Octopus Overlords

— One of the Pac-12’s most significant non-conference games will be shown exclusively on a streaming platform: Washington’s trip to Michigan State on Sept. 16 is slotted for Peacock, the streaming platform owned by NBC.

JCC wrote: ↑Fri Jun 02, 2023 10:13 am I think Pac 12 fans are going to have to get used to a lot of their games being on streaming and only a few on the "traidtional" sports channels.

JCC wrote:I think Pac 12 fans are going to have to get used to a lot of their games being on streaming and only a few on the "traidtional" sports channels.

Scuzz wrote: ↑Fri Jun 09, 2023 1:44 am The SEC is going to scrap divisions as well.

The tie breakers will have to be well thought out.

Northwestern has fired coach Pat Fitzgerald days after details surfaced alleging graphic instances of hazing within the program, the school announced Monday night. Fitzgerald's departure comes three days after he was initially suspended without pay for two weeks. However, university administrators opted to revisit his status with the program after two former players provided details of the hazing, which was sexual in nature, to The Daily Northwestern student newspaper. Defensive coordinator David Braun is expected to step in as a liaison managing the team before an interim coach is named, according to multiple reports.

An executive summary provided by Northwestern recapped an independent investigation that concluded there was not sufficient evidence to believe the Northwestern coaching staff knew about the hazing. Fitzgerald, who has served as head coach of his alma mater for 17 seasons, claimed that he was "not aware of the alleged incidents." However, as further details came to light through the weekend, university president Michael Schill announced Sunday night that he would reassess the penalty.

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh is "expected" to be suspended for the first four games of the 2023 college football season as part of a negotiated resolution between the program and the NCAA, according to Yahoo Sports and multiple reports. Harbaugh is accused of providing false or misleading information to the NCAA during an investigation into alleged recruiting violations made in 2021 during an extended recruiting dead period stemming from COVID-19.

The NCAA alleges that Harbaugh lied to investigators during an initial meeting about the violations. Dishonesty to investigators is a separate Level I violation in the NCAA's rulebook. It appeared as if the parties were headed towards a resolution in the matter earlier this year; however, while those negotiations were ongoing, Harbaugh refused to sign a document admitting that he was dishonest during that first meeting.

The Wolverines coach has consistently maintained that he was not purposefully dishonest; rather, he claims he did not remember the events that led to the recruiting violations. Harbaugh's penalty will almost assuredly be harsher than what it would have been if the NCAA believed he cooperated from the onset as all four violations were of the Level II variety.

Skinypupy wrote: ↑Wed Jul 26, 2023 8:49 pm The P12 is a wholly remarkable shitshow right now.

Skinypupy wrote: ↑Thu Jul 27, 2023 11:45 am The worst part is that Colorado announced this move literally within hours after receiving an update from P12 leadership about progress on the new medial deal. That's...not encouraging.

On the flip side, there's an argument to be made that replacing CU with, say, San Diego State would actually be an upgrade. CU's only success was the Coach Prime hire, and I'm still firmly in the camp who thinks that experiment is going to end in flames.

I worry that Utah is going to end up back in the Mtn West at the end of all this. The B1G hasn't shown any interest and the B12 already "has" the Utah market with BYU. For all Utah's success, it's a very real possibility that we are left without a chair when the music stops.

In his main address Friday, Kliavkoff confirmed that a grant-of-rights between the 10 current members has been negotiated and will be announced alongside a TV deal, whenever one is finalized (the expectation is an uneven revenue distribution similar to the ACC’s new model).

According to the Big 12’s new TV contract, Power Five expansion additions receive a full pro-rata share of the distribution, which is expected to start around $31 million annually per school.

Arizona is long-rumored to be another target, but communication between the Wildcats and the Big 12 has waned of late. Before making any decision, the school plans to wait for Kliavkoff to present a television deal, a source told Yahoo Sports.

Pyperkub wrote: ↑Thu Jul 27, 2023 3:07 pm

According to the Big 12’s new TV contract, Power Five expansion additions receive a full pro-rata share of the distribution, which is expected to start around $31 million annually per school.

Arizona is long-rumored to be another target, but communication between the Wildcats and the Big 12 has waned of late. Before making any decision, the school plans to wait for Kliavkoff to present a television deal, a source told Yahoo Sports.

Utah and others have undoubtedly had discussions, **especially ** Arizona/ASU, but Colorado has apparently been the only one who didn't cool on those discussions.

One does wonder if BYU could be the reason Utah didn't get a "unanimous" invite like Colorado did this week tho. You probably have a better idea of how far up the administrative chains of BYU/Utah the Holy War extends

Scuzz wrote: ↑Thu Jul 27, 2023 12:27 pm Maybe Fresno State and San Diego State do have a chance of landing in the PAC.

Skinypupy wrote:

Absolutely no idea what happens next.

ESPN, Fox, NBC and CBS had all recently struck partnerships with other conferences, including the SEC (ESPN), the Big Ten (Fox, NBC and CBS) and the Big 12 (ESPN and Fox).

“The market turned against George,” says one former athletic administrator who remains in the college space. “If you can get 80% of what you ask, you usually take it. You don’t hope for 110%.”

In the most recent sign of desperate times, Pac-12 leaders last month approached NBC for at least the third time in the last year, this time with a significantly low offer.

The network passed.

“We were looking for a savior but no one seemed to want to step up,” says one Pac-12 insider.

The Big Ten has begun exploratory discussions about expanding membership to 18 or even 20 teams, industry sources have told Yahoo Sports. The schools being considered are Oregon and Washington if the league adds two schools, and Cal and Stanford if it wants to move to 20. All four institutions are currently members of the Pac-12.

JCC wrote: ↑Thu Aug 03, 2023 1:23 pm The Big 12 is courting Arizona

Conference realignment is the most American thing I can think of. Whittling away at all of the quirky, unique things that make something special and popular so that every last dollar can be squeezed out of a homogenized, board room-approved product to keep a bunch of stiff, corporate suits happy when revenue projections are shown.

Pyperkub wrote: ↑Fri Aug 04, 2023 4:16 pm I am even happier than ever that you got to see one of the last classic Rose Bowls.

I'm saddened that if UCLA doesn't make it this year, I'll never get to take Mrs. Kub to experience it as it is meant to be done - Big 10 v Pac 10+, on New Year's Day, at 2:30 in the afternoon PST, with all the pageantry and beauty on full display.

I did get to to in person and see UCLA win it my freshman year v. Iowa in '86, and appear again in '94 v. Wisconsin.

Pyperkub wrote: ↑Fri Aug 04, 2023 4:16 pm I am even happier than ever that you got to see one of the last classic Rose Bowls.

Skinypupy wrote: ↑Fri Aug 04, 2023 8:09 pm

Pyperkub wrote: ↑Fri Aug 04, 2023 4:16 pm I am even happier than ever that you got to see one of the last classic Rose Bowls.

Yeah, extremely grateful for that. Although it was an absolute nightmare to get there and we didn’t end up on the winning end of the game, that was still one of the best college football experiences I’ve ever had.

Looks like Utah’s headed to the B12. P12 was lots of fun while it lasted.

Pyperkub wrote: ↑Fri Aug 04, 2023 8:17 pm Bonus points for getting the Holy War annually we hope.

JCC wrote: ↑Sat Aug 05, 2023 12:30 amFarewell Pac 12.

Skinypupy wrote: ↑Fri Aug 04, 2023 8:49 pm

Pyperkub wrote: ↑Fri Aug 04, 2023 8:17 pm Bonus points for getting the Holy War annually we hope.

Man, BYU fans are pissed. We apparently come in at a full share and they had to take a smaller share for the first couple years.

I have to admit that Utah, BYU, and TCU had some pretty epic battles back in the MWC days. Time to renew that chaos, I suppose.