The Big 12 expansion groundswell

[DapperDan]

From a practical perspective, the Domers can't afford to hold out much longer. How many BCS bowls have they played in the past several years? How many has UConn played in? Or Utah, for that matter.

Being in a conference seems to be the easier path for the Irish, even with Notre Dames favorable BCS qualification clause.

Notre Dame played in BCS bowls in the 2000, 2005 & 2006 seasons. Only the 2006 season was an AQ bid. Seems all they need to do is be ranked near the top 10 and they're in. They were ranked 11th in both 2000 & 2005.

[BemidjiCoug]

A practical offerring could look something like this:

Domer Division:

Mizzou
Kansas
Kst
Iowst
ND
Houston

Bevo Division:

Okst
Okla
Tex
Ttech
Bayor
byu

The Domer divisions gets a game in houston every other year. Or convince TCU to stay and move Iowast to the Bevo and put TCU in Domer (Removing byu for TCU). That guarantees a game in Texas for Every team in the conference.

Switch BYU with Houston and it would be much more realistic. If Houston went to the BIG 12 it would be playing the Texas schools every year. I know the Utes would love to see BYU get stuck in the division with the toughest teams and be bottom dwellers like the Utes are going to be, but if BYU ever does become part of the BIG 12 look for it to be added to the North not the South.

[LA Ute]

Switch BYU with Houston and it would be much more realistic. If Houston went to the BIG 12 it would be playing the Texas schools every year. I know the Utes would love to see BYU get stuck in the division with the toughest teams and be bottom dwellers like the Utes are going to be, but if BYU ever does become part of the BIG 12 look for it to be added to the North not the South.

But BYU is undefeated against Oklahoma and Texas!

[TripletDaddy]

I thought that last year before Nebraska joined the Big Ten - Notre Dame needs to be in a conference - more money and an easier path. Apparently, the Irish relish their football independence. The problem with the Big 12 is that if the Irish do join a conference, I think it will be the Big Ten. And Missouri is sure to follow if they are invited.

There was a recent article this past week in USA Hoy about the TLN and its potential. I was shocked to find out that Notre Dame games on NBC are drawing a measly 2 points, far below that of normal Saturday matchups on national TV.

Their football TV contract has not been the most lucrative for awhile now. In fact, SEC, Big 10, and now PAC teams are all probably making more than the Irish. And when NDs contract runs out in a few years, their abysmal ratings and on-field performance aren't going to help their payday.

Not sure what they are clinging to anymore, truthfully.

[DapperDan]

Texas Tech president claims the PAC-12 won't come a calling this time and thinks the Big 12 needs to get off its ass.

Texas Tech president Guy Bailey said Texas Tech's best option in the pending conference realignment situation is to remain a part of the Big 12 Monday during an interview with Fox Talk in the Morning on KJTV 950 AM in Lubbock.

Part of the reason, but not the primary reason, is the fact the Pac-12 probably won't come for the Texas schools in this round of conference realignment.

"Here's the deal, what the Pac-12 offered last year, and I think they would be open to this year, is a package deal," Bailey told the radio show. "You'd have to have four schools and Texas is the cornerstone to that. Remember, the issue last year came down to the Longhorn Network. The University of Texas wanted its own network for tertiary rights and the Pac-12 doesn't allow that. We can cut that out right there. I don't foresee that happening."

Bailey also said he expects Texas A&M to ultimately leave for the Southeastern Conference and the best option for the remaining nine Big 12 teams is to add at least one more member.

"If A&M leaves, we're going to use this opportunity to build one of the strongest conferences in the United States," Bailey said. "What we'll do, we're going to be very aggressive in recruiting schools and I don't know how many we're eventually going to recruit, we'll need to work with FOX and our other media partners in doing this.

"In the past we've sort of been reactive, I think the nine remaining members of the Big 12 have decided that the reactive behavior - it's time to get rid of that. It's time to be proactive and I think you'll see a very proactive approach... I think you ought to think of conference realignment with the Big 12 being one of the cornerstones."

http://collegesportsblog.dallasnews....-no-pac-1.html

[Color Me Badd Fan]

I was just about to post that.

I wonder how much Jimmer elevated BYU in the eyes of these people. This go-around, I haven't really heard from anyone that BYU wouldn't be a good addition. Some are saying that BYU would be a real asset to the conference.

BYU has had the fanbase and facilities to fit in for a few years now, but Jimmer was quite possibly the biggest college basketball star (not best player, mind you) of the past several years (decade?) and I'm wondering if that changed perceptions.

[TripletDaddy]

Sounds like it will be a bidding war between the B12 and the SEC over BYU

[Blueintheface]

Sounds like it will be a bidding war between the B12 and the SEC over BYU

Summon Hot Lunch. It think this is the emoticon to summon him:

[Mormon Red Death]

Switch BYU with Houston and it would be much more realistic. If Houston went to the BIG 12 it would be playing the Texas schools every year. I know the Utes would love to see BYU get stuck in the division with the toughest teams and be bottom dwellers like the Utes are going to be, but if BYU ever does become part of the BIG 12 look for it to be added to the North not the South.

I only put Houston in the North so the North schools could go to Texas every other year for recruiting purposes. If not why would the North Schools want Notre Dame and a 5 conference game schedule?

[Color Me Badd Fan]

There was a recent article this past week in USA Hoy about the TLN and its potential. I was shocked to find out that Notre Dame games on NBC are drawing a measly 2 points, far below that of normal Saturday matchups on national TV.

Their football TV contract has not been the most lucrative for awhile now. In fact, SEC, Big 10, and now PAC teams are all probably making more than the Irish. And when NDs contract runs out in a few years, their abysmal ratings and on-field performance aren't going to help their payday.

Not sure what they are clinging to anymore, truthfully.

The Big 12 can offer ND three things the Big 10 can't offer: 1) An affiliation with teams (and games) from the best recruiting grounds in the country; 2) Freedom to pursue their own television network/deal; 3) Allow ND to keep many of its annual games.

The most important thing for ND is to establish recruiting pipelines in Texas. Therefore, adding another Texas team will be important because it will just give an ND another game in Texas every other year. The question is whether it's more important to add Houston or TCU -- does Houston or Dallas bring more recruiting juice to the table? From a competitive standpoint, TCU would be the better addition.

The Big 12 has to shore things up and I think it's simply a matter of when and not if. ND would be a major coup, but there are some advantages for ND. And, IMO, with ND, Texas and OU on board, the Big 12 is no longer a sinking ship. Apparently in the minds of some, BYU would also be a major asset. When all is said and done, a Big 12 North with ND and BYU would actually stronger than the old Big 12 North with Nebraska and Colorado.

[San Juan Sun]

I <heart> this thread. Everytime I log-in and see a new post, I get a burning in my bosom.

Since we're dreaming here, I'd love to see this Big-12:

Privates
Notre Dame
BYU
TCU
Iowa State
Mizzou
Kansas


Publics
Texas
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Texas Tech
Baylor
Kansas State


Each team plays their division, plus 2 games with the other via a round robin format. Special rivalries/requests between divisions may continue on a yearly basis (Kansas/KSU, BYU/OU ).

This leaves 5 games for OOC. ND can still play USC, Stanford, Michigan, an academy, BC, etc. BYU can still play Utah, Utah State, Hawaii, plus our ESPN brokered games.

Each division has 3-4 decent-to-good football programs. Would be a fun league to watch.

[falafel]

Iowa State, Mizzou and Kansas are private universities?

[Babs]

Iowa State, Mizzou and Kansas are private universities?

And Baylor is public.

[Donuthole]

Iowa State, Mizzou and Kansas are private universities?

And Baylor is public.

I think he meant "Privates" and "Pubics", guys. Cut him some slack.

[falafel]

I think he meant "Privates" and "Pubics", guys. Cut him some slack.

I would still put Baylor in the privates group, since they share our strict christian moral standards.