I think the SEC's threat to boot LSU is a hollow threat. I think it would be giving LSU exactly what they want. They could go get an even more lucrative media deal with CBS than what the SEC offers them now, and a cakewalk to the CFP alongside Notre Dame.

We were so focused on super conferences, we rarely asked: What if conferences are just going away?

For the folks who keep saying the “SEC wouldn’t do this over something this inconsequential,” you continue to misunderstand the stakes.

The SEC is trying to establish that it can adopt and enforce meaningful rules--even against a powerful member. Backing down here would… https://t.co/kkPj5FdOFq

— Scott Schneider (@EdLawDude) September 8, 2026

Whats the point if you cant make and implement rules, its a existential issue

vander54 said:

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you really think they can get $73M on their own?

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I think they can get more than whatever they're getting now. Whatever the value the SEC gets each year is dragged down by the lack of value that weak programs bring to the table. Heck, the Big 10 worked out a better deal than the SEC, and that was a few years ago when there wasn't a debate about which was the more powerful conference.

BMX Bandit said:

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They could go get an even more lucrative media deal with CBS than what the SEC offers them now

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i laughed

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Why? The value of the conference's media deal is somewhere in the middle of the total value of all of our teams. LSU raises the average value, alongside UGA and Alabama. Kentucky and Vandy lower the value. LSU is at the top of the conference in value and is getting dragged down by most teams.

Heck, the SEC doesn't even have the best conference media deal.

Alpha Texan said:

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vander54 said:

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you really think they can get $73M on their own?

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I think they can get more than whatever they're getting now. Whatever the value the SEC gets each year is dragged down by the lack of value that weak programs bring to the table. Heck, the Big 10 worked out a better deal than the SEC, and that was a few years ago when there wasn't a debate about which was the more powerful conference.

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Except cajuns don't have money

Womackster said:

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Alpha Texan said:

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vander54 said:

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you really think they can get $73M on their own?

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I think they can get more than whatever they're getting now. Whatever the value the SEC gets each year is dragged down by the lack of value that weak programs bring to the table. Heck, the Big 10 worked out a better deal than the SEC, and that was a few years ago when there wasn't a debate about which was the more powerful conference.

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Except cajuns don't have money

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The way they have been spending on football the last 9 months or so would say otherwise

Get your POPCORN ready!!
Or your cracklins for our Cajun friends!

vander54 said:

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you really think they can get $73M on their own?

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Yeah that is not happening. LSU might not mind being booted for an easier path via the Big12.

I think we need another thread on the matter!

will the Big 12 take them. if LSU keeps pursuing the NFL players they break Bug12 rules as well

vander54 said:

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you really think they can get $73M on their own?

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Nope. Literally the only state that gives a **** about LSU is Louisiana.

in addition to vander's great post, go look at what CBS paid for SEC football, and what it decided to pay for a slice of big 10 sports.

Logos Stick said:

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I think we need another thread on the matter!

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Sorry. Didn't see the thread about the potential for dissolving conferences. I'll check twice next time.

BMX Bandit said:

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in addition to vander's great post, go look at what CBS paid for SEC football, and what it decided to pay for a slice of big 10 sports.

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That SEC on CBS deal was put in place so long ago that the number isn't totally applicable today. It's like saying gas was $1.95 in 2013

Sure, SEC teams got $72 million. But Big 10 teams were getting $78 million, and PSU and OSU landed in the $90 million range. The SEC doesn't have a great media deal.

LSU currently has a lucrative option on the table: Stay in the SEC, make $72M per year. They can leverage that existing deal if they want to push this fiasco, and probably walk away with near $70 million in football media rights, then go collect another $10-15 million by putting their other sports in the ACC.

Alpha Texan said:

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BMX Bandit said:

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They could go get an even more lucrative media deal with CBS than what the SEC offers them now

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i laughed

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Why? The value of the conference's media deal is somewhere in the middle of the total value of all of our teams. LSU raises the average value, alongside UGA and Alabama. Kentucky and Vandy lower the value. LSU is at the top of the conference in value and is getting dragged down by most teams.

Heck, the SEC doesn't even have the best conference media deal.

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I think the problem with LSU trying to get their own media deal is this:

LSU averaged ~6 million viewers per game last year. A large reason why they get so many viewers is because their matchups consisted of playing us, Bama, OU, Florida, SCar and other SEC teams with large followings.

Each conference member benefits from scheduling high profile, marquee matchups.

If LSU tried going the independent route - they'd have to figure out a way to fill out their schedule with marquee matchups that people will watch. If they play ULM, McNeese State and Grambling State every week - their viewership will fall dramatically and the value of their brand will decline. It's doubtful they'd get the same media revenue from scheduling cupcakes every week.

so they are a more lucrative brand then Notre Dame?

also all P4 conferences banned what LSU tried. doubt many will want them unless this is some underground deal or something


https://www.on3.com/news/the-athletic-ranks-most-valuable-college-football-programs-top-10-conference-breakdown-entering-2026-season/

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They can leverage that existing deal if they want to push this fiasco, and probably walk away with near $70 million in football media rights, then go collect another $10-15 million by putting their other sports in the ACC.

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If you are going to completely make up what they can get, I say go big!

$170 million for football and $55 million for other sports!

ElkosBurner said:

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Alpha Texan said:

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BMX Bandit said:

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Quote:

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They could go get an even more lucrative media deal with CBS than what the SEC offers them now

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i laughed

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Why? The value of the conference's media deal is somewhere in the middle of the total value of all of our teams. LSU raises the average value, alongside UGA and Alabama. Kentucky and Vandy lower the value. LSU is at the top of the conference in value and is getting dragged down by most teams.

Heck, the SEC doesn't even have the best conference media deal.

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I think the problem with LSU trying to get their own media deal is this:

LSU averaged ~6 million viewers per game last year. A large reason why they get so many viewers is because their matchups consisted of playing us, Bama, OU, Florida, SCar and other SEC teams with large followings.

Each conference member benefits from scheduling high profile, marquee matchups.

If LSU tried going the independent route - they'd have to figure out a way to fill out their schedule with marquee matchups that people will watch. If they play ULM, McNeese State and Grambling State every week - their viewership will fall dramatically and the value of their brand will decline. It's doubtful they'd get the same media revenue from scheduling cupcakes every week.

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Who's gonna play them if they have NFL players?

Agreed - that only further supports my argument. They would have difficulty getting any significant media deal if they can't fill out a schedule of high profile, marquee matchups. That's kind of the whole idea of pooling conference media rights.

The Big 10 got more because their media rights were up for renewal. Just like the SEC will get more when it's time for them to get more. And LSU gets more through an SEC contract because media groups will pay for all of the compelling matchups that come along with an SEC media deal. Nobody is paying to get LSU vs. Oregon State.

vander54 said:

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will the Big 12 take them. if LSU keeps pursuing the NFL players they break Bug12 rules as well

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I find myself expecting a non p4 conference, or ACC/Big12, to decide to take pros.

vander54 said:

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LSU got $73M last year

Notre Dame probably has a bigger presence and they get $50-$60M

LSU will not get close to what they get from the SEC plus they will not have anywhere for their other sports to play.

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This. An individual team has little leverage. Notre Dame is an exception because there are Catholics everywhere. No one outside of Louisiana, Mississippi and east Texas would watch an "LSU network". And if the SEC quits scheduling them, who will play them? Knowing that they might not get 15 million from CBS. No good team wants to schedule a good out of conference foe these days due to the rules for getting into the playoffs.

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Who's gonna play them if they have NFL players?

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They might have a hard time getting top15 teams to scheduel them without pros on their roster. Would any SEC teams schedule them anytime soon?

Why would the Big10 teams do it, They have already have to face at least 5 schools that are historically better than LSU.That doesn't include Oregon or Indiana.

It would be Oregon st, Washington st, and then a bunch of nobodies. I dont think a p4 conference would allow a team to schedule a game with them.

Panama Red said:

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They can leverage that existing deal if they want to push this fiasco, and probably walk away with near $70 million in football media rights, then go collect another $10-15 million by putting their other sports in the ACC.

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If you are going to completely make up what they can get, I say go big!

$170 million for football and $55 million for other sports!

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Well it's a discussion board, and whatever number we estimate is "made up."

Tramp96 said:

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vander54 said:

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you really think they can get $73M on their own?

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How many children's hospitals are in Louisiana?

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3 I think

Some estimates are based in reality.

Neither of yours are.

BMX Bandit said:

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Some estimates are based in reality.

Neither of yours are.

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Oh, my bad. Thanks for sharing what you think could be realistic numbers and your reasoning behind it.

LSU would be DOA if they went independent. If the horns failed LSU has zero shot. We already tried this once. Who's going to play them. I'm pretty sure the B10 and SEC would pass. No network is going to pay for about a dozen football games and the rest is Mike the tiger licking himself.

I don't think your'e correct on that. LSU has a lot of following outside of Louisiana. Part of that is because their grads have to go elsewhere to find jobs . Houston and DFW metros for example have a lot of LSU influence.

Having said that if they went independent I don't believe their media deal would be better than what they get in the SEC and it's probably not close imo.

Losing them wouldn't help the SEC contracts tho.