Cynical

USC and UCLA would never get the TV revenue, and exposure, in the Big 12 as they would in the Big 10.

Yes, I have no doubt the SEC can put multiple teams in the CFP. But think about the overall impact on CFB, and the possible implosion of the Big 12. This move is just not about the immediate TV revenue gained by adding UT and OU. That's a given. I suggest listening/watching the Late Kick w/ Josh Pate I linked above. This is what I was trying to respond to. Since the LHN is a contract between UT and ESPN, ESPN is under no obligation to pay that money to the SEC overall. If the LHN is the only stumbling block that prevents UT from joining the SEC, scrapping it is the easiest solution. EDIT: I found this- https://www.dawgsports.com/2021/7/21/22587585/texas-oklahoma-sec-longhorn-network-contract "Sources close to the University of Texas have told Dawg Sports that Texas “would be willing to scrap it (LHN), and believe the move to the SEC would ultimately result in more money for the university.” In 2020, the SEC distributed 45.5 million to each of its 14 schools. The Big 12 distributed 34.5 million each to the 10 member institutions. The shuttering of the Longhorn Network would serve as a gesture of goodwill after Texas previously demanded unequal revenue sharing in the Big 12. ESPN lost 48 million on the Longhorn Network during the first five years of the deal, and it has long been speculated that the company would love to find a way out of the deal. The Longhorn Network could easily be folded into another ESPN property like the SEC Network."

Assuming Texas and OU to SEC is a done deal, how you do see the divisions set up and the scheduling? Shake up? Or just dropping one team into each division, ala TAM and Mizzu. Stay at 8 inter-conference games? Or expand to 9, possibly 10? They would have to go to 9 SEC games unless they plan on dropping the permanent cross divisional rivalry games. No more UT-Bama or Auburn-UGA. There is big chunk of Auburn fans that would like to see Auburn move to the East to get away from Bama. If that happens, we are looking at the possible loss of the Iron Bowl. Not sure if the SEC is willing to give that up. The Iron Bowl is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, rivalry in CFB, and all the attention it brings. Dropping Texas in the West, and Zero U in the East makes the Red River Shootout a perm cross divisional rivalry, while restoring the UT and TAM rivalry.

Love this guys opinion regarding this move and CFB overall:

Or they could just scrap the LHN. ESPN had been losing money on the LHN. I doubt it has changed. I know at one point, the cable providers wanted nothing to do with LHN as it was a ratings disaster. This move is not just about TV money, its about CFB money. If the playoffs expand, the SEC would increase their chances of multiple teams being in.

As usual, closed caption turned on is a must: https://youtu.be/ntGICknpD3k "please follow the signs to claim your blow out loss to Alabama" 🤣

I think you missed the point here. It was a dead period. The recruit should not have been on campus at all. I agree with this. That's part of the reason why the NCAA gets in so much trouble. Their rules, regulations, and policies can be confusing, and make no sense. Enforcement? Don't even get me started.

The violations happened during a recruiting "dead period". https://www.ncsasports.org/ncaa-eligibility-center/recruiting-rules/dead-period "The most restrictive of all the recruiting periods is the NCAA Dead Period. During the dead period, coaches may not have any in-person contact with recruits and/or their parents. In other words, coaches are not allowed to talk to recruits at their college campus, the athlete’s school, an athletic camp or even the grocery store." "The goal of the NCAA Dead Period is to give athletes a little bit of time and breathing room to think about what school they want to sign with." It should be noted coaches can still call recruits and contact them through digital communications. If coaches are going to flaunt the rules, at least they should be smart about it. Taking pictures with the recruits was pretty 🤬 stupid.

https://sports.yahoo.com/sources-ncaa-investigating-arizona-state-football-for-recruiting-violations-194707554.html This not looking good. "Sources said members of the football program deliberately, blatantly and consistently broke rules related to hosting players during the dead period, including coach Herm Edwards meeting with recruits. A source added that the evidence included pictures of the visits, including Edwards with a recruit who ended up enrolling at ASU."

IMO, expanding the playoffs to 12 will not even out the talent level. It will do the opposite. During the BCs years, no team had an "automatic" by-in for the 1 or 2 spot. The talent was more spread out. Nobody knew who the 2 teams were going to be. Now with 4 teams in the playoffs, is it any coincidence why the same teams keep getting the better recruits? You think 12 teams will stop that? Can't wait until the blowouts continue, and then the cries for expanding the playoffs resurface. Because the only way to fix the problem of crappy teams getting blown out in the playoffs, is to add even more crappier teams.

At least you admitted the comparison of FB to BB was bad, but then you follow it up with comparing CFB QBs that made it in the NFL. Not sure what you are trying to argue there. But, if spitting out random factoids is the way to go: Joe Montana was drafted in the third round, Drew Brees was drafted in the second round, and as we all know, Brady in the 6th. AJ MacCarron was the starting QB at BAMA for 4 years, and guided BAMA to 3 NC during that time. He is one only 7 QBs to win back to back NC. His NFL career has not been quite so spectacular. This is an interesting comment, given what you say just after this. I don't care if "UCF actually scored the most points on every team they played that year." Doing that against Austin Peay, UConn, and FIU is noting to brag about, considering the rest of that cup cake schedule they played in 2017. And this: "Your comment that UCF would not have scored against Alabama shows your ignorance of UCF in 2017. UCF put up 31 against Auburn which is more than any other team that year." UCF scored 34 points, by the way. Auburn scored 27. And even took a lead at one point in that game. Auburn had more total yardage than UCF. The difference was Auburn coughed the ball up 3 times. Even 1 less TO, I think the game ends in a different outcome. IMO, I will not say UCF would not score against Bama, but I have no problem stating Bama would walk away with a pretty convincing win. I also believe if UCF played AU's 2017 schedule, UCF would have ended up with at least 4 losses during the regular season.

AUFamily " He has no interest in merely being the best. He wants to bury the competition and leave no doubt." Auburn Undercover "This is great news. Now we know we can at least obsess about him until 2028." Not nearly the gnashing of the teeth I was hoping for, but still interesting.

Saban signed an extension .... 😁

Sell the business or the building? Or both? In the BN story, they said they were willing to lease out the building, but were not selling the business. "He said he plans to lease out the building, but he's not interested in selling the business to someone else because he doesn't want to diminish the brand his family worked so hard to build over 70 years."

According to the story, it sounds like the owners were just done with it. They closed because of the pandemic, and had no intention of reopening. Somebody convinced them to reopen with the intent of taking over the business, but the owners decided not to sell the business to an outsider. Closing was inevitable. The current situation just accelerated their decision.

Saban's Coach Rehab clinic continues- Welcome new OC Bill O'Brien to Tuscaloosa. Not sure about this hire. But then again, I was surprised Nick rehired Sarkisian given what happened the first time around.

ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!!

Make sure you have Closed Caption turned on:

You know the saying "Everything is bigger in Texas"? So is the booster meddling. I remember when Saban's Wife Terry was "spotted" in Austin looking for Real Estate. How's that Saban rebuild going at Texas?

New one from AC/DCs Power Up

Back to being irrelevant? Whatever works for them.

Cochran is not going anywhere, especially to Ole Miss with Kiffin. If Cochran leaves, UGA would be one of the first teams knocking on his door.

Yes. It was an Auburn girl that outed Lane for using Joey Fishwater.