Thinking back about the conference realignment in the 2000s, I'm trying to picture who has benefitted athletically (not financially) from the moves.
Missouri--from Big XII to SEC...haven't seen much positive from the move in basketball or football
Nebraska--from Big XII to Big 10...their football team has become a shell of itself and basketball has never been impressive
Virginia Tech--From Big East to ACC...their football team has won a couple of ACC titles (my brother recovered a fumble in one of the ACC title games for them!) and basketball is trending up, so maybe the move has benefitted, though their best football days were when they were still Big East with Vick.
Maryland--from ACC to Big 10...nothing in football, other than scandals, and their basketball team is no longer a national powerhouse
Rutgers--from Big East to Big 10...never been strong really either place, but I can't see them ever being competitive in the Big 10
Texas A & M--from Big XII to SEC...got a Heisman Trophy winner and some good pub, but they're not the elite within the conference and can't see that day coming
Colorado--from Big 12 to Pac 10...they're nothing anymore, they seem irrelevant in both football and basketball now. They used to be a power in the 90s
West Virginia--from Big East to Big XII...they've had decent football and basketball teams, but few rivalries. They feel more ACC aligned, but don't seem to be getting courted
Pittsburgh--from Big East to ACC...they're decent this year, but their best basketball and football years far predated ACC entry
Syracuse--from Big East to ACC...nothing in football over that time (remember when they used to be really good at football?) but the basketball team is still relevant. However, their national title came before joining ACC
So question is, who has benefitted?
**I only was looking at Power 5 conference moves (including Power 6 when Big East was a power), not mid-major to major conference, like Utah and TCU.
Missouri - won the SEC East twice in their first three seasons in league play in football. Could be argued they capitalized on a changing conference that hadn't yet seen the evolving spread offense and also Georgia/Florida weren't as powerful as normal. Since Gary Pinkel retired it's been an adventure to say the least. Basketball wise, meh.
Nebraska - I don't think the struggles at Nebraska have as much to do with their conference affiliation as it does just other programs catching up with what they excelled at in the 90s - strength and conditioning. They simply just don't get the athletes they used to.
(That being said both Missouri and Nebraska probably have regrets not associated to their bank accounts)
Va Tech - has been a relative success all around, though they were on a downward trend in the last years of Beamer and it has continued since he's retired. Will be interesting to see if they can carve out that niche school vibe they had when they were most dominant.
Maryland - yeah this has been a failure for sure. They just don't fit AT ALL.
Rutgers - ditto
Texas A&M - I can actually see flashes of them succeeding in the SEC. They've had their moments against Alabama, which is way more than Arkansas or Mississippi State can say. The alumni base is as hungry as they come, I'm just not sure investing in as much as they have with Jimbo is the answer.
Colorado - they absolutely fit the culture of the PAC 12 more than they did the Big 12, but really the problem here is and always has been the city of Boulder and the faculty at CU. You think Athens and OU faculty are bad, Boulder is worse. Truthfully they probably fit better in an expanded Mountain West.
Utah - more success in football than Colorado has had, but again I'm wondering what this program looks like once USC finally gets their act together in the PAC 12 South.
West Virginia - I think we'll see a whole different WVU once the Big 12 gets their new allies. At the very least they've sustained what they've had and haven't gone into the basement like Rutgers or Maryland have. The patience will probably pay off here for the Neers.
Pitt, Syracuse and Boston College - just felt like none of these teams fit in the ACC, though some have had their moments.
Who has benefited?
TCU - absolutely raised their profile in both basketball and football. Went from the WAC, to C-USA, to the MWC to the Big 12. They're probably one of the few all around successes of realignment. Still think they got hosed in 2014 and should have went to the CFP.
Boise State - from killers of the WAC to killers of the MWC.
ESPN, SEC, Big Ten, ACC - the real winners here. $$$$$$$$$