The Big 12 expansion groundswell

[Uncle Ted]

All 4 corner schools? Wonder if anyone has informed New Mexico that they might be changing conferences.

Yeah, they are going to be invited to the PAC.

[Uncle Ted]

B12 is on the hunt... Baylor Sez:

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[myboynoah]

Good question Art. I don't think Oregon or UW want to come to the B12. As for the 4 corner schools, maybe uofutah sees itself as above the B12 and BYU, so it might want to stick with Oregon and UW. Maybe those other three are more amendable to the B12, with it sounding like Az is primed to go, and Co leaning that way. But if the Pac10 TV numbers come back better than many are saying, then they may all just decide to stay together, or at lease delay a decision.

My question is what is best for the B12? I think adding at least four of those schools makes sense. But all six? An 18-team league with 10 new members seems unwieldy and might lead to some instability. I think they need to stay at 16. And maybe that is how you insert some urgency in the decision-making by those P10 schools.

Also, do we have a good read on the dynamics inside the P12? Are the schools getting along? How much dissatisfaction is out there? Especially if Oregon and UW will likely insist on uneven TV shares and/or easy GOR exits.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Good question Art. I don't think Oregon or UW want to come to the B12. As for the 4 corner schools, maybe uofutah sees itself as above the B12 and BYU, so it might want to stick with Oregon and UW. Maybe those other three are more amendable to the B12, with it sounding like Az is primed to go, and Co leaning that way. But if the Pac10 TV numbers come back better than many are saying, then they may all just decide to stay together, or at lease delay a decision.

My question is what is best for the B12? I think adding at least four of those schools makes sense. But all six? An 18-team league with 10 new members seems unwieldy and might lead to some instability. I think they need to stay at 16. And maybe that is how you insert some urgency in the decision-making by those P10 schools.

Also, do we have a good read on the dynamics inside the P12? Are the schools getting along? How much dissatisfaction is out there? Especially if Oregon and UW will likely insist on uneven TV shares and/or easy GOR exits.

Amen. I disagree with Art that UW/OU are the obvious top priority for the B12. Sure they have big markets, but they are the most likely to bolt and they are the most distant. A strategic move would be to poach the four corners schools and then play it by ear.

[Uncle Ted]

Amen. I disagree with Art that UW/OU are the obvious top priority for the B12. Sure they have big markets, but they are the most likely to bolt and they are the most distant. A strategic move would be to poach the four corners schools and then play it by ear.

You might be over estimating the value of Oregon...

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Of course, they were playing Utah so that might have had something to do with it.

[Moliere]

I’d offer the AZ schools only right now. If they accept them UW and/or UO would probably panic and also come to the Big12. Then you stay at 16 and you’d have two good divisions (west/east). I’d stay there until the ACC gets poached and then see what is left from that. I think Pitt would be a good add for WV and you might be able to sneak in some other east coast teams that don’t get in to the SEC or B1G.

[Bo Diddley]

I’d offer the AZ schools only right now. If they accept them UW and/or UO would probably panic and also come to the Big12. Then you stay at 16 and you’d have two good divisions (west/east). I’d stay there until the ACC gets poached and then see what is left from that. I think Pitt would be a good add for WV and you might be able to sneak in some other east coast teams that don’t get in to the SEC or B1G.

Probably wishful thinking, but this would be my preference as well.

[myboynoah]

Can I just say that the dumbest idea out there in all this talk is an ACC vs. Pac12/Big16 "championship" game at the end of the season. Good hell, just hand the SEC and BIG what they want: everybody else playing in to get into their playoff. Stupid idiots.

That's mostly coming from the desperate P12 looking for revenue options.

Stupid idiots. And they call themselves AAU.

[Pelado]

Amen. I disagree with Art that UW/OU are the obvious top priority for the B12. Sure they have big markets, but they are the most likely to bolt and they are the most distant. A strategic move would be to poach the four corners schools Arizona, ASU, and Colorado and then play it by ear.

Fify

[Pelado]

I’d offer the AZ schools only right now. If they accept them UW and/or UO would probably panic and also come to the Big12. Then you stay at 16 and you’d have two good divisions (west/east). I’d stay there until the ACC gets poached and then see what is left from that. I think Pitt would be a good add for WV and you might be able to sneak in some other east coast teams that don’t get in to the SEC or B1G.

The Big12 needs to take 3+ PAC schools. That means the PAC would have to add one or more other teams to remain as a conference.

[Uncle Ted]

I’d offer the AZ schools only right now. If they accept them UW and/or UO would probably panic and also come to the Big12. Then you stay at 16 and you’d have two good divisions (west/east). I’d stay there until the ACC gets poached and then see what is left from that. I think Pitt would be a good add for WV and you might be able to sneak in some other east coast teams that don’t get in to the SEC or B1G.

Yeah, I agree. Let's get the AZ schools right now then see who wants to come as well. Worst case the Big 12 stays very relevant as the best basketball conference (and add the Zags for basketball only) and the PAC dies and is absorbed into the MWC super conference. UW and/or UO join ND by becoming independent waiting for the B1G to invite them only to die on the vine.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Fify

There you go.

[LiveCoug]

If Ute fans on Twitter represent Utah admins thoughts on the B12, then yes, the B12 is far, far, far beneath them as they are a B10/SEC level school

[Jeff Lebowski]

If Ute fans on Twitter represent Utah admins thoughts on the B12, then yes, the B12 is far, far, far beneath them as they are a B10/SEC level school

No way they would lower themselves to associate with those non-AAU clowns in the SEC. Amirite, SU?

[Paperback Writer]

No way they would lower themselves to associate with those non-AAU clowns in the SEC. Amirite, SU?

That was my thinking about Texas before they joined the SEC. Only conferences the Longhorns would ditch the Big 12 for would be the PAC-12 or the B1G. Long ago, I projected OU to the SEC but never thought Texas would go along. Maybe A&M going to the SEC made it a little more palatable for the Longhorns but most likely it was the $$$.