Is Stanford and Cal to AAC a better deal than Pac-12 MWC merger?

Jonnyeagle · August 7, 2023

The future of the remaining four Pac-12 teams is uncertain, as they could all look to stick together or some could leave to join other conferences. Stanford and Cal to AAC has now become a hot topic.

There have been rumors that the Pac-12 could merge with a conference. However, according to CFB insider Jim Williams, Stanford and Cal could well go off on their own and just join another conference.

Williams reckons Stanford and Cal are valuable schools for a variety of reasons, and the American Athletic Conference should add a couple more.

The AAC has 14 teams, and bringing them up to 16 would make a lot of sense. Moreover, adding Stanford and Cal would allow the AAC to start broadcasting late-night games, which would increase their revenue further.

Whether Stanford or Cal are interested in that move is uncertain at this time However, it makes sense for both teams to leave the Pac-12 and make the move rather than waiting to see if the Pac-12 merges with the Atlantic Coastal Conference or Mountain West Conference.

LINK: https://www.sportskeeda.com/college-football/news-is-stanford-cal-aac-better-deal-pac-12-mwc-merger-taking-closer-look-pac-4-schools-media-money-2023

MeanGreen22 · August 7, 2023

I’d love to have Stanford and Cal but I wonder what their feelings are in regards to traveling across country for every game. Stanford is a total package for sports so them getting left out feels weird.

NM Green · August 7, 2023

That thought ran across my mind immediately. We could have the slots of 12p, 2:30p, 7p and 9p covered every weekend. It’s like ESPN programming within one conference. Build an alliance of games with the Big 12 and the programming would draw eyeballs from morning to late night.

GMG

TheColonyEagle · August 7, 2023

Seems like this first game vs Cal just had a little more meaning now….

Just has that feeling. Would be a good look for us to win that game. Bad look for them.

NT80 · August 7, 2023

Stanford football could just go Indy and schedule national games like Notre Dame does. They could easily make more than AAC could pay. Park their other sports in a west coast conference.

MeanGreen22 · August 7, 2023

48 minutes ago, NM Green said:

That thought ran across my mind immediately. We could have the slots of 12p, 2:30p, 7p and 9p covered every weekend. It’s like ESPN programming within one conference. Build an alliance of games with the Big 12 and the programming would draw eyeballs from morning to late night.

GMG

AAC Network. Talk soon.

RBP79 · August 7, 2023

All these scenario's are not being digest well by Smut.

UNTLifer · August 7, 2023

12 minutes ago, RBP79 said:

All these scenario's are not being digest well by Smut.

They are finding out real quick where they fit in the current pecking order of Division 1 programs and reality doesn't match their perception.

wardly · August 7, 2023

Stanford may go to ACC in deal similar to Notre Dame. Cal is a lost cause. OSU and WSU blend into the MWC nicely.

southsideguy · August 7, 2023

From what I heard is that SMUT crossed out the Pac10 on there interest letter they sent and wrote in the ACC and sent it to them.

El Paso Eagle · August 7, 2023

If OSU and WSU keep the "PAC" name and merge with the MWC, one thing the AAC might be able to "sell' is that they could align in pods with -

Cal, Stanford, Rice, SMU, Tulane, and Tulsa
Memphis, UAB, UNT, UTSA, and Navy
Charlotte, ECU, FAU, USF, and Temple

** If this happened, I would go after UCONN and UMASS, as long as it was for all sports.

Edited August 7, 2023 by El Paso Eagle

GrayEagle · August 8, 2023

One of the podcast talking heads reported that the AAC payout was more than double that of the MWC so, if true, Cal and Stanford would be much better off in the American Athletic Conference.

One talking head said that Stanford was headed for the ACC. Talk about cross country. If they did that their closest conference rival would be Louisville and their farthest Boston. It has also been rumored that Clemson and Florida State are being courted by both the SEC and the B1G.

keith · August 8, 2023

18 hours ago, RBP79 said:

All these scenario's are not being digest well by Smut.

If somehow, the Pac-4 and AAC "merged" and the new conference was able to maintain the PAC name and associated status (yes I know the whole P5 thing is going away, but it will remain in perception for some time), then SMU will get what its been looking for with the exception of being in the same conference as UNT and the fact that a lot of other tag-alongs just got elevated as much as they did.

MrAlien · August 8, 2023

I think it will come down to flexibility... none of these schools really want to move down to the G5 level, so if they are allowed an easy exit should a power conference come calling that will be an incentive. They dont necessarily need a conference for football, but they do for other sports, they could keep the PAC designation for football while playing in other sports in other conferences.

GrayEagle · August 13, 2023

On 8/8/2023 at 10:23 AM, MrAlien said:

I think it will come down to flexibility... none of these schools really want to move down to the G5 level, so if they are allowed an easy exit should a power conference come calling that will be an incentive. They dont necessarily need a conference for football, but they do for other sports, they could keep the PAC designation for football while playing in other sports in other conferences.

If we were able to secure the four remaining Pac12 teams and were able to add San Diego State and Boise State, I believe that the conference would receive an A5 rating; which just guarantees a seat in the playoffs.