OKCBuff
Well-Known Member
and why is everyone so sure that the b10 wants mizzery so badly? what if they could get the fuskers instead? wouldn't that be better for them as a conference? hell, the fuskers have to be thinking they need to look around if ut and CU and mizzery are all thinking of bolting.
i hope the b10 "superconference" rumors aren't going to come to pass... if they go to 14 or 16 teams, then the whole world of college football is going to be completely remodeled. you'd have to think the p10 would want to go to 16 in that case too. i think the b12 would cease to exist, basically, replaced by some strange middle-american 16 team superconference.
Here's my outside-the-box take: After everything I've read today, I think the Big 12 will either cease to exist or be VERY different (with a lower profile) within five years.
In my "end of the Big 12" scenario, here's what I see:
-- Big 10, for various reasons, steals FOUR Big 12 teams to go to 15: Texas (huge name, power, TVs), A&M (has to take, but makes life easier for UT and they wouldn't be an island in the Big 10), Mizzou (expand geographic footprint, add TVs/markets, already quasi Big-10 mindset) and KU (partner for Mizzou, amazing hoops legacy). Those four would go into an eight-team division with Iowa, Minnesota, Northwestern and Wisconsin. Ultimately, the other three would come along to keep Texas from being so remote in the league. Taking three more teams is worth it for the Big 10 if they get UT. Realizing they need one more for an even 16, they add Pitt, as that's an easy choice and rounds things out. The Big 10 does this because they need a huge shakeup and want to be seen as a power player again. Mission accomplished.
-- The Pac 10adds CU and Utah to get to 12. They make plans for two-four more west teams down the line, but have enough for 12 and a title game, so it's all good.
-- The SEC, not wanting to be outdone, takes Oklahoma and Oklahoma State as a pair. This helps tie Arkansas in more and delivers a huge program in the Sooners and a decent program in the Pokes. (They could also take FSU/Clemson/Ga. Tech to make a 16-team, 8-division SEC. That would add schools on both sides and create a quasi confederate situation.)
That brings the Big 12 down to five teams: Nebraska, Iowa State, Kansas State, Texas Tech and Baylor. Of those, NU is the only team of any consequence or stature. With its automatic bid on the line, the Big 12 scrambles and invites Colorado State, Air Force, New Mexico, BYU, Wyoming, TCU and Houston. That gives them four Texas schools again and back to 12, though it will be lumped in with the Big East as a "weak sister" BCS conference. (Divisions of: NU, ISU, KSU, CSU, BYU, Wyoming and Tech, Baylor, UNM, TCU, Air Force and Houston.)
OR...
Those five remaining teams scatter somehow and the Big 12 dies. I could see Tech and Baylor in CUSA, as many old SWC teams are there, as is Tulsa, La. Tech and UTEP. K-State could go to what's left of the MWC, though I think both they and ISU would be doomed to being left out in the cold entirely. As for Nebraska, maybe the MAC? Or they get desperate and try to be a member of the Pac.
Anyway, for more than half of the teams in the current Big 12, I can see them heading to a conference just as powerful and safe. If UT and CU go, I think the Big 12 is doomed. Those are two anchor conferences you couldn't replace well.