Want to know why the Big Ten is actively discussing 9 or even 10 conference games? Why the ACC may have reversed course for now on 9 games, but may revisit in the future? Why the Pac-12 and Big 12 are already at 9 conference games?

It simply is not cheap to rent-a-patsy any longer.

Pitt will pay ODU $375,000 to play at Heinz Field next season, but that’s not as much as both North Carolina ($450,000) and ECU ($430,000) are paying. ECU’s is paying out $250,000 in cash and giving ODU 4,000 tickets with a face value of $180,000.

Maryland is paying ODU $350,000.

Idaho will pay ODU $150,000, but the Monarchs are scheduled to give that same amount back in 2019 when the Vandals play a return game to Norfolk.

In all, ODU is raking in almost $1.8 million in guarantees, which [ODU AD Wood] Selig said would go toward paying FCS opponents to come to Norfolk and for travel expenses.

It’s getting expensive just to buy a 1-AA team. Now imagine how much it costs for a guarantee game from the MAC or Sun Belt. Those are seven-figure games if you don’t make it a 2-for-1 (Hello, Akron road trip in 2015). Sure most of the SEC and Big 10 can afford it, and have stadiums they fill that more than cover the cost. Still, there are reasons 106 out of 125 1-A programs  have a 1-AA team on their schedule. And only 9 schools in a BCS conference don’t have a 1-AA opponent.

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Oh, god. It’s the end of conference play. Big East Tourney — for the final time — looms. Then seeding and the actual NCAA Tournament. Spring practice for football starts on Tuesday. The kids start going a little crazier as Spring Break gets closer. Traveling at the end of the month. Add in doubling the off-line workload. I’ve already got a pile of links and less and less time to filter.

Time to clear the excess basketball stuff.

Hey, Ron Cook had another radio topic column on Pitt. This one on how the losses in the NCAA Tournament bug Jamie Dixon, but he is proud of what these teams keep accomplishing.

Joe Starkey with his own topic for the radio his column, on figuring out Pitt. Have you seen the rest of college basketball this year? Pitt is hardly the only top-25 quality team, heading to  the NCAA Tournament with some headscratching losses, inconsistent play/effort, and has the pundits and fans absolutely unsure what will happen in March. I realize it isn’t something we’ve seen much from Pitt in the last ten years, but it is far more common than some seem to realize.

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