The Big 12 expansion groundswell

[Jeff Lebowski]

Unfortunately it's probably time to accept the inevitable with Utah.

I am bracing for the worst.

[BlueK]

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Just say no, Utah. You need to wait for the B1G. Listen to SU -- You're too good for us.

[LiveCoug]

This thread will either become the largest one of all time on Cuf, or stand as a silent rebuke and mockery of BYU fans' most fervent hopes and dreams.

This post from the front page was a SUish!

[Jeff Lebowski]

This post from the front page was a SUish!

One tiny consolation of seeing Utah in the B12 would be SU's reaction. Ditto for that idiot TJ Altimore.

[myboynoah]

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[BlueK]

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Here we go.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Please do the right thing, BY. Make a single offer to Arizona only. Take it or leave it. ASU and Utah have zero other options and no leverage whatsoever. There is no reason to add them quickly. They will still be there in a few months, more desperate than ever. Let's see what shakes out with the B1G, Oregon, Washington, etc. Pretty please.

[myboynoah]

Some say there is only one more full share spot left. Others seem to suggest that there are three left. If the XII can get both AZ schools, then I think it should take them. Then take its time on #16. Let's see what shakes out from the ACC. Could maybe even get GT. That would be cool. As you note, uofutah isn't going anywhere.

[Pelado]

Please do the right thing, BY. Make a single offer to Arizona only. Take it or leave it. ASU and Utah have zero other options and no leverage whatsoever. There is no reason to add them quickly. They will still be there in a few months, more desperate than ever. Let's see what shakes out with the B1G, Oregon, Washington, etc. Pretty please.

The Arizona Board of Regents has authority over both Arizona and Arizona State. It seems unlikely they'd let one of them go and require the other to languish. I know Arizona's president has previously said that there was no requirement that they stick together, but I would think the Board is not going to want either school to be stuck in the PAC.

Some say there is only one more full share spot left. Others seem to suggest that there are three left. If the XII can get both AZ schools, then I think it should take them. Then take its time on #16. Let's see what shakes out from the ACC. Could maybe even get GT. That would be cool. As you note, uofutah isn't going anywhere.

Lebowski previously posted that the pro-rata increases in the Big 12's contract with ESPN only apply to the first four additions (Colorado + 3 others). Fox's contract doesn't include any pro-rata increases, but it's been reported that they've approved pro-rata increases for the first two additions (Colorado + 1 other).

I saw a report earlier today - maybe from Wetzel? - that ESPN would prefer the Big 12 only add one more school and that the Big 12 would like to keep their media partner happy.

[Jeff Lebowski]

The Arizona Board of Regents has authority over both Arizona and Arizona State. It seems unlikely they'd let one of them go and require the other to languish. I know Arizona's president has previously said that there was no requirement that they stick together, but I would think the Board is not going to want either school to be stuck in the PAC.

When has a BOR ever forced two schools to stay together? There were a ton of threats and bluster when UCLA left Cal behind, but ultimately the California BOR caved. If the B12 says, "Sorry, only one offer on the table for now" and both schools are looking death in the face, they are going to let AZ go. It all depends on how the B12 handles this.

[Moliere]

Unfortunately it's probably time to accept the inevitable with Utah.

My preference is for the Big12 to string Utah fans out long enough that they all finally admit they were wrong about their position in the college football landscape and that they are no better than Texas Tech and then the Big12 decides not to add them and they end up back in the MWC.

[Jeff Lebowski]

When has a BOR ever forced two schools to stay together? There were a ton of threats and bluster when UCLA left Cal behind, but ultimately the California BOR caved. If the B12 says, "Sorry, only one offer on the table for now" and both schools are looking death in the face, they are going to let AZ go. It all depends on how the B12 handles this.

Let me put this another way. Suppose you are on the Titanic with your two kids and someone says, "We can take this kid, but not the other". Do you turn that down and let them both die? Of course not.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Some say there is only one more full share spot left. Others seem to suggest that there are three left. If the XII can get both AZ schools, then I think it should take them. Then take its time on #16. Let's see what shakes out from the ACC. Could maybe even get GT. That would be cool. As you note, uofutah isn't going anywhere.

Why would you take both? AZ makes a ton of sense because of basketball. I can't think of any strategic reason to use up a slot with ASU. There aren't going anywhere. They have less options than Utah.

[myboynoah]

The Arizona Board of Regents has authority over both Arizona and Arizona State. It seems unlikely they'd let one of them go and require the other to languish. I know Arizona's president has previously said that there was no requirement that they stick together, but I would think the Board is not going to want either school to be stuck in the PAC.



Lebowski previously posted that the pro-rata increases in the Big 12's contract with ESPN only apply to the first four additions (Colorado + 3 others). Fox's contract doesn't include any pro-rata increases, but it's been reported that they've approved pro-rata increases for the first two additions (Colorado + 1 other).

I saw a report earlier today - maybe from Wetzel? - that ESPN would prefer the Big 12 only add one more school and that the Big 12 would like to keep their media partner happy.

Yeah, I've seen all that and wonder how much is fact, and if fact, has it changed since it was reported? I don't understand why the BOR would meet to discuss both schools if it is only going to approve one of them. But I guess there could be an explanation.

Also, the situation surrounding pro-rata increases could have changed as the environment has evolved.

This round of realignment has been very fluid.

[Pelado]

When has a BOR ever forced two schools to stay together? There were a ton of threats and bluster when UCLA left Cal behind, but ultimately the California BOR caved. If the B12 says, "Sorry, only one offer on the table for now" and both schools are looking death in the face, they are going to let AZ go. It all depends on how the B12 handles this.

My expectation right now is that both Arizona and ASU will get into the Big 12. If Fox doesn't agree to a pro-rata increase for both, then one or both of them will have to come in at a reduced rate.

Why would you take both? AZ makes a ton of sense because of basketball. I can't think of any strategic reason to use up a slot with ASU. There aren't going anywhere. They have less options than Utah.

I believe it was All-American who taught me that the appropriate word to use here is "fewer".

That said, if you had a choice between only one of the following, which would you add to the Big 12:

- Both Arizona and Arizona State
- UConn
- Utah