[NU Sports] Another domino, not the last one yet?

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

I think the Mountain West may not look to add for now -- they had nine to start with, added Boise State (still too small for a title game), lost Utah and ended up at nine still. Unless they could get Kansas, KSU and Mizzou or something from a Big XII split, I think they're fine at nine.

What I think they will push for is B(C)S inclusion. With TCU, Boise State and BYU, they can make a claim that they are as deserving as the new Big XII lite or Big East for an automatic bid. And since they have qualified a team twice and are adding a team that has qualified twice, they may get their wish to be included at the table since there are 10 spots now.

Also worth watching is where the at-large bids go -- the Big XII used to compete with the Big Ten and SEC for them, but will the OU/UT loser be as attractive with the conference weaker? Will the Pac 10 get more TV visibility and more bowl love? Will the ACC finally step up? Or will the Big Ten and SEC push to allow three from their power conferences?

Also of interest, how will the bowls realign with these new leagues? The Big XII will surely lose some spots and the Big Ten might be able to pick one or two up. (It's really hard to see how the Big XII makes good on their claim to stay economically viable with a lower TV prestige, fewer bowl ties and still allowing Texas to keep all their TV money???)

With SC on the down swing after sanctions and Pete's departure, Notre Dame needs the Big Ten more than ever to get a seat at the B(C)S table and be relevant. If we stop scheduling them, Pitt may be the only top 25 foe on their schedule.

All I know is that we're at a pause for now, waiting for Texas' house-of-cards conference of cronies to crumble inevitably and waiting for the Irish or Big East to wake up any echoes of intelligence. The Big Ten may not have gotten all they wanted (yet), but we're emerging from this first shake-up in a stronger position in just about every way possible -- which is good for the league and good for NU.

GO CATS!!!
-SjT

PS - As far as divisions, geographically seems the only natural way. Same with the Pac 10, which will likely have the Oregon/Washington schools joining Utah and Colorado in the north and the California and Arizona schools in the south. It just makes sense to align geographically like the SEC and not try and mix it up like the ACC.

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STEPHEN J. TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!! GEAUX SAINTS!!!
Super Bowl XLIV Champions!
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