The Big 12 expansion groundswell

[Hot Lunch]

ND is coming going to the Big 12 Little 12 but not until the super conference land grab begins.

I agree with part of what you said.

[Uncle Ted]

For those who want BYU in the BIG 12, this might be good news. ND agreeing to join the BIG 12 would make the league needing BYU a much lower need.

Arkansas is very likely off the short list as well. Look for the Big 12 jet flying to Provo in the near future and Beebe giving BYU everything they want.

[Uncle Ted]

ESiPN (as aTm fans calls the network) is assigning percentages to likely Big 12 expansion candidates:

BYU: 60%
Houston: 28%
Air Force: 21%
Louisville: 16%
Pitt: 13%
TCU: 11%
SMU: 7%
Arkansas: 4%
Notre Dame: 2%

Here is what Ubben had to say about BYU...

BYU: This is my official recommendation. The Big 12 needs to heavily pursue the Cougars and stick with 10 members for the same reason it didn't expand to 12 over the past year: No one else adds enough to the league to warrant membership. This marriage would be beneficial for both sides. BYU gets more money and access to the BCS, while likely keeping its already-active television network for Mormons across the country. The Big 12 might have to allow the Cougars to keep their current television deal with ESPN, though. The Big 12 gets a national brand with great football and great basketball while expanding its footprint. And there's plenty of BYU fans inside the Big 12 footprint, too. There's an argument that independence better serves BYU's mission, which might cause decision-makers to think twice, but this decision-making process will be interesting.

Chance BYU joins: 60 percent

[Color Me Badd Fan]

I can't for the life of me understand why anyone thinks Arkansas would ever join the Big 12. Didn't they go to a BCS bowl last year? The SEC is as solid as a rock because power is more distributed in that conference. Why would they go to the Big 12 where they'd just get their chain yanked by Texas?

Also, and I've stated this before, everyone keeps on talking about how this Dodds character is playing everyone for fools. Besides getting the LHN started, here's what he's accomplished:

1. Running Nebraska off.

2. Running aTm off.

Sorry, but that's idiotic. The Big 12 was in the position to become a super conference but now it's in the position where it may disband as the Big 10, SEC and perhaps the Pac 10 become super conferences. If such a scenario occurs, then Texas may be forced to join one of them on much less favorable terms than it could have achieved had it done enough to keep Nebraska and aTm around (then again, maybe that was impossible given their respective petulant natures).

There aren't very many conference (or would be conference) anchors in college football. Here they are by my count (in no particular order):

1. Notre Dame
2. USC
3. Texas
4. Alabama
5. Ohio State
6. Florida
7. Michigan
8. Nebraska
9. Oklahoma
10. Penn State

There are only ten of them. Texas ran off one of them. If Dodds was what the Texas fans claim he is, he would have succeeded in only passing off its sloppy seconds to the Pac and then found someone else to better shore up the north.

[LA Ute]

Here is what Urban had to say about BYU...

I think Urban's got it about right, don't you?

[byu71]

I can't for the life of me understand why anyone thinks Arkansas would ever join the Big 12. Didn't they go to a BCS bowl last year? The SEC is as solid as a rock because power is more distributed in that conference. Why would they go to the Big 12 where they'd just get their chain yanked by Texas?

Also, and I've stated this before, everyone keeps on talking about how this Dodds character is playing everyone for fools. Besides getting the LHN started, here's what he's accomplished:

1. Running Nebraska off.

2. Running aTm off.

Sorry, but that's idiotic. The Big 12 was in the position to become a super conference but now it's in the position where it may disband as the Big 10, SEC and perhaps the Pac 10 become super conferences. If such a scenario occurs, then Texas may be forced to join one of them on much less favorable terms than it could have achieved had it done enough to keep Nebraska and aTm around (then again, maybe that was impossible given their respective petulant natures).

There aren't very many conference (or would be conference) anchors in college football. Here they are by my count (in no particular order):

1. Notre Dame
2. USC
3. Texas
4. Alabama
5. Ohio State
6. Florida
7. Michigan
8. Nebraska
9. Oklahoma
10. Penn State

There are only ten of them. Texas ran off one of them. If Dodds was what the Texas fans claim he is, he would have succeeded in only passing off its sloppy seconds to the Pac and then found someone else to better shore up the north.

Really, Nebraska an anchor. Years ago maybe, but I certainly don't check the TV guide to see if Nebraska is playing.

[Uncle Ted]

Really, Nebraska an anchor. Years ago maybe, but I certainly don't check the TV guide to see if Nebraska is playing.

Be careful what you say about the children of the corn. I think I saw PBW lurking around here this morning.

[LiveCoug]

Bronco sure sounds like he is changing his tune about being indy.

He said in his presser today that it's his job to make BYU look as good as possible so that they won't be left out of superconferences...

[Omaha 680]

Be careful what you say about the children of the corn. I think I saw PBW lurking around here this morning.

And PBW has backup these days.

[byu71]

And PBW has backup these days.

I am not trying to diss Nebraska. There was a time I would look at them and want to watch.

I am sure plenty of people still think highly of them.

The fact I wouldn't put them in my list of the top 20 teams I would be willing to do a 2-1 deal with doesn't mean the rest of the nation feels the same.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

Really, Nebraska an anchor. Years ago maybe, but I certainly don't check the TV guide to see if Nebraska is playing.

In 2001, USC was playing Utah in the Vegas Bowl. Alabama went through the Mike Price fiasco, where were they back around 04-05? Oklahoma was lost in the wilderness back in the 90s.

The point is that great programs seem to find ways to come back.

[Donuthole]

I think Urban's got it about right, don't you?

I see what you did there.

[byu71]

In 2001, USC was playing Utah in the Vegas Bowl. Alabama went through the Mike Price fiasco, where were they back around 04-05? Oklahoma was lost in the wilderness back in the 90s.

The point is that great programs seem to find ways to come back.

Yea, I am looking for the reappearance of Army and Navy.

[Omaha 680]

I am not trying to diss Nebraska. There was a time I would look at them and want to watch.

I am sure plenty of people still think highly of them.

The fact I wouldn't put them in my list of the top 20 teams I would be willing to do a 2-1 deal with doesn't mean the rest of the nation feels the same.

No offense taken.

I'm in an interesting place right now. I have a moderate dislike for the Big 12 because of one of my teams, but really hope my other team is invited to join.

[Goatnapper'96]

Yea, I am looking for the reappearance of Army and Navy.

Not likely this year for my Black Knights. That early season stretch of NIU, Northwestern and Cal State San Diego looks daunting!