Confs dont Run realignment. The Networks and those TV contracts and the Presidents/ chancellors run it. Texas athletic department makes the most money / revenue in all of the NCAA by far. But they view themselves as an elite academic school. The only confs Texas would even listen to the phone call without hanging up is PAC 12 or the Big 10. This is even though the ACC has the highest rated academic schools according to US news rankings.
Some of you are confusing real life college President / athletic department and Network Exec decisions, with EA football game NCAA 12 custom confs.
The Big East has the most TVs in its footprint by far and Networks pay for those tvs. Its pretty much a sure bet that by next summer the Big East and all its TV viewers will get a huge contract and likely about 17- 18 mil per team per season. If you guys just look at football then no the big East isnt worth that much. But as a total revenue generating package and the right timing you best believe the Big East is gonna get paid.
Facilities and coaches salaries, and recruiting budgets cost dollars. The more money you have the better you will be.
Comcast wants to have something to put on the Versus channel. It wants to compete with ESPN. Having Big East Basketbal on 7 days a week would be a hell of a start. Believe it or not MIllions of TVs would tune in to watch UCONN vs Syracuse, The very next night Millions more would Watch Nova vs Georgetown. the PAC 12 got paid because comcast outbid ESPN by 50 mil for PAC 12 rights and FoX came in and helped. With no more college sports programming available until 2017. u best believe Comcast will go hard for those BIG East TVs. Money always has a place in realingnment. the ACC realignment was for money. You best believe if the Big East gets paid they could start raiding some the other confs right back.
Teams some of you might not know that has talked to the Big East or is being evaluated already.
BYU- was offered football only might get a full member offer
Kansas-basketball school who would jump at a chance to play big east bball talked last year.
Kstate-see kansas
Houston-State of Texas/ TCU rivary
Central Florida- One of the largest schools in the country, in Florida USF potential rival
Nova- Philly tv viewers
The Networks want Nova thinking Philly Tv viewers. The Big East doesnt know if nova the fcs champ are good enough or ready for the jump.