MAILBAG: Big 12 Expansion, ACC Rumors, How to Beat Penn State + More

Answering this week's questions from the fans.

From @eer2eternity:

Q: What’s your prediction on how many major conferences end up once all is said and done? Is it 2, 3, or 4? Will BIG 12 be one of them that survives and if not, will WVU end up with one of the major conferences?

A: Three. I don't see the ACC lasting. Clemson and Florida State are as good as gone, in my opinion. Once they leave, there in the same position the PAC 12 was in after UCLA and USC left. I do believe the Big 12 is in a great position and will be in an even better place after today. And yes, WVU will remain in the Big 12.

From @ScoCampbell:

Q: What has to happen to upset Penn State? What does the game look like? What has to go well, and what has to go almost impossibly well?

A: A miracle. Okay, not really. It sounds cliche, but clean football. You're not going to come out of Happy Valley with a win if you turn the ball over and have several pre-snap penalties. That's number one. Number two, the defense has to limit what they do in the run game. If they gash WVU on the ground, it'll be a long day. This isn't a game you want to get in a back-and-forth with. Long, methodical drives will win this game. 

From @JordanWVU07:

Q: Also thoughts on how Big 12 expansion plays out?

A: I don't see the Big 12 just sticking at 14 once they get there. There's too much value on the market. Do you see a world in which they WOULDN'T want Oregon? I don't. That's why I'm guessing they get to 16, possibly 18. Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon, and Washington would be the four I expect Yormark to go after.

From @WVUExtremist:

Q: Will the person who kicks off this year be better than horrible Parker Grothaus?

A: Yikes, that's harsh! Haha. But I've heard good things about the competition between Michael Hayes (Georgia State transfer) and Danny King. I'll have a better answer for you a couple weeks into camp.

From @OwenSpammer:

Q: How much does winning football games affect a team’s value? How much has WVU’s losing the last few seasons diminished their value?

A: Winning games certainly plays into the equation, but it's not the end all be all. For example, the Big Ten added Rutgers because of the TV market "value", not because of their success on the field. But you could even argue that TV market isn't worth a damn but that's a conversation for another day. There's a lot of different ways schools create value for themselves. For West Virginia, you have a passionate fanbase that has a long tradition of winning in the two major sports. The athletic department, despite recent results on the field/court, is fully invested to winning. I don't think WVU's value has diminished in the eyes of the Big 12 or anywhere else. In recruiting? That's a different story.

From @wvufan2023:

Q: Who else do you think the Big 12 adds to finish it off whether it’s for football and basketball or just basketball only?

A: I have a really hard time believing the Big 12 would make a basketball-only move. The league is already strong as currently constructed, so it's not like they need a Gonzaga or UConn to make them relevant. As I mentioned in a response above, the Arizona schools, Oregon, and Washington would be who I expect.

From @BrianMcGuinnWV:

Q: When will a conference move benefit WVU? None of the moves or rumored moves will generate additional revenue for WVU. None of the moves have helped WVU Big XII expense issues.

A: The revenue will only continue to increase. The Big 12 just set a record in the last fiscal year, distributing $44 million to each school. They're not going to get that in the ACC and they're sure as hell not getting into the Big Ten or SEC.

From @couz206:

Q: Do you feel that WVU is 100% bought in to the Big 12 with no eyes for the ACC?

A: I do believe they're 100% bought in. The ACC offers zero value at the moment. Until/if they get a reworked TV deal with ESPN, they are going to be losing members, not adding. The travel would be better, but once the big boys of the ACC leave, you're essentially back in the Big East and not the early 2000s Big East either.

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