaller sports. Secondly, I don't see oh st, Bama, or UGA accepting 4 loss seasons as elite like in the NFL. The great college teams can afford to play a softer schedule and use those games as extra practice/evaluation to prep for the 2 or 3 tough games on the schedule. Like it or not, the Top 25 needs Northwestern, Vanderbilt, G5, and FCS teams to beat up upon. While there may be a break from the NCAA as a governance body, the break will be more about making/keeping money with the P5 programs and the school Chancellors/Presidents will put something in place to maintain the student athlete model as opposed to drafting high school kids and paying them a salary. These big schools like their money and the NIL model lets kids get money from Boosters without getting salaray/benefits from the school. (A side note, the XFL/USFL or whatever non-NFL teams are missing the boat on drafting and paying high school kids like the G league.)

While change is inevitable, I don't think it will ruin college sports. Purists may yearn for the App St over Michigan upsets in the Big House, but it will be more entertaining for top tier teams to play 8-10 tough games as opposed to 2-3. All I hope is that whatever model is next for elite college football teams that it include your Cincinnati Bearcats!

[bearcatbret]

LISTEN: The Big 12s makeover is coming, could be clumsy (247sports.com)


WATCH: College football trying to weather the storm (247sports.com)

College football trying to weather the storm

Here are two well-known and two well-positioned voices in college football: Paul Finebaum and Jack Swarbrick. Finebaum is a respected media personality in the south who doesn't why from the most important topics. Swarbrick is Notre Dame's athletic director. The latter for the former's attention late last month with a pretty grim outlook for the future.

"It’s not only the future — it’s the present," Finebaum said. "And I read something over the weekend from Jack Swarbrick of Notre Dame, respected individual — highly respected — and he said that he thought the NCAA current structure, Power Five, would be obsolete by the middle of the 2030s. That’s 10 years off. I think he’s being very, very generous. I don’t think this is a sustainable model that will last another couple of years. Now, it’s impossible to predict the breakup of an organization like this because it moves so slowly. But it is going to come apart. The NCAA is on its last breath. And I think college football, as we know it, is on its last breath."

That's significant, but the most notable part of such a statement is that it really isn't that bold. Look around and take inventory of changes that make you uncomfortable about the present and the future. There are many of them, right? You can't do much about it. Worse yet, the people who are in charge of safeguarding the sport don't seem very invested or interested in doing so. In the video above, Late Kick host Josh Pate addresses the tornado and who's in the middle of it all.

[bearcatbret]

Interesting article on UCF, their recent success, increasing recruiting clout, etc. about joining the Big 12. I suspect that it will be similar for UC. The Bearcats may not be able to compete against tosu in recruiting but we should hold our own against regional teams such as UK, UL, PU, IU, WVU, Illinois, NW, Minn, Wisc, Pitt, etc. Keep CLF, keep winning, keep recruiting.