61 replies to this topic

[Dom]

As we all know this has been talked about for months. Texas A&M made the first move by sending a letter to Big 12 commisioner about them exploring other options. This has been confirmed on texas a&m's site as well.

http://espn.go.com/b...ongoing-process


Looks like A&M is putting in their two week notice.

[AssKickingBoots]

Alot of people will call it a mistake, but I can't. The Big XII, even since losing Nebraska and Colorado, is still one of the dominant powers in college football, probably 2nd best after the SEC (there's only 1 Big Ten team in the AP Preseason Top 10, 2 from the PAC 12, 3 from the Big XII, and just 2 from the SEC).

But monetarily, I believe the Big XII is only the 3rd or 4th best conference. Like it or not, the Big Ten and SEC are upgrades on the Big XII, and the PAC 12 is comparable. If Missouri could get the same deal, I'd say take it, and that's even with my heartstrings all pulling for the Big XII.

As a Mizzou fan, I'm not that worried about our position. Missouri, due to it's combination of features and geographic location, should be an attractive school to a number of conferences should conference realignment happen in an avalanche. Some of the other schools, including Kansas and Kansas State (which I personally by no means look down upon) may have more trouble finding suitors.

However, if A&M leaves what I'd really like to see is the Big XII counterpunch and go add 3 schools back up to 12. Maybe steal Arizona / Arizona State. Maybe pick up Houston or TCU. Hell, they could grab an independent like BYU or Notre Dame. There are options for this conference to survive.

[Los Pollos Hermanos]

This move is not about money as much as it's about pride. A&M hates that Texas is getting all the attention and getting their own network. I've heard that their share in the SEC will actually be less then what they would get in the Big 12.

The rumor now is that Texas has reached out to Notre Dame and that they'll be willing to take less money if it means making the conference stronger.

[Dom]

Why would Notre Dame join the Big 12(10) and not join the Big 10(12)?

The Big 12 will not be able to steal the Arizona schools, they will remain in the Pac-12. Look for the more unattractive deal with teams like SMU, Houston, BYU, or a team like Memphis moving up.

If the Big 12 completely collapses that is bad news for Kansas, K-State, and iowa State. The Kansas teams will likely still be able to go to a BCS conference (Kansas in the Big East or something, while teams like Marquette and Depaul get booted from big East). I don't see iowa State staying BCS if the Big 12 falls. they have been a welfare university taking and taking from the Big 12 for years, they would probably go MAC or Conference USA.

I love the type of chaos this normally causes. It starts with one school and will lead to more. The SEC will not move up to just 13. This will cause even more and more change. Even FCS schools (stuff that i watch) may cause some change, like illinois State or Missouri State going to the Conference USA). Love this stuff. Should be interesting, but distracting considering football starts next weekend.

[HG]

Never should have changed from the Big 8

[warthog]

HG, on 25 August 2011 - 06:37 PM, said:

Never should have changed from the Big 8

If they are closer to being 8 teams than they are 12 teams, they should call them selves the Big 8. Pretty sure it's copyrighted. And if anyone asks who the odd team out is, just say 'Baylor'

[Los Pollos Hermanos]

Dom, on 25 August 2011 - 06:22 PM, said:

Why would Notre Dame join the Big 12(10) and not join the Big 10(12)?

Because Texas and the other schools will probably allow them to have their own network and to get a larger then 1/10th share of the pie. In the Big 10, they would have to share everything equally.

[Dom]

I know everyone knows, But Texas A&M has now said they will be leaving the Big 12.

http://espn.go.com/c...eave-conference

[warthog]

Hope they realize what they are getting into.

[warthog]

A & M gone. It's official.

[Dom]

I wish the sec would hurry up and accept them. I'm interested to see how everything shakes up. If the SEC goes to 13 I can't see them stopping at 14, they might as well become the first 16 team football conference (A&M, Mizzou, Florida St. and Virginia Tech)

[warthog]

SEC should hem in the Big 10 by taking Mizzou. The Big 10 does not need the St. Louis market (because they are already in it) but I can see the SEC making use of the StL/KC markets.

[Dom]

Good bye Big 12

Oklahoma debating their own conference shift

http://espn.go.com/c...ple-conferences

[warthog]

Thank you Texas and the Longhorn Network!

[HG]

Ive said it before. We never should have changed from the Big 8.

[AssKickingBoots]

There's still a better chance than people realize of this conference saving itself, but now it all rests in the hands of Oklahoma. I cannot see a scenario where OU leaves and this remains an Automatic Qualifier Conference, even with Texas.

I've gave it some thought, and this is not something I'd normally say, but Nick Wright is right. My loyalties aren't so much to the Big XII or even the old Big 8, my allegiance is to the local schools. So long as the local schools stick together I don't care.

Of course, that's a highly unlikely scenario. Wherever the schools end up, it's hard to imagine them sticking together without actually moving down in the world, to the MWC or something. Even with the built in rivalries, I can't see many conferences seeking the relatively small and split TV market of the state of Kansas, so it'd hurt Missouri's position to tie themselves to the two.

I might just have to live with the fact that if Missouri wants to face Kansas and/or Kansas State, it'll have to be a non-Conference game. I'd hate to no longer be in the same conference as Texas for recruiting purposes too, though A&M going to SEC may help with that. Still, the 16 team Super Conferences are happening, and it's going to happen fast.

[Vazza]

the only good thing about the alignment shifts and changing to 16 team super conferences...is that it will more than likely push the BCS into a playoff system! There will be no other way to decide it. I have heard John Frikky (spelling?) on Fox Sports for the last two nights say that this is the Big 12's last year and he's probably right. While I will be sad to see the Big 12 go, if in the long run if the Big 12 breaking up and going to different conferences means we finally get a damn College playoff system...I'm all for it.

Also I think some of the Conference names need to be changed. We are going to have a Texas team in the SEC? I know LSU is and Arkansas (i think) but to me the USA is sort of split by the Mississippi River, in that East of it is considered East and West of it is considered West....Some of these schools don't seem to really belong to their conference name location wise and its bugging the crap out of me.

[AssKickingBoots]

I'm fine with moving toward a playoff, but in order for there to be one there has to be 4 different 16 team superconferences, and right now we're moving toward having 3 (Pac 12, Big Ten (12), and SEC (13). Somebody has to pick up the slack and be the 4th superconference, and no one makes more sense than the Big XII (9?). The Big East and ACC, even combined, wouldn't be the quality of the other 3 conferences AND would take up alot of the same TV markets. The Big XII has 2 perennial national tile contenders, and a few more really good programs, but obviously lacks numbers.

I just can't tell who is going to be that 4th Superconference at this point, and shy of an intelligent governing board of some kind stepping in to guide conference realignment (intelligent being the key word), I almost think that this 4th conference is either going to have a bunch of unworthy teams or isn't going to be the most geographically centered.

[Dom]

stuff be getting crazy!

Pittsburgh and Syracuse have applied to be in the ACC. That would put the SEC at 13 right now and the ACC at 14. The shifts have only just started.

[AssKickingBoots]

Yeah, it's looking more and more like the Big XII is going to take a back seat and the ACC will be the 4th Superconference. Heck, I've heard talk that Texas is interested in moving east more than moving west to the Pac 12.

I also heard the SEC is looking to expand only in states where it doesn't already have teams. That increases the likelihood that Missouri will end up there. I think Missouri is still looking primarily at the Big Ten though, because it'd be a better fit for them academically.

I'd like to see Kansas and Kansas State land in a superconference. At this point, their best hope is the Pac 12. They supposedly have a standing offer from the Big East, which is currently a BCS conference, but will not likely be one of the superconferences. If the Pac 12 can't get enough schools from the states of Texas and Oklahoma (like if some or all went to the ACC instead), that would be their best case scenario.

One thing I'm worried about is people will live too much in the moment and not enough in the future. Boise State, regardless of their recent success, is about 10 years removed from being a Junior College. The NCAA is going to start creating tougher requirements academically for these athletes. If the Pac 12 went and got Boise solely for it's recent success, especially over worthy teams like Kansas and/or K-State, then it'd be a huge mistake. Boise does not belong in a BCS/Superconference academically, it doesn't belong financially, it doesn't belong TV market wise, and it doesn't belong traditionally either.

TCU on the other hand might unfortunately get left out too. There are currently 5 schools from Texas in a BCS conference (Texas, A&M, Baylor, Tech, TCU) with Houston also narrowly looking from the outside. Baylor is a likely casualty, but I'm having a tough time seeing a scenario where TCU and/or Houston initially are in a superconference.

Watching this all moving forward should be fun.