The Big 12 expansion groundswell

[Uncle Ted]

Why the aggies may not be going to the SEC anytime soon...

What has to happen before A&M makes a move? Here's a list:

School officials must apply for admission to the SEC and receive at least nine favorable votes from the 12-member league. SEC administrators want to be sure the Aggies are free of potential legal entanglements that could scuttle the move.

A&M must prepare itself to lose roughly $28 million in Big 12 revenues, under league bylaws, if it wants to play an SEC football schedule in 2012.

A&M needs to convince Texas lawmakers the move is in the best interest of the state. By postponing, rather than canceling, Tuesday's scheduled public hearing with the Texas House Higher Education Committee, the committee can reschedule the session without another five-day posting -- a move that could expedite the Aggies' departure date if an SEC invitation surfaces.

White challenged committee members, along with Perry, to take a hard look at evidence regarding whether Texas taxpayers would be better-served with A&M as the state's lone team in the SEC. He cited a study by The Perryman Group suggesting a Texas A&M departure from the Big 12, with no replacement team, would create a loss of 3,050 jobs and $217.2 million in output (gross product) annually in Texas.

White called A&M's potential move to the SEC "a permanent mistake made that would extend for generations." Asked about his thoughts being tempered by his Baylor loyalties, White said: "That's certainly true. But I wouldn't feel so strongly if I hadn't been paying taxes to fund A&M."

Of course, this may all be Baylor talk.

[TripletDaddy]

This thing sure has lost a lot of steam. The week that was supposed to eschew in aTm's departure turned out to be a week almost entirely absent of any movement whatsoever.

Now that the furor (and the Fuhrer) has died, what is your confidence level? Will aTm leave? And will BYU get an invite?

[Maximus]

This thing sure has lost a lot of steam. The week that was supposed to eschew in aTm's departure turned out to be a week almost entirely absent of any movement whatsoever.

Now that the furor (and the Fuhrer) has died, what is your confidence level? Will aTm leave? And will BYU get an invite?

I bet it happens by sept. 1. 70% confidence.

[Donuthole]

I bet it happens by sept. 1. 70% confidence.

You should start a new thread predicting it. May I recommend a title:

"September 1, 2011 . . . ."

[Maximus]

You should start a new thread predicting it. May I recommend a title:

"September 1, 2011 . . . ."

?

[Donuthole]

?

A mere suggestion. Nothing more.

[Maximus]

A mere suggestion. Nothing more.

finding we dont have enough redundant topics?

[SteelBlue]

This thing sure has lost a lot of steam. The week that was supposed to eschew in aTm's departure turned out to be a week almost entirely absent of any movement whatsoever.

Now that the furor (and the Fuhrer) has died, what is your confidence level? Will aTm leave? And will BYU get an invite?

I pretty much lost all hope when I learned that Kyle Whittingham had commented on superconferences, and that reading between the lines, we were likely to be left out. He knows a lot more about college football than I do so, you know, what do I really have to hope for now?

[myboynoah]

ESPN Insider College Football Rumors

Defection or expansion in Big 12?

UPDATE: If any team does plan on leaving the Big 12, the conference plans to put its foot down.

"We do have to do something to secure our future... and that probably means putting your name on the dotted line," Texas Tech president Bailey told Jimmy Burch of the Star-Telegram. "Doing that in a legally binding way is pretty important."

The preventative measures could thwart a complete conference disintegration as team's contemplate jumping ship, if enacted.

Bailey's unveiled threat doesn't prevent others from speculating possibilities of the Big 12 poaching other schools to fill the void, ironically enough.

"The most realistic expansion targets, say league sources, include Brigham Young, Houston, Air Force and TCU -- likely in that order," Burch wrote. "But there is sentiment to make a run at Notre Dame, college football's perpetual independent, to gauge interest."

---

If and when Texas A&M cedes to the SEC, the ripple effects will be felt around the entire college football landscape. The continued plight of the Big 12 and its existence will come into question. Texas has the ability to become independent due to its new television deal. Oklahoma is the the conference's other flagship school and may be left out in the cold. Or they may seek warmer pastures.

"Besides, from what I understand, Oklahoma isn't interested in joining the SEC," Rivals.com senior writer Olin Buchanon responded to an inquiry about the Sooners' future. "If the Big 12 collapses, as many expect it will, word is OU administration is much more interested in going West. Surely, the Pac-12 won't hesitate to expand and would go after Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Texas Tech was hot to join the Pac-10 when it announced its expansion plans in 2010, too."

The Pac-12 could quickly become the Pac-14 or Pac-16, and the much feared college football super conferences will rule the world.

- Brent Sobleski

[Viking]

BYU and ND will be added to B12 sometime between now and labor day

[Uncle Ted]

BYU and ND will be added to B12 sometime between now and labor day

The latest rumor is A&M retained an external firm to explore their legal options out of the Big 12. I am thinking that TAMU will announce they are leaving the Big 12 for the SEC starting in the 2013 season before the end of the month. This will reduce their exit fee. If the Big 12, however, announces they are adding ND and BYU then TAMU may change their mind but they will blame the change of direction on pressure from the government and/or Baylor fans to stay.

The San Antonio Express-News gives their replacement list...

If Texas A&M ends up leaving the Big 12, the remaining schools will have to decide if replacing the Aggies is in the conference's best interests. Express-News staff writer Tim Griffin ranks the top-10 potential replacements in order of attractiveness and the Big 12's legitimate hopes of convincing them to join:

1. Notre Dame
Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe's ultimate pipe dream, although don't expect the Irish or media sugar daddy NBC to be very interested.

2. Arkansas
Remember earlier when some thought the Razorbacks eventually could be convinced to move to play more convenient and natural rivals in the Big 12? Those days are long gone with how rich the Razorbacks have gotten in the SEC.

3. BYU
The Cougars weren't popular among their old rivals in the Mountain West Conference, but their 25-year-old seniors would meet a more hospitable response from Big 12 brethren. Some national observers might look at a Texas A&M-for-BYU swap to be a wash — at least in football. And adding the Salt Lake City TV market would be a plus, too.

4. Air Force
The Falcons run a unique option offense, have national appeal as a service academy and would get the Big 12 back into Colorado. If they're interested, they would be a strong candidate for expansion.

5. Houston
Likely the most popular in-state school among Austin legislators to take the Aggies' place because of its public-school status. But what does the Big 12 really gain by adding a team in an area where the conference already is deeply embedded?

6. TCU
Makes the most sense, as far as being a football-ready program capable of competing at the highest level nationally. This decision, however, is bigger than mere on-the-field competitiveness.

7. Louisville
Would be a nice addition in basketball and football. But will hoops coach Rick Pitino really embrace moving from the Big East, particularly with the far-flung geography issues involved for non-revenue sports?

8. SMU
It's not the 1980s when the "Pony Express" competed for national titles and its boosters ran amok. The school has a small alumni base and doesn't attract much national attention, even with coach June Jones' fun-to-watch team playing in a neat on-campus stadium.

9. New Mexico
Would add a new state to the Big 12's footprint, but do the Lobos really have anything to boost the conference's national exposure?

10. Rice
Owls would be the Big 12's second choice from Harris County behind Houston. They likely wouldn't find much support compared to the other larger candidates.

[Babs]

You should start a new thread predicting it. May I recommend a title:

"September 1, 2011 . . . ."

You're such a good student.

[DrumNFeather]

From ESPN.

One Big 12 athletic director told Kirk Bohls of the Austin American Statesman, "...the league will definitely shoot for Notre Dame, Louisville was a 'possible' target, Memphis was not, Air Force would be 'a unique option,' TCU and Houston are not strong considerations 'at this point', and the league would probably not aim for other schools outside its geographic footprint...like, say, a San Diego State or a Central Florida."

[LiveCoug]

From ESPN.

BYU not even on this guys list. That's a first.


Oh, and many of the insiders on CB are saying that BYU will most definitely turn down an invite to the Big 12 if it does indeed ever come. Too much goodwill with the WCC and catholic church, or some such nonsense.

[DrumNFeather]

BYU not even on this guys list. That's a first.


Oh, and many of the insiders on CB are saying that BYU will most definitely turn down an invite to the Big 12 if it does indeed ever come. Too much goodwill with the WCC and catholic church, or some such nonsense.

Given the timing of it all, that would be a legit concern I would think. If BYU saw this kind of change coming so quickly, I would think they would've stayed with the WAC agreement.