this may play out alright (or not)...

[Liver]

if ou and atm defect to the sec, then what does the pac do? and what does ut do?

if ou can go to the sec without okie state, then okie state is probably screwed. i don't see them in the p10 without ou.

then, ut is left with some hard ass choices. at that point, i really don't see them going to the sec, unless they bump atm out of the sec and just go in with ou. but, assuming ut doesn't want to be in the sec (and i really don't think that they do want to go that way), then they have to decide between being the huge dog in whatever is left of the b12 or go to either the b10 or the pac. they ain't going to the b10, imho, and i am not even sure the b10 would still offer them now.

so, assuming ut doesn't go to the sec, then i doubt they try to salvage the b12. no one is left other than them to build a money-maker out of. maybe they do it and launch their own network and try the notre dame model to some extent, but i doubt that too.

i think if atm and ou DO go to the sec, ut will go to the p10. then, what becomes of tech and okie state? well, like i said, i think okie state is just screwed. will ut go to the mat with the p10 for tech? i dunno. maybe if the pac decides to pair tt and ut and then pair CU with utah to make 14 teams... but, i don't think that's how it would go...

best guess? presuming the atm/ou stories to the sec are accurate, i think ut goes to the pac, is paired with CU, and the pac stops at 12. for now. this would map also to the b10 stopping at 12. for now.

crazy times.

 

[Dark Bohner]

Hard to say. I think UT to Pac is about 90% guaranteed, they just don't see themselves as SEC types and don't want to play cold weather games. I think in the end, 4 South members come, minus aTm, knowing they will have their own pod. Utah gets picked up and we have the 16 team super conference. I think Scott and the Pac 10 have every intention of making the Pac 10 the most powerful and profitable football conference in the country.

 

[InTheBuff]

the SEC wants OU but I haven't seen anywhere that OU wants to be there....

 

[UrbanaBuff]

If OSU and TT are left standing at the altar, that will give the old Big XII teams much more leverage since they will keep 7 teams. Then THEY will be the ones raiding the MWC and C-USA, not the other way around.

You would have Mizzou, KU, Okie St, K-State, TTech, ISU and Baylor... and add BYU, TCU, Memphis, Boise St and Houston. This assumes Utah goes to the Pac. That's a pretty strong 12 right there, especially in hoops.

 

[Buffnik]

If UT will say yes, then they are a no-brainer. The Pac should immediately go to 12.

And I think that the Pac needs to focus on Texas and the West, not the midwest, for expanding beyond that.

Only expand to 16 if the NCAA says you need that many to stage a semi-final round for determining a conference champion in football.

If that comes to pass, find the next 4 from the group of: Boise State, Hawaii, New Mexico, San Diego State, Texas Tech, UNLV, Utah.

My choice would be Texas Tech, Utah, New Mexico and UNLV. That fills the western states map and positions the PAC for the long-term since those are all universities located in significant growth areas and secure additional Top 50 media markets (#31 Salt Lake City, #42 Las Vegas, #44 Albuquerque-Santa Fe, and a stronger position in Texas markets).

 

[DesertDawg526]

If UT will say yes, then they are a no-brainer. The Pac should immediately go to 12.

And I think that the Pac needs to focus on Texas and the West, not the midwest, for expanding beyond that.

Only expand to 16 if the NCAA says you need that many to stage a semi-final round for determining a conference champion in football.

If that comes to pass, find the next 4 from the group of: Boise State, Hawaii, New Mexico, San Diego State, Texas Tech, UNLV, Utah.

My choice would be Texas Tech, Utah, New Mexico and UNLV. That fills the western states map and positions the PAC for the long-term since those are all universities located in significant growth areas and secure additional Top 50 media markets (#31 Salt Lake City, #42 Las Vegas, #44 Albuquerque-Santa Fe, and a stronger position in Texas markets).

When Boise State's academics improvement 10-fold to the level of say.... KSU or Nebraska. Then.... maybe (won't be in the next decade though)

Hawaii? -- Don't give those beefy linemen a reason to stay home.

New Mexico? -- I can see it based on growth potential and geography.

SDSU? -- low on the list

TT? -- only if we have to

UNLV -- academic concerns, only if we have to

Utah -- absolutely if we can separate them from BYU

The problem with expansion to 16 is to keep academics somewhat at the forefront. Most of the above schools don't do that. It's why if we go to 16 I'd love to add Kansas to the mix. AAU school and a Top 5 all-time BB programl