Cal’s leadership has really fucked themselves. Chancellor is retiring and doesn’t give a fuck and the AD is an incompetent who is likely getting fired for covering up the abuse from the c bag swim coach. Cal BMDs are pissed. They know there is a number where the Big10 takes them and Furd and they’ve told the Chancellor to go get it.
ACC was a thing for a while too apparently. Rev sports would’ve been national with the non rev regional and while discussions aren’t dead (add SDSU with the remaining 4 for example), UO and UW being out… that’s looking like it is on life support.
My guess is that Cal and Stanford go hat in hand to the Big 10 and take whatever pittance they can get to gain membership. BMDs know they have to get the unengaged donor money involved (and there is a lot out there) to bridge some of the spending gap over the next decade or so. Will believe that when I see it, frankly. But the Big10 does want them, it’s just a question how much much the TV networks will pay additionally. I’m guessing $20m per team to start. We’ll see…