The Big 12 expansion groundswell

[TripletDaddy]

I'd rather see BYU continue as an independent than get into a P5 conference.

stop being mean.

[Blueintheface]

white noise tweets

Good grief. The guy has issues.

[San Juan Sun]

Here's a random Big12 idea:

Expand the Big 12 to sixteen teams. One division is essentially the old Big 12, the other is the newcomers. Play 7 divisional games and one cross divisional rival, with a CCG.

Focus on large public universities with decent academic credentials and large private schools. Make UCF change its name to University of Orlando because directional school names suck.

Old Division and New Division - pairs are rivals
Texas - TCU
OU - West Virginia
Texas Tech - BYU
Baylor - Houston
OSU - Memphis
Kansas - Cincy
Kansas State - Orlando
Iowa State - Tulane or UCONN

Why would the Old Division like this? Preserves existing rivalries. Do any of you really care that much about not playing West Virginia frequently? You get a nice comfortable division, and the opportunity to schedule better out of conference slates. And you don't have to associate with the newcomers that much, thus preserving some separate identity if they suck.

Why would the Newcomers like it? They are now P5. Travel kind of sucks but that's the price of admission. Easier division to win. By playing TCU and Houston newcomers still get access to Dallas and Houston area recruiting.

What about travel? Not that big a deal for the Old Division. Not really that bad for the New Division either. Those guys only have to travel to BYU every other year (charted jet flights fly directly into Provo anyways, not to SLC).

What about other sports? Basketball plays a home-home with their division, and a home or away cross divisional game (alternating) for 22 conference games total. And then would have a kick ass conference tournament. Baseball and Olympics would work themselves out. And if you are hung up on baseball scheduling, you are a dumbass.

Recruiting? Solidifies East Texas as Big12 territory, with added gains in ACC (Orlando) and SEC grounds (Tennessee and Louisiana).

Academics? Tulane is excellent. Cincy and BYU are solid. Houston and Orlando are ok. Memphis has good BBQ. Added together it's not so bad that's it's a joke.

Better for the conference brand? Big12 should be advertising itself as the most exciting conference in CFB. Will be able to avoid cannibalizing round robin format and keep more teams ranked. Old Division is legit, New Division winner will always be solid, thus providing a boost to the CCG winner resume with a solid 13th game.

Of course, you have to get over the idea that there are any existing P5 schools that are jumping to Big 12. Or that the status quo keeps the Big 12 on par with B1G/PAC/SEC and clearly better than the ACC. It's a bold move, it if you can get Fox on board then Texas gets conference expansion but with easy excuses to bail.


Does it help TV partners? Assuming Fox wants to expand their inventory, this locks down Fox dominance in the western half of the U.S., as well as major metro areas sprinkled through the Midwest and Southeast. During conference play they have 6-7 games per week, and can feature Thursday/Friday games and content for FS1/FS2 on Saturdays. Could also do a Big12 game of the week on Fox Saturday afternoon to compete with ESPN/CBS. And Mountain time zone games can extend Fox viewership on Sat evenings. Texas can still have LHN, as the Fox gets their road conference games. Fox doesn't necessarily have to build a Big12 channel, but gets loads of inventory. Also, Fox could probably pay the newcomers less than the Old Division until the conference renegotiate sits media deal, thus keeping the existing members at their current payout.

[TripletDaddy]

Better idea: dont do what you are suggesting and simply add BYU and one other school.

[San Juan Sun]

Better idea: dont do what you are suggesting and simply add BYU and one other school.

Whatever it takes to get BYU added.

[Bo Diddley]

Here's a random Big12 idea:

Why would the Old Division like this? Preserves existing rivalries. Do any of you really care that much about not playing West Virginia frequently? You get a nice comfortable division, and the opportunity to schedule better out of conference slates. And you don't have to associate with the newcomers that much, thus preserving some separate identity if they suck.

I think there's too much disparity in strength of divisions. The old division would not like the new division having an unfair shot at the conference championship. Even if the disparity isn't real, likely the long time members in the old division would think it was real. Perception=reality.

[Paperback Writer]

I think there's too much disparity in strength of divisions. The old division would not like the new division having an unfair shot at the conference championship. Even if the disparity isn't real, likely the long time members in the old division would think it was real. Perception=reality.

Originally, the B1G aligned their divisions taking program strength into consideration. That placed Michigan and MSU in the "other" division. But with the next round of expansion, the B1G put Michigan and MSU back with Ohio St. and Penn St. and moved Wisconsin over with the other western schools. The West will usually be weaker than the East in the B1G and most everyone is fine with that arrangement. Programs would rather be in a division with historic rivals and play teams that are geographically close than worry about fairness.

[Bo Diddley]

Originally, the B1G aligned their divisions taking program strength into consideration. That placed Michigan and MSU in the "other" division. But with the next round of expansion, the B1G put Michigan and MSU back with Ohio St. and Penn St. and moved Wisconsin over with the other western schools. The West will usually be weaker than the East in the B1G and most everyone is fine with that arrangement. Programs would rather be in a division with historic rivals and play teams that are geographically close than worry about fairness.

No mention of Nebraska...

Actually, I've never minded you doing so.

[Topper]

Whatever it takes to get BYU added.

Be pragmatic, ends justify the means.

[TripletDaddy]

Embedded Tweet

Embedded Tweet

Embedded Tweet

Embedded Tweet

Embedded Tweet

[TripletDaddy]

Embedded Tweet

Embedded Tweet

Embedded Tweet

[Omaha 680]

Embedded Tweet

[falafel]

I don't know why, but all this time I thought @MHver3 was MVHS_Dynasty from CB. Accordingly, I have skipped all of MHver3's tweets.

[TripletDaddy]

Embedded Tweet

[lambdacoug]

Embedded Tweet

But maybe he's right this time...