07-05-2022, 09:05 AM
The more I think about it, the more reasons there are to believe Stanford will join the Big Ten. Here's why:
- Stanford has put out no statement about the conference shuffling; no commitment to the Pac whatever, no statement about not going to participate in major college sports any longer.
- A watered down Pac or Big XII will have too many schools not academically on par with Stanford.
- Stanford would be a great get for the Big Ten in terms of having the #1 academic and athletic school in the country.
- I do believe Stanford going to the Big Ten is leverage to get Notre Dame to some degree.
- Stanford's media rights are estimated at about $45M now apparently (consultant John Canzano sourced)*
- I think competing at the highest level of college sports is important to Stanford alums and boosters, else it wouldn't lead the NCAA in championships.
- Stanford isn't a package deal with Cal, and Stanford can always play Cal in sports out of conference.
* Maybe not to the same degree as USCLA, but Stanford may not want to support Oregon State, Washington State, etc. If Stanford stays in the Pac, this is what it would be doing. Stanford's media rights are greater than many Big Ten schools on their own, but can't be accessed unless in the Big Ten. If Stanford wants to stay at the top level of college sports, it will be leaving money on the table staying in the Pac, and also falling behind competitively. So if staying in athletics at all, joining the Big Ten is the only answer for Stanford, IMO.
One comment on "going Ivy.' That's doable when you've got several elite private schools relatively near you. Name the next one closest to Stanford that even has an athletics program, then the next closest two.
- Stanford has put out no statement about the conference shuffling; no commitment to the Pac whatever, no statement about not going to participate in major college sports any longer.
- A watered down Pac or Big XII will have too many schools not academically on par with Stanford.
- Stanford would be a great get for the Big Ten in terms of having the #1 academic and athletic school in the country.
- I do believe Stanford going to the Big Ten is leverage to get Notre Dame to some degree.
- Stanford's media rights are estimated at about $45M now apparently (consultant John Canzano sourced)*
- I think competing at the highest level of college sports is important to Stanford alums and boosters, else it wouldn't lead the NCAA in championships.
- Stanford isn't a package deal with Cal, and Stanford can always play Cal in sports out of conference.
* Maybe not to the same degree as USCLA, but Stanford may not want to support Oregon State, Washington State, etc. If Stanford stays in the Pac, this is what it would be doing. Stanford's media rights are greater than many Big Ten schools on their own, but can't be accessed unless in the Big Ten. If Stanford wants to stay at the top level of college sports, it will be leaving money on the table staying in the Pac, and also falling behind competitively. So if staying in athletics at all, joining the Big Ten is the only answer for Stanford, IMO.
One comment on "going Ivy.' That's doable when you've got several elite private schools relatively near you. Name the next one closest to Stanford that even has an athletics program, then the next closest two.