I disagree with the scenario, but also disagree with you statement. We'd have a hefty revenue advantage over everyone else, which would build over time. We'd have Big 12 money in a MWC-like conference.
UCLA and USC kids will be flying to the Midwest every other week. My kid goes to a B1G school and the novelty of trips to the Midwest wears out fast. A easy flight up to the Bay Area and road trips to the PNW with a clear path the the playoff can be a major selling point to CA kids if done right.
Our games against the PNW schools have been tight (within 2 scores) lately.
OU: 3 of the last 4 years
OSU: 3 of 4
UW: 4 of 4
I donтАЩt see how we arenтАЩt in the discussion to win the PAC-8/10 every year.
IтАЩm not saying I wouldnтАЩt take the B1G money if offered but if not, we can still find ourselves in a pretty good spot.
I think the idea behind "gobbling up California recruits whose parents want to keep their games in California" is: if you go to Cal your away games are a lot closer (on the west coast + AZ + Utah) than if go to Ucla or USC (flights to the midwest every other weekend, most with a layover or 2).
The thing is, those recruits who we'll be "gobbling up" are gonna be offered NIL deals worth 6 figures more than what we can offer with our minuscule TV/Conference share revenue in the Pac 8 and their massive deal in the Big 10. The money and donor loyalty battle that we are already badly losing to the LA schools will widen even further if we don't get into the Big 10. And in the age of NIL, that is not a good thing for recruiting
TV money and NIL money are separate though, right? Schools received the TV money and explicitly cannot pay the NIL deals.
I don't disagree that we should want into the B1G. But exactly where the money goes and why it matters has always seemed a little under-explained to me.
Listened to Dan Wetzel's podcast. He make a compelling case to keep the PAC small.
He didn't get into Cal's situation but using his logic:
- Keep the PAC to 8 to 10 for the next 5ish years.
- Spend the next 5 years gobbling up California recruits whose parents want to keep their games in California
- Win the watered-down league (right now, the only major hurdles are Oregon & Utah)
- Ride the PAC's automatic bid to the college football playoff
- Build brand value (and revenue) thru winning a watered-own league while collecting payments from UCLA
- Bask in the glory (and revenue) as in the Tedford years
Thoughts? Any chance staying together as a small conference could be better for Cal?
You make a compelling case not to listen to Dan Wetzel's podcast. :)
We are gonna get killed in the Pac 8, so might as well get killed in Big 10.
YeahтАж. Ucla and USC are still in California last I checked which will make it tough to get California recruits.
Oregon, UDub, and Oregons St are miles ahead of Cal football wise right now.
This seems like a sure fire way to finish 3rd in a watered down conference in order to be banished to the Big West.
I disagree with the scenario, but also disagree with you statement. We'd have a hefty revenue advantage over everyone else, which would build over time. We'd have Big 12 money in a MWC-like conference.
UCLA and USC kids will be flying to the Midwest every other week. My kid goes to a B1G school and the novelty of trips to the Midwest wears out fast. A easy flight up to the Bay Area and road trips to the PNW with a clear path the the playoff can be a major selling point to CA kids if done right.
Our games against the PNW schools have been tight (within 2 scores) lately.
OU: 3 of the last 4 years
OSU: 3 of 4
UW: 4 of 4
I donтАЩt see how we arenтАЩt in the discussion to win the PAC-8/10 every year.
IтАЩm not saying I wouldnтАЩt take the B1G money if offered but if not, we can still find ourselves in a pretty good spot.
Will UO and UW be around though?
Apparently, the answer is no.
I think the idea behind "gobbling up California recruits whose parents want to keep their games in California" is: if you go to Cal your away games are a lot closer (on the west coast + AZ + Utah) than if go to Ucla or USC (flights to the midwest every other weekend, most with a layover or 2).
The thing is, those recruits who we'll be "gobbling up" are gonna be offered NIL deals worth 6 figures more than what we can offer with our minuscule TV/Conference share revenue in the Pac 8 and their massive deal in the Big 10. The money and donor loyalty battle that we are already badly losing to the LA schools will widen even further if we don't get into the Big 10. And in the age of NIL, that is not a good thing for recruiting
TV money and NIL money are separate though, right? Schools received the TV money and explicitly cannot pay the NIL deals.
I don't disagree that we should want into the B1G. But exactly where the money goes and why it matters has always seemed a little under-explained to me.