What are your thoughts on a Pac-14?

[Buffnik]

After reading Wilner's latest blog and taking a look at various boards, I have a better feel for how a Pac-14 would work and how it would set up for CU.

Previously, I had assumed that we'd just put OU/OSU in the current South and that Utah would get moved to the North.

Not so fast. It's clear that the conference does not want the imbalance of putting USC in the same division with Oklahoma.

This means a complete reconfiguration to a "zipper" alignment. That would also included 1 protected rival, which would be each team's travel partner.

So how would this split likely work? I'll call them the "Sooner" and "Trojan" divisions since that's the starting assumption we can be sure of.

Sooner Division
Oklahoma

Trojan Division
USC

Knowing that, we can also know that by splitting teams with the zipper format Oklahoma State goes to the Trojan Division and UCLA goes to the Sooner Division.

The next assumption that is fair to make is that with the California schools, Cal-UCLA would need to play every year and so would USC-Stanford.

That gives us this:

Sooner Division
Oklahoma
UCLA
Cal

Trojan Division
USC
Stanford
Oklahoma State

Next, we need to look at the Arizona schools. From a basketball standpoint you'd want to split UCLA and Arizona. We'll use that to guide this decision and put ASU in the Sooner Division with UA in the Trojan Division.

Sooner Division
Oklahoma
UCLA
Cal
Arizona State

Trojan Division
USC
Stanford
Oklahoma State
Arizona

Turning to the Pacific Northwest, a fair assumption is that Washington-Oregon State and Oregon-Washington State will be the pairs since Oregon-Washington / Oregon State-Washington State would be unbalanced. Since Oregon recruits more than Washington in the southwest and the Washington-USC matchup is the traditional Pac "marquee" matchup between the regions, I'll assume that it breaks as follows:

Sooner Division
Oklahoma
UCLA
Cal
Arizona State
Oregon
Washington State

Trojan Division
USC
Stanford
Oklahoma State
Arizona
Washington
Oregon State

So that leaves Colorado and Utah.

Either way, our conference schedule would be the 6 teams in CU's Division, Utah, and 2 of the 6 remaining teams from the other Division on a rotating basis.

If this is the setup:

Do you like it?

Which Division would you prefer CU to be in?

 

[J.R. Ewing]

Assuming we go to 14+, zipper is the only way to go.

 

[CUFan]

Trojan. But either would be fine. Still would prefer only 12, but 14 is fine so long as UT is not included.

 

[BinaryBuff]

That setup gives me hope that a Pac 14 wouldn't be a horrible thing for us. I voted Trojan, but either would be acceptable to me.

 

[Buffellow85]

I voted for the condom division. I just wish the Sooners weren't joined at the hip with little brother.

 

[Buffalo Brad]

Like the set up either way as it gets each team into the coveted recruiting markets. I voted Trojan but it really would not matter long term.

Looking back, I wouild probably vote Sooner in this arrangement as I would like to play Cal every year rather than Stanford. I think they will end up being a natural rival more than Utah will and a game every year would build that out.

 

[sackman]

I like the Pac 12.

 

[MrFrumpylane]

Ah heck. Voted before reading the details. I'd rather be in the Sooner division now.

 

[buff190]

I would say the Trojan division for sure. Stanford's success is temporary and there is no one else in that division that is really good all that often. While the Sooner division has Oregon who I think is going to be good pretty much from now on. So you would have to climb over two perennial powers instead of just one.

Although I do like the venues better in the Sooner division. I would still choose the Trojan division.

 

[BinaryBuff]

I would say the Trojan division for sure. Stanford's success is temporary and there is no one else in that division that is really good all that often. While the Sooner division has Oregon who I think is going to be good pretty much from now on. So you would have to climb over two perennial powers instead of just one.

Although I do like the venues better in the Sooner division. I would still choose the Trojan division.

Long term, I'd say that Washington is or will be a good team in the Trojan division.

 

[Alfred91]

Sooner Division.Playing Cal and UCLA every year would make up for having to deal with Stoops every year.

 

[White_Rabbit]

Long term, I'd say that Washington is or will be a good team in the Trojan division.

One could also argue USC might be kind of good whenever they hire a real coach and get off of probation.

 

[sackman]

Assuming this happens, which I pray to God it doesn't, I'd prefer the Trojan division. Stanford every two years is a better travel destination than Cal.

 

[MiamiBuffs]

Trojan. But either would be fine. Still would prefer only 12, but 14 is fine so long as UT is not included.

**** tejas!

 

[Darth Snow]

USC division for sure.

 

[Mick Ronson]

i like the idea of 14 overall. "no Texas, no problem" is my motto. i voted i "don't like this" but only because i couldn't honestly say i DO like it but could live with it. like Trojan over Sooner in this scenario.

 

[SINKRATZ]

Sooner Division.Playing Cal and UCLA every year would make up for having to deal with Stoops every year.

Until Mike has an aneurism or is fired for killing an assistant coach on the sideline, you're stuck playing at least one Stoops every year in this scenario.