What’s going on in the Big 12 and beyond? I expand and explain every Sunday in Postscripts at Heartland College Sports, your home for independent Big 12 coverage.
This week, another round of ACC drama (I think), Hailey hits the mic in Fort Worth and the one statement from Deion Sanders that I can’t quite grasp (it’s not the one you think. Or that one either).
‘I Think’ There’s ACC Drama
It took one sportswriter on one YouTube show saying one thing about the ACC to light another fire when it comes to realignment.
Yahoo Sports!’s Ross Dellenger did an interview with KC Sports Network’s John Kurtz during Big 12 Media Days and they talked about the ACC as it relates to potential realignment. In that interview, Dellenger said the following about the Big 12, Clemson and Florida State:
“Well when you look at Clemson and Florida’s State’s options, the first option would probably be to get into the Big Ten or the SEC. The second option would be some way to re-form the ACC with a smaller number of teams where you would be at a financial advantage because you wouldn’t be splitting the TV distribution with maybe 18 teams, you’d be splitting it with 10, so they could reform in a smaller group. And option three is to probably join another league and obviously there is only one other power conference league and that is the Big 12. You look at those options and again, they probably prefer No. 1.”
He also went on to say this:
“I think there is at least early conversation between the Big 12 and those schools about the possibility.”
“I think” are the key words here. The quote in the tweet posted with the video came without the “I think.” There’s an important distinction there.
“I think” means I think this is happening but I haven’t confirmed it. Logically, I would agree with Dellenger — the Big 12, Clemson and Florida have probably talked, likely through third parties. But I’m not reporting that. I don’t have the sources to report it. If Dellenger had the sources, he’d say “I’m reporting” or “Sources tell me,” something like that, an indication that he has the information on good authority.
But, he said “I think.” That’s opinion. That’s different. It’s OK for him to go on a show like Kurtz’s and say that because it’s clearly opinion. Dellenger clarified that after the video broke and caused a storm.
The headline on the video also gives it away: “Ross Dellenger Thinks the Big 12 and Florida State/Clemson Have Talked.” Nothing wrong with that headline, by the way. Says exactly what Dellenger said.
But two words left off one tweet and all heck breaks loose.
The ACC thing is a mess and it’s only getting messier. Just look at the lawsuits. David McKenzie, an attorney, provided this great summary of what’s up and what happens next.
So, here’s what I think. Not what I KNOW, because I don’t know much. But here’s what I think:
With five (gulp) different court cases involving Clemson, Florida State and the ACC in three different states, I don’t believe we’ll see resolution anytime soon. If I’m in the shoes of either Clemson or FSU, it makes no sense to try and force the ACC’s hand with a dozen years left on the TV deal and a grant of rights that, even if it isn’t as powerful as one might think, likely still has some teeth. You let the process play out.
No one in the ACC will try and “get ahead” of Clemson and FSU. Let them set the market, so to speak. If they can get out, that means you can get out for less — or influence how the league moves ahead. So all this chatter about Louisville and Miami is just chatter.
I think the SEC and the Big Ten ARE interested in Clemson and FSU. I see a lot of tweets saying that door is closed. I don’t believe it is. But I don’t believe either would tip its hand and I don’t believe the Big Ten and the SEC would truly “get involved” until they know what the end game is. They won’t know that until Clemson and FSU know that.
The Big 12 is comfortable with 16 teams. Brett Yormark said so and I believe that. But I also believe he, like SEC commissioner Greg Sankey and Big Ten commissioner Tony Pettiti, are doing their due diligence on every ACC school of note. I think the same goes for every ACC school of note doing their due diligence on the three conferences. There are ways to do this through third parties. Ask the SEC, Oklahoma and Texas. They know all about that.
Yormark could use a potential private equity pool a number of ways. I think, primarily, he wants to use it to help his current schools bridge the financial gap between the Big 12 and the SEC/Big Ten. It won’t bridge it completely, but it will help. Could he use it as a bonus pool to close the deal with ACC schools? Sure. But that will likely require more than the reported $2.5 million Colorado got from the Big 12 (which Yormark wouldn’t confirm, by the way). And that might irk some current members, especially the “Hateful Eight” (I know the term isn’t necessary anymore, but I like it).
The Big 12 will, ultimately, get bigger. But I don’t when and by how much. But I don’t believe they’ll strike first because there is little incentive for any power school to accept their invite save Oregon State and Washington State, two schools the Big 12 doesn’t appear interested in right now.
I can’t wait until EA College Football 25 comes out and everyone is distracted from this. In fact, it’s already happening. Found this on Saturday.
Never thought I’d see the day.
Why Hailey Went To Fort Worth
Here is nearly one minute of new TCU guard Hailey Van Lith taking about why she transferred to the Horned Frogs during a media availability earlier this week (which I was not invited to, thank you very much).
By the way, as long as everyone is healthy, TCU is going to be an incredibly fun team to watch next season.
Mountaineers MLB Draft
Sunday is the first day of the MLB Draft and there’s a chance West Virginia shortstop JJ Wetherholt could be taken No. 1 overall by Cleveland. Chris Enochs (1997) and Alek Manoah (2019) are the only two Mountaineers to be taken in the first round, both at No. 11 overall.
So, yeah, it could be a REALLY big deal.
Scholarship Talk
A liked a lot of what Colorado coach Deion Sanders had to say on Wednesday at Big 12 Media Days. You have to listen and cut through the bluster, but there is some good stuff in there if you’re willing to take the time.
This was one thing that I couldn’t quite comprehend.
Why save up to 10 scholarships when you can identify 10 players that you can develop for 2025 or beyond? That’s part of the college game. It’s the same as drafting a player late in the NFL Draft and developing him for two or three years and watching him, hopefully, blossom into a quality player. College football is full of those stories.
Even if you’re not in love with that narrative, you can only play 22 and you can only have 44 on the two-deep. Forty-something players are going to sit and need time to develop. Plus, players could get hurt and that could be valuable depth. Use the scholarships. I just don’t get that.
Just because they’re not “dogs” now doesn’t mean they won’t be “dogs” later, with the right coaching.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
