[TreesAndBirds]

If I remember correctly the Big10 has a substantial academic alliance that was considered a non trivial draw when Maryland was considering leaving the ACC. The AD liked the expected more money, but the faculty liked the opptys with the Academic Alliance which helped ease the initial surprise in the MD community that they would leave the ACC.

And while reflecting on the unintended effect of college sports conferences....in some ways the most successful one is the Ivy League, which has created a very powerful academic brand from an athletic designation.

[TreesAndBirds]

If I remember correctly the Big10 has a substantial academic alliance that was considered a non trivial draw when Maryland was considering leaving the ACC. The AD liked the expected more money, but the faculty liked the opptys with the Academic Alliance which helped ease the initial surprise in the MD community that they would leave the ACC.

And while reflecting on the unintended effect of college sports conferences....in some ways the most successful one is the Ivy League, which has created a very powerful academic brand from an athletic designation.