Where the SEC trails the Big 10 is in its market size. The Big 10 is in 7 of the top 11 populated states in the nation and 10 of the top 20. The SEC is in only 4 of the top 16 and 5 of the top 20. That's why I believe that Sankey covets the state of North Carolina (9th) and the state of Virginia (12th).
B1G 10 could expand.
- Thread starter Harvard Gamecock
- Start date
The Brand is BIG and the state is LARGE.
People make a mistake in ignoring the size of the market. I guarantee you that the networks don't.
North Carolina football has finished in the Top 25 twelve times including 4 times in the Top 10. Virginia football has finished in the Top 25 eight times. So they would bring in more than just great basketball tradition into the SEC, along with being in large states. Virginia Tech football by the way has 19 Top 25 finishes including 7 Top 10 finishes. So the myth that there is only quality basketball in those large states is a myth.
If we're going for population, go west for California #1, Washington #13 and Arizona #14, not north. Already have some viewership in NC and VA.
There are some huge schools in the Big 10 (just as there are some huge schools in the SEC and the other conferences), but there doesn't seem to be a direct correlation between huge enrollment and compelling football programs that the rest of the nation wants to watch:
The list below is from Wikipedia, so take it for what it's worth, but I count just 4 football powers among the top 10 largest American universities. Sure, some of those schools in the list are "commuter" schools or younger schools that don't have the tradition of the others, but my point is that just because it's big, doesn't mean people are watching. Having said that, programs like Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, and Michigan State of the Big10 have large and rabid football fanbases. But . . . in my experience being around Big 10 fans and attending a couple of Big 10 venues, most of them do not have the same passion for college football that SEC fans do and I think it's probably because so many of them view it as a lesser product. Many of them seem to think of college football as the "warm up act" for Sunday when they get to watch their beloved Steelers, Lions, Bears, Browns, or Eagles. For good or bad, there seem to be a lot more football fans in the Southeast whose lives disproportionately revolve around their college football team (OK, I guess that's a bad thing). The marketing phrase "It just means more" hit the nail on the head.
What does all this have to do with TV revenue? I don't know. Sometimes it seems the networks do irrational things with their money. But I do know that when they release the list of most watched college football games each season, the SEC is disproportionately represented. After Texas and Oklahoma join the SEC and USC and UCLA join the Big 10, I don't think that will change. I think any rumors of the SEC's pending demise are greatly exaggerated.
| Ten largest public university campuses by enrollment during the 2021–22 academic year | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranking | University | Location | Enrollment | Reference(s) |
1 | Texas A&M University[note 1] | College Station, Texas | 73,284 | [1] |
2 | University of Central Florida | Orlando, Florida | 70,406 | [2] |
3 | Ohio State University[note 2] | Columbus, Ohio | 67,772 | [3] |
4 | University of Florida | Gainesville, Florida | 60,613 | [4] |
5 | Florida International University | Miami, Florida | 56,627 | [5] |
6 | University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign | Urbana/Champaign, Illinois | 56,299 | [6] |
7 | Arizona State University[note 3] | Tempe, Arizona | 54,866 | [7] |
8 | Georgia State University | Atlanta, Georgia | 52,530 | [8] |
9 | University of Minnesota | Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota | 52,376 | [9] |
10 | University of Texas at Austin | Austin, Texas | 51,992 | [10] |
No doubt they have bigger markets, but there is a huge enthusiasm for college football gap between the South and the rest of the country, excluding Ohio and to a lesser extent Michigan.
(Market size) x (Enthusiasm) = Viewers and $$$
Warren is obviously building a coast to coast league. Fine. Have at it. Circle around the SEC and keep it confined to the southeast (eh, sort of…looking at you Mizzou and OU). That’s not a problem for the SEC because the vast majority of the best high school talent is in the South. This fact doesn’t change no matter if ND has a B1G logo on their jerseys.
To me, Sankey’s efforts are best focused at keeping the B1G out of the South and away from our fertile recruiting ground. Who cares about playing a game of War and trying to block them all over the map? (Arizona, seriously???)
Stay true to who you are, SEC. Stay true to the South and you’ll be just fine.
I think the Big 10 with a 2,000-mile gap in it is not very appealing. I think they actually took UCLA to get Southern Cal, but a void that size decreases cohesiveness.
Yes, I'd be shocked if the SEC expanded outside the southeast in the future. As I've said before, I suspect they want to get into North Carolina and Virginia to increase their market. That's not to say they would not take in FSU and clemson too. Just that getting into new large states makes too much sense.
Just an observation.
Based on the last 5 posts it almost sounds that this fan base has acquiesced that the B!G is going to outmaneuver the SEC and have rationalized that
being regionalized is better than expansion.
Based on the last 5 posts it almost sounds that this fan base has acquiesced that the B!G is going to outmaneuver the SEC and have rationalized that
being regionalized is better than expansion.
Maybe I was inarticulate in my last post. But I have been arguing FOR expansion into NC and VA, two large and new (for the SEC) states. Do I think we should expand to the west coast (Washington, Oregon, etc)? The women there are hot. But I'm not sure that's a criteria for expansion. If we get into those 2 states and maybe bring in FSU, Miami, clemson and Georgia Tech, I think the SEC would be in good shape vs the Big 10. But, to no ones surprise here, I know little and claim less.
B1G can maneuver themselves into a Midwest, Northeast and West Coast conference. They’ll be fine but it still won’t be better than what the SEC offers with superior recruiting grounds and more natural rivalries.
The B1G is going to come out ahead. After totally blowing Covid, they are going to win expansion. However, their supremacy will not be cemented until they secure ND. It might be years, but they are going to do it. If I'm incorrect about this, then I'm incorrect. I might not be around to see the outcome, being almost 72. I hope I will be.
Let me say this, getting Southern Cal and UCLA did NOT move the B1G ahead of the SEC, which, with the addition of Texas and Oklahoma, will be at least as good if not better. UCLA was a throw-in. But looking farther down the road, the B1G is better positioned, I believe.
I did not give an opinion as to what conference will be better, or if a conference will come out on the losing end.
Again, I made an observation as to reactions of some posters, but based on these responses I don't believe I was far off.
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