5-years ago yesterday, Nebraska was invited to the B1G --- the first domino in the conference realignment game.
I found the linked article rather interesting, the 16 schools that were most effected by conference realignment and a ranking of those from biggest winner to biggest loser.
http://newsok.com/tcu-biggest-winner-in-conference-realignment/article/5426845
My own rankings of the 16:
1. TCU (MWC to Big XII): I think these guys are easily #1. After being left for dead in the late 90s with the collapse of the SWC, they've made it all the way to a true national football power-house. The move to the Big XII helped there.
2. Utah (MWC to Pac-12): Power conference will help these guys big-time in the long-term.
3. Louisville (Big East to ACC): Good conference fit, their athletic profile has really improved over the last 10-20 years.
4. Texas A&M (Big XII to SEC): Actually got out of Texas' shadow to an extent.
5. Maryland (ACC to Big Ten): I'm more bullish than most on Maryland's long-term B1G potential.
6. Colorado (Big XII to Pac-12): Better cultural fit for the school, west coast peers vs. corn-state peers. Athletics should eventually get things back together.
7. Rutgers (Big East to Big Ten): Helped them in the pocket-book, that's for sure. Long-term ability for athletic success is more questionable.
8. BYU (MWC to WCC/Independent): I think football indepenence is actually good for these guys, given that football is prominently about promoting the religion and their school.
9. Pittsburgh (Big East to ACC): ACC is not a perfect fit for them, but the Big East was the Titanic. They're off that boat at least.
10. Nebraska (Big XII to Big Ten): I'm not sure they will ever get the "glory days" back. They won't play OSU, U-M and PSU that often with the division format --- in a way, they're just in another version of the "Big XII North."
11. Syracuse (Big East to ACC): They miss the basketball rivalries. Hard to see a road for them to long-term football success.
12. Missouri (Big XII to SEC): Football team has succeeded --- but they're simply not a southern school or state.
13. West Virginia (Big East to Big XII): Really awkward geographic fit. REALLY awkward. Not good long-term.
14, 15, 16. South Florida, Cincinnati, Connecticut. They effectively stayed in the same conference (Big East), it just got re-named (American Athletic). But there is no longer automatic access to top Bowl games.
I found the linked article rather interesting, the 16 schools that were most effected by conference realignment and a ranking of those from biggest winner to biggest loser.
http://newsok.com/tcu-biggest-winner-in-conference-realignment/article/5426845
My own rankings of the 16:
1. TCU (MWC to Big XII): I think these guys are easily #1. After being left for dead in the late 90s with the collapse of the SWC, they've made it all the way to a true national football power-house. The move to the Big XII helped there.
2. Utah (MWC to Pac-12): Power conference will help these guys big-time in the long-term.
3. Louisville (Big East to ACC): Good conference fit, their athletic profile has really improved over the last 10-20 years.
4. Texas A&M (Big XII to SEC): Actually got out of Texas' shadow to an extent.
5. Maryland (ACC to Big Ten): I'm more bullish than most on Maryland's long-term B1G potential.
6. Colorado (Big XII to Pac-12): Better cultural fit for the school, west coast peers vs. corn-state peers. Athletics should eventually get things back together.
7. Rutgers (Big East to Big Ten): Helped them in the pocket-book, that's for sure. Long-term ability for athletic success is more questionable.
8. BYU (MWC to WCC/Independent): I think football indepenence is actually good for these guys, given that football is prominently about promoting the religion and their school.
9. Pittsburgh (Big East to ACC): ACC is not a perfect fit for them, but the Big East was the Titanic. They're off that boat at least.
10. Nebraska (Big XII to Big Ten): I'm not sure they will ever get the "glory days" back. They won't play OSU, U-M and PSU that often with the division format --- in a way, they're just in another version of the "Big XII North."
11. Syracuse (Big East to ACC): They miss the basketball rivalries. Hard to see a road for them to long-term football success.
12. Missouri (Big XII to SEC): Football team has succeeded --- but they're simply not a southern school or state.
13. West Virginia (Big East to Big XII): Really awkward geographic fit. REALLY awkward. Not good long-term.
14, 15, 16. South Florida, Cincinnati, Connecticut. They effectively stayed in the same conference (Big East), it just got re-named (American Athletic). But there is no longer automatic access to top Bowl games.
