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Topic: OT: Memphis Goes All-In
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GoCats105
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Posted: 7/22/2025 11:08 AM
Memphis has made no secret their desire to join their former AAC brethren Cincinnati, Houston and UCF in the Big 12. Well, they made their big pitch and still got rejected.

https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football/breaking-news/a...

Some highlights:

- Memphis offered to bring the conference upwards of $200M over five years in sponsorship money from the likes of FedEx, Lowes and AutoZone.

- They also offered to not take a conference distribution for the final five years of the league's new TV deal.

- School would be subject to expulsion from the league if they were not deemed a valuable asset by 2030-31.

--------

Everyone trying to get aboard the Titanic lifeboats before it all sinks.
Flat Tire
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Posted: 7/22/2025 11:44 AM
Big 12 board rejects Memphis' $200 million, no strings bid to join conference

July 22, 2025
The Big 12 Conference has rejected a proposal to add a new school to its conference.

According to the Commercial Appeal ― part of the USA TODAY Network ― Memphis officials have acknowledged they put together a bid to join the Big 12 Conference in the latest college football realignment move.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2025/07/22/me... /
Last Edited: 7/22/2025 11:45:10 AM by Flat Tire
M.D.W.S.T
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Posted: 7/22/2025 12:15 PM
Did they write PRETTY PLEASE on the first slide?

Tough scene.
Athens
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Posted: 7/22/2025 10:29 PM
What I can't understand is the desire to go all-in when combined with a large immediate financial sacrifice by making the move over the longer haul it will exhaust the donor base trying to keep up with buying the players. Its not specific to this situaiton either, the entire college sport landscpe is about to go over a cliff from rising costs.
Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Fiami @ Peden with 25,086 fans
2023 10-7 near shutout of Iowa State @ Solich Field
2025 17-10 defeat of WVU @ Peden in front of 26,740
Bugaboo
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Posted: 7/23/2025 1:59 AM
I don't understand the logic of their strategy...
IceCat76
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Posted: 7/23/2025 10:15 AM
Maybe Memphis has inside info on the future of the AAC. Several of their members could fit nicely with the Sun Belt East. They don't want to be the last one standing in musical chairs.

They have to be jealous of UC, UCF, and Houston. I'm sure they thought of themselves as the Big 4 instead of the Big 3.
Last Edited: 7/23/2025 10:17:18 AM by IceCat76
SBH
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Posted: 7/23/2025 10:43 AM
Maybe there are known skeletons in Memphis' closet. Why did Spence N. leave so quickly? Not like New Mexico is a prime opportunity.
Athens
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Posted: 7/23/2025 2:10 PM
IceCat76 wrote:expand_more
Maybe Memphis has inside info on the future of the AAC. Several of their members could fit nicely with the Sun Belt East. They don't want to be the last one standing in musical chairs.

They have to be jealous of UC, UCF, and Houston. I'm sure they thought of themselves as the Big 4 instead of the Big 3.
Memphis can join UC, UCF and Houston in the second division of the Big 12. Twenty years ago moving up all that was required is taking that extra TV money to level up your coaching staff to compete. That revenue today has to go out to the players and NIL is limited by brand power. Memphis by giving up its revenue to join was dooming itself to the Big 12 basement.

Once you move beyond the MAC level the cost of athletics starts to outweigh the benefits. In the MWC they spend a lot more money for very little additional exposure so surprised NIU was willing to go for it.
Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Fiami @ Peden with 25,086 fans
2023 10-7 near shutout of Iowa State @ Solich Field
2025 17-10 defeat of WVU @ Peden in front of 26,740
GoCats105
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Posted: 7/23/2025 3:53 PM
Bugaboo wrote:expand_more
I don't understand the logic of their strategy...
They just want to get on the last train out before the big programs break away from the rest, but they're too dumb to realize that there is probably a second, more exclusive train that they won't be part of either. So it will all be a waste.
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
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Posted: 7/24/2025 8:10 AM
GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
I don't understand the logic of their strategy...
They just want to get on the last train out before the big programs break away from the rest, but they're too dumb to realize that there is probably a second, more exclusive train that they won't be part of either. So it will all be a waste.
In this metaphor, what's the MAC? The guy wearing a conductors hat in his basement playing with a model of the train?

Can't fault Memphis for trying to make something happen.
M.D.W.S.T
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Posted: 7/24/2025 9:04 AM
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:expand_more
I don't understand the logic of their strategy...
They just want to get on the last train out before the big programs break away from the rest, but they're too dumb to realize that there is probably a second, more exclusive train that they won't be part of either. So it will all be a waste.
In this metaphor, what's the MAC? The guy wearing a conductors hat in his basement playing with a model of the train?

Can't fault Memphis for trying to make something happen.
Pretty much.

Memphis went all in to get on the Orient Express. I don't blame them remotely. Look at all the dollars P5 is bringing in. They're just going hard hoping the alumni donations, sponsorships, etc all come rolling in once they start running with the big boys. Public backfire, but yeah I don't fault them at all for trying to make it happen rather than waiting to see where the chips fall.
Athens
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Posted: 7/24/2025 9:49 AM
Joining the Big 12 in of itself doesn't elevate a program that much exposure wise. To illustrate what I'm talking about compare the TV windows Cincinnati had in the Big 12 last year to what Memphis had in the AAC. Cincinnati had a game against Colorado on ESPN and one on FOX against Iowa St during the regular season. Memphis played itself into additional exposure scheduling Florida St early in the season and then ESPN against Tulane in the AAC championship game then playing West Virginia on ESPN in a bowl.

My point here is if the marketing value of athletics is tied to TV windows entry level membership in a P4 will provide 2 upgraded TV windows or so during the regular season. Is it worth selling out your university to athletics for? Are you as well off dominating the level your program is playing on?

Cincinnati 2024

Towson ESPN+
Pitt ESPN2
Fiami ESPNU
Houston FS1
Texas Tech ESPN2
UCF ESPN2
Arizona St ESPN+
Colorado ESPN
West Virginia FS1
Iowa St FOX
Kansas St ESPN2
TCU ESPN+


Memphis 2024

North Alabama ESPN+
Troy ESPNU
Florida St ESPN
Navy CBS Sports
Middle Tennessee ESPNU
USF ESPN+
North Texas ESPNU
Charlotte ESPNU
UTSA ESPN2
Rice ESPN2
UAB ESPN2
Tulane ESPN
West Virginia ESPN
Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Fiami @ Peden with 25,086 fans
2023 10-7 near shutout of Iowa State @ Solich Field
2025 17-10 defeat of WVU @ Peden in front of 26,740
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
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Posted: 7/24/2025 10:28 AM
TWT wrote:expand_more
My point here is if the marketing value of athletics is tied to TV windows entry level membership in a P4 will provide 2 upgraded TV windows or so during the regular season. Is it worth selling out your university to athletics for? Are you as well off dominating the level your program is playing on?

Cincinnati 2024

Towson ESPN+
Pitt ESPN2
Fiami ESPNU
Houston FS1
Texas Tech ESPN2
UCF ESPN2
Arizona St ESPN+
Colorado ESPN
West Virginia FS1
Iowa St FOX
Kansas St ESPN2
TCU ESPN+


Memphis 2024

North Alabama ESPN+
Troy ESPNU
Florida St ESPN
Navy CBS Sports
Middle Tennessee ESPNU
USF ESPN+
North Texas ESPNU
Charlotte ESPNU
UTSA ESPN2
Rice ESPN2
UAB ESPN2
Tulane ESPN
West Virginia ESPN
I think you're making the mistake of thinking that the value is in exposure. The value is in how much your TV deal pays and how much your TV deal pays is directly tied to how much the network(s) thinks they can sell in ads based/subscribers based on who is in your conference.

The Big12 is a better league in that regard. The AAC is a particularly weird case because two of their member teams (Army & Navy) have their own TV deals with CBS Sports, and their annual game is considered a non-conference game that has it's own deal with CBS. So all of that is carved out.

The Big12 TV deal pays member schools ~$50m per year. The AACs pays them $7m.
GoCats105
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Posted: 7/24/2025 10:42 AM
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:expand_more
My point here is if the marketing value of athletics is tied to TV windows entry level membership in a P4 will provide 2 upgraded TV windows or so during the regular season. Is it worth selling out your university to athletics for? Are you as well off dominating the level your program is playing on?

Cincinnati 2024

Towson ESPN+
Pitt ESPN2
Fiami ESPNU
Houston FS1
Texas Tech ESPN2
UCF ESPN2
Arizona St ESPN+
Colorado ESPN
West Virginia FS1
Iowa St FOX
Kansas St ESPN2
TCU ESPN+


Memphis 2024

North Alabama ESPN+
Troy ESPNU
Florida St ESPN
Navy CBS Sports
Middle Tennessee ESPNU
USF ESPN+
North Texas ESPNU
Charlotte ESPNU
UTSA ESPN2
Rice ESPN2
UAB ESPN2
Tulane ESPN
West Virginia ESPN
I think you're making the mistake of thinking that the value is in exposure. The value is in how much your TV deal pays and how much your TV deal pays is directly tied to how much the network(s) thinks they can sell in ads based/subscribers based on who is in your conference.

The Big12 is a better league in that regard. The AAC is a particularly weird case because two of their member teams (Army & Navy) have their own TV deals with CBS Sports, and their annual game is considered a non-conference game that has it's own deal with CBS. So all of that is carved out.

The Big12 TV deal pays member schools ~$50m per year. The AACs pays them $7m.
The only caveat I'll add to your reply is that it's no longer about subscriptions because ESPN isn't getting the fees from the cable box and satellite subscriptions the way they used to due to a high percentage of the country moving to streaming. More or less now it's about branding, and if the perceived value of your brand (in this case Memphis or Cincinnati) raises the profile of the conference you're aiming for.

When the SEC poached Texas and Oklahoma it wasn't about subscriptions, it was about branding. And having two of the biggest brands on your roster brought the eyeballs, no matter what they were subscribed to.
Last Edited: 7/24/2025 10:43:17 AM by GoCats105
Athens
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Posted: 7/24/2025 10:14 PM
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:expand_more
My point here is if the marketing value of athletics is tied to TV windows entry level membership in a P4 will provide 2 upgraded TV windows or so during the regular season. Is it worth selling out your university to athletics for? Are you as well off dominating the level your program is playing on?

Cincinnati 2024

Towson ESPN+
Pitt ESPN2
Fiami ESPNU
Houston FS1
Texas Tech ESPN2
UCF ESPN2
Arizona St ESPN+
Colorado ESPN
West Virginia FS1
Iowa St FOX
Kansas St ESPN2
TCU ESPN+


Memphis 2024

North Alabama ESPN+
Troy ESPNU
Florida St ESPN
Navy CBS Sports
Middle Tennessee ESPNU
USF ESPN+
North Texas ESPNU
Charlotte ESPNU
UTSA ESPN2
Rice ESPN2
UAB ESPN2
Tulane ESPN
West Virginia ESPN
I think you're making the mistake of thinking that the value is in exposure. The value is in how much your TV deal pays and how much your TV deal pays is directly tied to how much the network(s) thinks they can sell in ads based/subscribers based on who is in your conference.

The Big12 is a better league in that regard. The AAC is a particularly weird case because two of their member teams (Army & Navy) have their own TV deals with CBS Sports, and their annual game is considered a non-conference game that has it's own deal with CBS. So all of that is carved out.

The Big12 TV deal pays member schools ~$50m per year. The AACs pays them $7m.
I am parroting what the past couple of Ohio ADs have said the ESPN exposure as free marketing for the university in of itself is the goal. Valued at 5 million per hour of free advertising for the university. To that end there is a lot more of that free advertising in the MAC compared to FCS conferences and marginally more when you move beyond the MAC level. AAC offers relatively more exposure and some more money while isn't too competitive.

In the Big 12, 20.5 million off the top has to go to the players for revenue sharing in 2025 with that value indexing higher each year. Coaching staffs likely need 10 million more in a P4. Then the losing starts and the 8 million per year football coach requires a 24 million dollar buyout. That 50 million dollar payout is spent meanwhile its not possible to fill the stands with 4-8 records. Only a Texas or Oregon mega brand can walk into a P4 and dominate while others will find themselves over their heads.
Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Fiami @ Peden with 25,086 fans
2023 10-7 near shutout of Iowa State @ Solich Field
2025 17-10 defeat of WVU @ Peden in front of 26,740
Athens
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Posted: 7/24/2025 10:26 PM
GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
My point here is if the marketing value of athletics is tied to TV windows entry level membership in a P4 will provide 2 upgraded TV windows or so during the regular season. Is it worth selling out your university to athletics for? Are you as well off dominating the level your program is playing on?

Cincinnati 2024

Towson ESPN+
Pitt ESPN2
Fiami ESPNU
Houston FS1
Texas Tech ESPN2
UCF ESPN2
Arizona St ESPN+
Colorado ESPN
West Virginia FS1
Iowa St FOX
Kansas St ESPN2
TCU ESPN+


Memphis 2024

North Alabama ESPN+
Troy ESPNU
Florida St ESPN
Navy CBS Sports
Middle Tennessee ESPNU
USF ESPN+
North Texas ESPNU
Charlotte ESPNU
UTSA ESPN2
Rice ESPN2
UAB ESPN2
Tulane ESPN
West Virginia ESPN
I think you're making the mistake of thinking that the value is in exposure. The value is in how much your TV deal pays and how much your TV deal pays is directly tied to how much the network(s) thinks they can sell in ads based/subscribers based on who is in your conference.

The Big12 is a better league in that regard. The AAC is a particularly weird case because two of their member teams (Army & Navy) have their own TV deals with CBS Sports, and their annual game is considered a non-conference game that has it's own deal with CBS. So all of that is carved out.

The Big12 TV deal pays member schools ~$50m per year. The AACs pays them $7m.
The only caveat I'll add to your reply is that it's no longer about subscriptions because ESPN isn't getting the fees from the cable box and satellite subscriptions the way they used to due to a high percentage of the country moving to streaming. More or less now it's about branding, and if the perceived value of your brand (in this case Memphis or Cincinnati) raises the profile of the conference you're aiming for.

When the SEC poached Texas and Oklahoma it wasn't about subscriptions, it was about branding. And having two of the biggest brands on your roster brought the eyeballs, no matter what they were subscribed to.
Subs aren't totally dead and don't forget the skinny bundles. ESPN is trotting out a $30 per month skinny bundle. Brand though is key winning in whatever conference you're in. All the NIL valuations are worth more at the bluebloods. Second division in the Big Ten or SEC and you might as well be playing FCS with no chance to win a conference title.
Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Fiami @ Peden with 25,086 fans
2023 10-7 near shutout of Iowa State @ Solich Field
2025 17-10 defeat of WVU @ Peden in front of 26,740
Athens
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Posted: 8/3/2025 12:48 PM
Article on Iowa State projecting a $147 million dollar athletic budget deficit by 2031 and that is with a full revenue share of Big 12 money for that entire time period.

https://www.thegazette.com/sports/facing-147m-deficit-isu... /
Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Fiami @ Peden with 25,086 fans
2023 10-7 near shutout of Iowa State @ Solich Field
2025 17-10 defeat of WVU @ Peden in front of 26,740
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