Memphis, Colorado and UConn joining the G5’s in going to the Little 17 (soon to be).
Looks like UCF, WVU and Cincy will be getting some company sooner rather than later.
- Thread starter Red Dragon Coog
- Start date
The GOR will will bind the ACC schools until 2036. That is not to say that the ACC Conference will not approach ABC/ESPN to discuss the possibility of renewing early and extending a new ACC contract maybe through 2046.
The ACC (Now 3rd best of the P-5 Conferences) and a very valuable product for ABC/ESPN content since FOX Sports is now an exclusive product of the B1G. The SEC and ACC are both the exclusive products of ABC/ESPN
and I am confident that ABC/ESPN will do what is in their best interest now and in the future.
I think if the B1G were to expand they will go WEST and probably take Oregon and Washington (2 new states and both schools are AAU Universities). USC and UCLA will almost insist that the B1G go west. USC and UCLA will not want to be ISLAND SCHOOLS on the West Coast. If the B1G does expand they will go after AAU schools (IMO) (the only exception would be Notre Dame).
I am also waiting to see what happens when the new Pac-12 contract is signed and how it compares to the Big 12 contract. I believe the 10 remaining PAC schools have agreed in principal to a GOR.
Also when the new National College Football Championship starts in 2026 with 12 teams, I believe this may also play a role in limiting a Conference preference for expanding.
One final point, if a University wants to really make money invest in Academics/Research activities (become an AAU Research University). Research funding significantly exceeds Sports Funding.
Example, Pitt is a good academic/research AAU university with outstanding programs in the Health Professions (Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Physical Therapy etc.) and ALL were ranked in the TOP 20 in US News "Americas Best Graduate Schools" 2024.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) recognized the quality of Pitt's academics/research and awarded them
$675.4 million in Research Funding in 2022 (#3 of all universities receiving NIH research funding).
That amount of funding could build almost 2 USF stadiums ($340 million/35,000 capacity). Another thread on your board.
Good luck in the Big 12 and your pursuit of AAU membership.
HAIL TO PITT!!!!
The ACC (Now 3rd best of the P-5 Conferences) and a very valuable product for ABC/ESPN content since FOX Sports is now an exclusive product of the B1G. The SEC and ACC are both the exclusive products of ABC/ESPN
and I am confident that ABC/ESPN will do what is in their best interest now and in the future.
I think if the B1G were to expand they will go WEST and probably take Oregon and Washington (2 new states and both schools are AAU Universities). USC and UCLA will almost insist that the B1G go west. USC and UCLA will not want to be ISLAND SCHOOLS on the West Coast. If the B1G does expand they will go after AAU schools (IMO) (the only exception would be Notre Dame).
I am also waiting to see what happens when the new Pac-12 contract is signed and how it compares to the Big 12 contract. I believe the 10 remaining PAC schools have agreed in principal to a GOR.
Also when the new National College Football Championship starts in 2026 with 12 teams, I believe this may also play a role in limiting a Conference preference for expanding.
One final point, if a University wants to really make money invest in Academics/Research activities (become an AAU Research University). Research funding significantly exceeds Sports Funding.
Example, Pitt is a good academic/research AAU university with outstanding programs in the Health Professions (Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Physical Therapy etc.) and ALL were ranked in the TOP 20 in US News "Americas Best Graduate Schools" 2024.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) recognized the quality of Pitt's academics/research and awarded them
$675.4 million in Research Funding in 2022 (#3 of all universities receiving NIH research funding).
That amount of funding could build almost 2 USF stadiums ($340 million/35,000 capacity). Another thread on your board.
Good luck in the Big 12 and your pursuit of AAU membership.
HAIL TO PITT!!!!
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The ACC is not the third best conference of the P-5, in fact their leaderships lack of foresight locked them Into a long term deal that will pay less money on average than the Big-12 new deal starting in 2025. Research dollars are spent on research and can’t be diverted to sports programs. You’re confusing academics and athletic. The ACC is already starting to fracture over money. FSU’s President recently stated that it was unacceptable for UCF to make more money than FSU, which is absurd if you compare size and trajectory.
Well if you consider the Conference Teams who have won the National Championships in the last 15 years an argument can be made that the ACC is 2nd best Conference of the P-5 Conferences. You can list the National Championship teams in the last 15 years if you disagree.
I realize that Research funding cannot be mixed with Sports funding (However, the ROI that a University invests in research greatly exceeds what a University invests in Sports improvements).
What is somewhat surprising to me is that the State of Florida only has one AAU Research University (University of Florida).
If I was FSU I would be more concerned if UCF became an AAU Research University before them.
Sports income is SMALL when compared to research income. The Big 12 new deal will bring each team what about $47 million per year. The new Big 12 Conference Sports contact is for what $380 million per year.
Pitt as an AAU Research University attracts about $1.2 billion in Research Funding per year. In fact Pittsburgh has 2 AAU Universities (Carnegie Mellon University) which combined bring in almost $2.0 Billion per year to the City.
There is a Thread on your Board about USF spending $340 million to build a stadium with a capacity of 35,000 fans. $340 million to be used for a facility that would be used 7 times per year for home football games or maybe 28 hours total per year (Their decision is respected).
Pitt plays their home football games at Heinz Field and most Pitt fans are fine with that because Pitt can invest their dollars in programs and facilities that will return significant financial returns in the future.
Recent example, June 12, 2023 Pitt committee approves $120 million in construction for a biomanurfacturing
facility in Hazelwood. A University of Pittsburgh trustee committee voted Monday to approve the $120 million construction of a planned cell & gene therapy facility in Hazelwood hoping it will boost life-science research.
Waiting to see which Florida University will become the 2nd AAU Research University.
Good luck in the Big 12 and your progress in becoming an AAU University.
HAIL TO PITT!!!!
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"Waiting to see which Florida University will become the 2nd AAU Research University."
Already happened. In fact, you're way behind the times because Notre Dame is also one.
Already happened. In fact, you're way behind the times because Notre Dame is also one.
The University of West Central Florida is also AAU as 80’s alluded to. Until very recently Notre Dame wasn’t AAU, in fact Oklahoma, Clemson Florida State etc.. aren’t AAU. They seem to somehow be scraping by. Now compare them to Pitt., which names carry more National sway? Thanks for the well wishes and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Pitt and UCF are conference mates not to far down the line.
Due to politics, UCF has only had a med school since 2006. USF's med school opened in 1971.
The research dollars attained due to professional schools is significant and is a huge reason why UCF is behind in the research dollars necessary to attain AAU status.
Plus, UCF is only 60 years old. I would hope Pitt has a significant advantage in research dollars, you've had a med school since 1886. Pitt is a fine school and everyone I talk to that's lived in Pittsburgh says they loved living there.
However, AAU status is more about which school was founded first in the state and allotted the state money supporting its growth.
It's no different than being a Power 5 school. The oldest schools playing football were in the good ol boy's club and standing on the right corner at the right time. It's not as though most of them actually earned it....like UCF did.
The research dollars attained due to professional schools is significant and is a huge reason why UCF is behind in the research dollars necessary to attain AAU status.
Plus, UCF is only 60 years old. I would hope Pitt has a significant advantage in research dollars, you've had a med school since 1886. Pitt is a fine school and everyone I talk to that's lived in Pittsburgh says they loved living there.
However, AAU status is more about which school was founded first in the state and allotted the state money supporting its growth.
It's no different than being a Power 5 school. The oldest schools playing football were in the good ol boy's club and standing on the right corner at the right time. It's not as though most of them actually earned it....like UCF did.
As one of the other board members informed me, the University of Miami (founded 1925) and University of South Florida (founded 1956) were recently admitted as AAU Research Schools in 2023.
What is a little bit surprising to me is Florida State founded in 1851 at this point was beaten for AAU membership by USF.
I would imagine this topic is being discussed by the administration at FSU.
Wonder if UCF attains AAU status before FSU.
HAIL TO PITT!!!!
