The Big 12 expansion groundswell

[Paperback Writer]

It had everything to do w/ UNL's inability to recruit partial qualifiers in the Big 12. Boise State has simply picked up where UNL left off in 1997. UNL will do fine in the Big 10. And by that I mean Iowa style fine. No more quick romps thru the Norte or old Big 2/Little 6 to get the one game playoff w/ OU/UT. Now ya'll have to earn it. Good luck recruiting all that Chicago talent ya'll are in line for after Notre Dame/tOSU/UofM/Ill/Wisky/Iowa. Works well for the Gophers.

Rock Chalk Jayhawk, Beat Mizzou

Partial qualifiers contributed at Nebraska but were not the reason why Nebraska won conference and national championships. When the rules changed in the Big 12, Nebraska simply went the Juco route like others were already doing. Tom Osborne's retirement from coaching along with Mack Brown and Bob Stoops hiring had everything to do with the change in power in the Big 12. No longer could Nebraska sign all-conference and all-American players from Oklahoma. The quality in recruits Nebraska could sign from Texas dropped off because of the resurgence of Texas and OU. The recruiting problems at Nebraska were compounded by having a HC who was extraordinary poor at it (and at being his own OC - but that's another story).

Nebraska will soon find out how competitive it will be in the Big Ten when it plays in Camp Randall this Saturday night. In my view, the Huskers have a stronger chance at playing in the Big Ten CCG (like they earned in the Big 12 the last two seasons) then becomming the "Kansas" of the Big Ten.

[Gaffords]

I had heard that the Big 12 was looking to renegotiate their Tier 1 rights with ESPN sooner rather than later and have the end of that deal coincide with the end of the tier 2 rights so they don't end up in this situation 10 years from now. Have you heard anything on that Ted?

Best way to trigger a rewrite of that contract and the new FOX contract is to jump to 14 teams...

There is chatter everywhere today about multiple teams joining...
http://www.footballrumormill.com/201...o-join-big-12/

http://forums.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=15...&t=8011338&p=1

I still think this is the end game:

Confusing as it is, conference shuffling still isn't finished
By ED STORIN
storapse@aol.com
Published Thursday, September 29, 2011
0 Comments
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Let's see now...

The Big Ten has 12 teams.

The Big 12 has 10 teams and will have nine when Texas A&M moves to the Southeastern Conference next fall. Word is they are sticking with the Big 12 name.

Confusing isn't it?

This is a product of conference realignment and it is only the tip of the iceberg. Geographical considerations have been tossed aside.

The Atlantic Coast Conference will expand from 12 to 14 teams starting next September when Syracuse and Pittsburgh jump from the Big East.

This will leave the Big East with only eight colleges who play football and jeopardizes its future as a conference for all sports.

There had been speculation that the Big East and Big 12 might merge if Oklahoma and Oklahoma State hopped over to the Pacific 12 (formerly the Pacific 10). But last week those two colleges said they would stay put. At least for awhile.

The root of this conference chaos is greed and money, of course. Television money to be specific. Even more specific: ESPN money.

Case in point: It's been no secret that the University of Texas is the straw that stirs the Big 12. It was that way when the Longhorns ruled over the Southwest Conference for so many years.

When ESPN agreed to operate the Longhorn Network, Texas got a windfall of at least $250 million over 20 years. This did not set well with longtime rival Texas A&M and other members of the Big 12 Conference.

In 2010, Nebraska jumped to the Big Ten and Colorado to the Pac-12. Then Texas A&M, Missouri, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State started to look around.

Texas A&M, which has lived in the shadow of Texas for 117 years, decided it had taken enough abuse and accepted an invitation to join the SEC. The Longhorns had pushed the Aggies too far when they formed their own TV network.

With the dysfunctional Big 12 about to fall apart, the board of directors finally decided it didn't want one school (Texas) driving the bus. Last week, they agreed in principle to turn over the TV rights for its best football and basketball games to the conference.

While still a bit fuzzy, it appears this six-year agreement, when signed, will prevent Texas from getting a larger cut of the TV money than the other eight members of the conference. No word on whether there will be any restrictions on the Texas Longhorn Network.

The Big East situation is in flux. It appears the University of Connecticut, a basketball powerhouse, is still very interested in becoming part of the ACC if it decides to expand to 16 teams.

Notre Dame may hold the key.

The Irish, whose basketball team plays in the Big East, have to be concerned about the future of the beleaguered conference. The ACC would love to bring Notre Dame into the fold.

If the Big East is dissolved, Notre Dame may be forced to rethink its long-held preference to stay independent in football. Should the powers in South Bend decide to change their minds, you can bet that every big conference will come courting.

I am told that there are special ties between UConn and Notre Dame, which might work in favor of the ACC.

And if the ACC goes to 16 teams you can bet other conferences will follow.

Who will be the first to call themselves The Big 16?

From Hilton Head's Island Packet

Knowing the way the Think Machines in the B12 work, if they can shake the ND loose, I would bank on the B12 being the first to jump to 16 and getting the party started.

[Gaffords]

Partial qualifiers contributed at Nebraska but were not the reason why Nebraska won conference and national championships. When the rules changed in the Big 12, Nebraska simply went the Juco route like others were already doing. Tom Osborne's retirement from coaching along with Mack Brown and Bob Stoops hiring had everything to do with the change in power in the Big 12. No longer could Nebraska sign all-conference and all-American players from Oklahoma. The quality in recruits Nebraska could sign from Texas dropped off because of the resurgence of Texas and OU. The recruiting problems at Nebraska were compounded by having a HC who was extraordinary poor at it (and at being his own OC - but that's another story).

Nebraska will soon find out how competitive it will be in the Big Ten when it plays in Camp Randall this Saturday night. In my view, the Huskers have a stronger chance at playing in the Big Ten CCG (like they earned in the Big 12 the last two seasons) then becomming the "Kansas" of the Big Ten.

100%... coaching has everything to do with it. That is TA&M's issue, until recently they have been mismanaged. ND has shown the same pattern.

[Viking]

Baylor 247 is reporting BYU to Big 12 is done deal and will be announced Saturday. Just hitting Twitter like crazy now. It's been out for a day now and Uncle Ted probably already posted it. The guys on OB don't think much of it because no news has ever been broken out of Baylor.

The Upset Blog is also saying now that BYU has agreed in principle with the Big 12.

Well, Baylor hasn't had Ken Starr for too long.

I'm making some calls that I've refrained myself from making...but don't expect me to post anything!

[byu71]

Well, Baylor hasn't had Ken Starr for too long.

I'm making some calls that I've refrained myself from making...but don't expect me to post anything!

OK, if you post anything, don't expect me to read it.

[dabrockster]

Uggghhh... Kansas to the ACC? It's only one report, but I think that would be the end.

http://gregswaim.com/2011/09/realignmentbuzz/

Hey Big 12.. Knock it the fuck off!!!!

[TheBYUGuy]

Best way to trigger a rewrite of that contract and the new FOX contract is to jump to 14 teams...

There is chatter everywhere today about multiple teams joining...
http://www.footballrumormill.com/201...o-join-big-12/

http://forums.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=15...&t=8011338&p=1

I still think this is the end game:



Knowing the way the Think Machines in the B12 work, if they can shake the ND loose, I would bank on the B12 being the first to jump to 16 and getting the party started.

I'm pretty sure the Big 12 holds the rights to the "Big 14" and "Big 16" names, FWIW.

[Viking]

OK, if you post anything, don't expect me to read it.

Ha! I'm trying to make a point...no "real" person gets firsthand information and then posts it on a message board. Secondhand/thirdhand? Sure (and that's my Texas connection).

So that's why I think the CB knuckleheads are so full of shit...and why I won't be posting anything here on it, but I'm making the call, baby!

[Scorcho]

... I'm making the call, baby!

tell Mom Hi!

[Paperback Writer]

I laugh at the idea that A&M thinks they are going to get better Texas recruiting out of this. Let's say that in the past, UT was getting 70% of the top-flight Texas talent and A&M was getting 30% (I don't know how close those numbers are, but it's my SWAG, and I realize it leaves out OU and others). Now that A&M opens the Texas floodgates to LSU, Alabama, Arkansas, et al, how do they think they're going to clear the 30% they've been getting?

Because in order to play in the SEC until now, a Texas prep player has had to leave the state. LSU and Alabama are already recruting Texas hard and there are players that want to play in what they perceive as the best football conference right now - the SEC. With Texas A&M in the SEC, they don't have to leave the state. And when the Aggies are competing with the Longhorns and Sooners for a Texas blue-chip recruit, the Aggies can tout that they have LSU, Alabama, Auburn, and Tennessee (or Florida) on the conference schedule while the Longhorns and Sooners only have each other.

[Jarid in Cedar]

Because in order to play in the SEC until now, a Texas prep player has had to leave the state. LSU and Alabama are already recruting Texas hard and there are players that want to play in what they perceive as the best football conference right now - the SEC. With Texas A&M in the SEC, they don't have to leave the state. And when the Aggies are competing with the Longhorns and Sooners for a Texas blue-chip recruit, the Aggies can tout that they have LSU, Alabama, Auburn, and Tennessee (or Florida) on the conference schedule while the Longhorns and Sooners only have each other.

I think the bigger issue is that lsu, bama, and Florida are going to be able to tell a recruit "hey we will be playing in your state at least twice during your career". The Sec is wise to let aTm in their conference

[Surfah]

I think the bigger issue is that lsu, bama, and Florida are going to be able to tell a recruit "hey we will be playing in your state at least twice during your career". The Sec is wise to let aTm in their conference

Exactly.

[TheBYUGuy]

Because in order to play in the SEC until now, a Texas prep player has had to leave the state. LSU and Alabama are already recruting Texas hard and there are players that want to play in what they perceive as the best football conference right now - the SEC. With Texas A&M in the SEC, they don't have to leave the state. And when the Aggies are competing with the Longhorns and Sooners for a Texas blue-chip recruit, the Aggies can tout that they have LSU, Alabama, Auburn, and Tennessee (or Florida) on the conference schedule while the Longhorns and Sooners only have each other.

Yes, but now you also have the other side of the same coin. LSU, Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee, Arkansas, and the rest can go into Texas and say, "Hey we know you want to be able to play in front of your friends and family. You can come play for a superior program, and we'll make it to College Station to play in front of your family. Best of both worlds."

I don't see TAMU out-recruiting UT anytime soon. The SEC will probably get more Texas kids now and the effect will be the Texas recruiting pie split more ways. The pie hasn't grown, so both UT and A&M will have to share more.

[TheBYUGuy]

I think the bigger issue is that lsu, bama, and Florida are going to be able to tell a recruit "hey we will be playing in your state at least twice during your career". The Sec is wise to let aTm in their conference

Precisely. Texas recruiting is easily the #1 reason that TAMU even gets a second look by the SEC.

[mUUser]

I think the bigger issue is that lsu, bama, and Florida are going to be able to tell a recruit "hey we will be playing in your state at least twice during your career". The Sec is wise to let aTm in their conference

[Native] Texans tend to have an unabashed love of all things Texas. Now that they can stay in Texas AND play in the SEC?....well, I give the edge to more Texans staying home.