The Big 12 expansion groundswell

[Uncle Ted]

#2 doesn't get you crap. Texas-TT is more akin to BYU-USU or Utah-USU than it is to BYU-Utah (to use comparisons Utahns will identify with). It's a big game, sure, but put it head to head with the SEC, ACC, Big 10 or even freakin' Sun Belt championship and it loses outside of TX.

The SEC, ACC, and, in 2011/12, the Big Ten (and Pac-10+2) will be having their conference championship games on that Saturday. In fact, I believe the only BCS conference in 2011/12 that won't have a conference championship game is the Big East assuming that the Big 12 expands back to 12 and the Big East stays the same. In addition, most conference commissioners don't like the idea of even a "plus-one game" ( see [ame="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=3375723"]Current BCS system a hit with most conference commissioners - College Football - ESPN[/ame] ).

I guess another option for the Big 12 that should be mentioned for completeness is getting the NCAA to make an exception so they can have a conference championship game with only 10 teams. Of course, that is not going to happen. In fact, I don't see the NCAA making even a temporary exception for the Big 12. Of course, the Big 12 may have some Jedi mind tricking powers over the NCAA that we don't know about.

[USUC]

The SEC, ACC, and, in 2011/12, the Big Ten (and Pac-10+2) will be having their conference championship games on that Saturday. In fact, I believe the only BCS conference in 2011/12 that won't have a conference championship game is the Big East assuming that the Big 12 expands back to 12 and the Big East stays the same. In addition, most conference commissioners don't like the idea of even a "plus-one game" ( see Current BCS system a hit with most conference commissioners - College Football - ESPN ).

I guess another option for the Big 12 that should be mentioned for completeness is getting the NCAA to make an exception so they can have a conference championship game with only 10 teams. Of course, that is not going to happen. In fact, I don't see the NCAA making even a temporary exception for the Big 12. Of course, the Big 12 may have some Jedi mind tricking powers over the NCAA that we don't know about.

I just don't see a point in playing a championship game in a ten team conference. If they do a round robin schedule, they will have to face the same team again. If they stick to an 8 game conference schedule, chances are the teams have already met. Sometimes its hard enough to beat a team once. Why give them another shot at you? It just doesn't make any sense to me.

[All-American]

I just don't see a point in playing a championship game in a ten team conference. If they do a round robin schedule, they will have to face the same team again. If they stick to an 8 game conference schedule, chances are the teams have already met. Sometimes its hard enough to beat a team once. Why give them another shot at you? It just doesn't make any sense to me.

It makes more money than sense.

[Uncle Ted]

It makes more money than sense.

The NCAA isn't going to let the big 12 have a conference championship game without 12 teams. If the PAC-10 and the Big ten could have had a championship game with only ten teams they would have most likely not expanded.

[statman]

The NCAA isn't going to let the big 12 have a conference championship game without 12 teams. If the PAC-10 and the Big ten could have had a championship game with only ten teams they would have most likely not expanded.

They DEFINITELY would not have expanded. It was all about the championship game - more than a BCS game payout for the league. And it's absolutely why the Big XII HAS TO expand back to 12. They can't give up that revenue.

I talked with a guy who has definite rock-solid insider connections at BYU. His comment was (paraphrasing) "I can neither confirm nor deny (that BYU will go to the Big XII), but as Holmoe said, the future looks very bright and I am very optimistic."

It sounded like talking points that The People Who Know (big donors, others "close to the program") have been told exactly what to say to those of us who don't. I've gotten other insider stuff from him before (confirmation/denial of rumors heard here and there, back to the Crowton era), but not today. Just a canned ambiguous statement very similar to Holmoe's. But he was clearly happy to be talking about it, even if he was cryptic...

He convinced me. At this point, I'd be surprised (and greatly disappointed) if the 2010 season starts and BYU hasn't been invited to join the Big XII in 2011.

[myboynoah]

They DEFINITELY would not have expanded. It was all about the championship game - more than a BCS game payout for the league. And it's absolutely why the Big XII HAS TO expand back to 12. They can't give up that revenue.

I talked with a guy who has definite rock-solid insider connections at BYU. His comment was (paraphrasing) "I can neither confirm nor deny (that BYU will go to the Big XII), but as Holmoe said, the future looks very bright and I am very optimistic."

It sounded like talking points that The People Who Know (big donors, others "close to the program") have been told exactly what to say to those of us who don't. I've gotten other insider stuff from him before (confirmation/denial of rumors heard here and there, back to the Crowton era), but not today. Just a canned ambiguous statement very similar to Holmoe's. But he was clearly happy to be talking about it, even if he was cryptic...

He convinced me. At this point, I'd be surprised (and greatly disappointed) if the 2010 season starts and BYU hasn't been invited to join the Big XII in 2011.

The culture at BYU is producing a bunch of automotons.

[myboynoah]

Crap! Is nothing going to go our way? Is LA correct and we are paying some kind of karmic price for all that RUTS in our past? Oh why, why, why?

[ame="http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/ncf/news/story?id=5341756"]Texas Tech football coach Tommy Tuberville skeptical about 10-team Big 12's future - ESPN Dallas[/ame]

[statman]

The culture at BYU is producing a bunch of automotons.

Insiders have been told that if they leak what they know, they'll lose their access to information - regardless of who they work for or how much they donate. This was the most he ever said about the subject. Prior inquiries were met with "I really don't know anything about it."

[LA Ute]

Crap! Is nothing going to go our way? Is LA correct and we are paying some kind of karmic price for all that RUTS in our past?

Here's a karma symbol to hold in your head. Maybe it'll help:



There are some people who think the Texas A&M Holiday Bowl evened out a lot of BYU's RUTS karma. So there's additional reason for hope.

[LiveCoug]

Here's a karma symbol to hold in your head. Maybe it'll help:



There are some people who think the Texas A&M Holiday Bowl evened out a lot of BYU's RUTS karma. So there's additional reason for hope.

So if there is bad karma for teams RUTS, then why did Whit's team get rewarded? Hmmmmm?

[LA Ute]

So if there is bad karma for teams RUTS, then why did Whit's team get rewarded? Hmmmmm?

I think that was the reason for the magic that happened for BYU.

[LiveCoug]

I think that was the reason for the magic that happened for BYU.

Ahh... that makes sense.

In that case, BYU should be good too thanks to beatdowns from BSU, CSU, UU, FSU and TCU. Whew, we're good. Big 12 is still on!

[Moliere]

Crap! Is nothing going to go our way? Is LA correct and we are paying some kind of karmic price for all that RUTS in our past? Oh why, why, why?

Texas Tech football coach Tommy Tuberville skeptical about 10-team Big 12's future - ESPN Dallas

Tommy hasn't coached a down yet for any Big 12 team so why would he know?

The Big 12 will stay together as long as Texas wants it to stay together. Even aTm had an SEC offer and didn't take it so they could stay in the Big 12 with Texas. It's a better football and basketball conference than the PAC and Texas (the state) is a growing economy while California is in dire trouble financially. The future is bright for Texas and the Big 12.

[LA Ute]

Ahh... that makes sense.

In that case, BYU should be good too thanks to beatdowns from BSU, CSU, UU, FSU and TCU. Whew, we're good. Big 12 is still on!

You may be right. BYU has suffered enough.

[Bengal Cougar]

You can all mock me if I am wrong but here is what I think will happen.

BYU gets invited to the Big 12 in August some time, if it does not happen independence is a legit option. If they choose to stay in the MWC BYU would demand a reworking of the mtn contract.

Flame away.