The Big 12 expansion groundswell

[ERCougar]

That message being ....?

I think the message delivered by each one of these leaks is that the B12 is history. OU couldn't possibly make it less stable. Tough to see them not going to the PAC-12 at this point.

Lots of possible messages:
1) OU still negotiating for its own network
2) OU and UT pressuring Baylor to drop the litigation nonsense. A&M will never be a stable part of the league at this point, so they'd rather they leave so they get on with things.
3) OU just wants to be noticed.

OU is not going to the PAC12. There is nothing about that from either side that makes sense. Didn't the PAC 12 have issues with them academically anyway?

[ERCougar]

I was with you, but they already took them seriously. The regents approving this is going to have every member of the conference scrambling in the biggest musical chairs game we've seen. Any shred of stability that was remaining is gone now.

They work out their own ESPN network deal, sign the dotted line, and this conference is back to rock solid.

[LiveCoug]

Lots of possible messages:
1) OU still negotiating for its own network
2) OU and UT pressuring Baylor to drop the litigation nonsense. A&M will never be a stable part of the league at this point, so they'd rather they leave so they get on with things.
3) OU just wants to be noticed.

OU is not going to the PAC12. There is nothing about that from either side that makes sense. Didn't the PAC 12 have issues with them academically anyway?

And if they don't have issues with OU, they certainly should have issues with OSU.

[Blueintheface]

Yeah, but I am still waiting for an explanation as to why they would do this if they aren't serious about leaving. What advantage do they gain by doing it?

Ultimately I think Texas will take measures to ensure the conference stays together and maybe that is all OU is looking for, a groveling Texas.

[YOhio]

After all the B12 drama of the past 18 months this really doesn't bother me that much. Sure it would suck if BYU were left out, but in that's the position they've been in my whole life and I've still managed to become obsessed with the program. I also think the era of superconferences will be short lived. Most fans hate the idea, it doesn't make sense logistically and the interconference feuding will continue. BYU will be fine.

[Marvelous]

Pardon my ignorance here (if this has already been discussed), but say OU leaves. What does Texas do? They aren't going to give up the LHN. Neither the BIG or the PAC would allow them to keep it. Do they just keep the Big 12 by adding a few more teams, such as BYU, Air Force and BSU? What is their next move?

[Jeff Lebowski]

Pardon my ignorance here (if this has already been discussed), but say OU leaves. What does Texas do? They aren't going to give up the LHN. Neither the BIG or the PAC would allow them to keep it. Do they just keep the Big 12 by adding a few more teams, such as BYU, Air Force and BSU? What is their next move?

My money would be on independence. Sit back and rake in cash until the super conferences implode.

[Omaha 680]

Ultimately I think Texas will take measures to ensure the conference stays together and maybe that is all OU is looking for, a groveling Texas.

I'm pretty pessimistic right now. But if this turns out to be true, I'll be calling it "Oklahoma Hold 'Em" from then on.

[Maximus]

My money would be on independence. Sit back and rake in cash until the super conferences implode.

So sit back with even worse schedules and bowl games and hope that someday things will get better?

[Jeff Lebowski]

So sit back with even worse schedules and bowl games and hope that someday things will get better?

Texas is not BYU.

What is your prediction?

[Marvelous]

Texas is not BYU.

What is your prediction?

Exactly. This idea makes sense to me. Texas is like Notre Dame....they won't be left out when Superconferencemageddon comes. BYU might be. Texas won't. They would be just fine raking in cash until they have to share in order to play the game.

[Maximus]

Texas is not BYU.

What is your prediction?

meh missed that part. texas has plenty of options. I think any conference would let them join if they wanted to, assuming they give up LHN.

[TripletDaddy]

Texas is not BYU.

What is your prediction?

If Texas goes indy and OU goes to the PAC, then by definition, Superconferences are upon us:

1. The B12 would no longer exist
2. aTM would have joined the SEC, along with at least one more team, taking the SEC to 14.
3. The PAC would have expanded to 14 by adding OU and likely OSU
4. The remaining good B12 teams would be absorbed by some combo of the Big East, B1G, or ACC.

In this scenario, where does Texas place its sports programs other than football?

Also, what happens with Notre Dame in the above scenario? Perhaps this is the UT/ND alliance that Darth Dodds referenced earlier?

[Uncle Ted]

My money would be on independence. Sit back and rake in cash until the super conferences implode.

Which may mean another Texas/BYU football game next year.

[Coach McGuirk]

hopefully UT/ND create a new conference and include BYU.