*****The Super, Mega, Huge Big 12 Expansion Thread*****

[HFCS]

Yep. And I just found out from Reddit this weekend Louisville basketball is insanely profitable.



Source.

Would be an easy 14 pick in my mind.

Louisville's football attendance, stadium capacity and overall athletic budget are way higher than people perceive. Their football upside absolutely crushes most of the other "basketball" schools out there.

I'm not saying we go to 11 just to add them, but it's stupid to sit at 13 if they could be 14. I could see if 2 or 4 acc teams are a better way though.

[megamanxzero35]

Here's my first shot at a Big 14 divisional split... North/South



Would have protected crossover rivalries as well, to keep Bedlam.

I don't think that would work because you would put all 3 national brands in one division. FSU, UT, and OU.

Even my map of 16 from yesterday had some problems.

OU and UT in one division and FSU in the other. Split the Texas school into sets of 2. Other schools I don't know how they would slit.

[southernfriedCY]

That makes more sense than what this guy is saying. Stopping at 13 like the guy suggests with Louisville being "out" doesn't make any sense.

I think Louisville is a better add than Pitt. Program on the rise versus a program in decline. Their athletic budget and attendance in all sports is higher, top dog in a medium size city where Pitt is an afterthought to pro sports in a not much bigger market. Much better geographic fit. Much more realistic that Louisville football can dominate UK than Pitt football will ever be significant again vs. Steelers and PSU.

I agree with either VT or UVA being a massive score if we have Clemson/FSU/GT.

I don't think he's suggesting that we stop at 13. What he's saying is that the contract escalator clause doesn't kick in until we expand beyond 12. And who those candidates are will be determined by ESPN/Fox based on revenue producing value, not where they are located. Think "electronic footprint".

[BloodyBuddy]

Here is the split I like (With Crossover Rival):

KSU-KU
ISU-WVA
OSU-OU
FSU-Texas
GTech-Clemson
TCU-Baylor
TTech-Lousiville/VTech/Pitt...Ect

[Al_4_State]

Here is the split I like (With Crossover Rival):

KSU-KU
ISU-WVA
OSU-OU
FSU-Texas
GTech-Clemson
TCU-Baylor
TTech-Lousiville/VTech/Pitt...Ect

Having OU, UT and WVU in one division is too much.

I'd swap WVU and GA Tech.

[megamanxzero35]

Here is the split I like (With Crossover Rival):

KSU-KU
ISU-WVA
OSU-OU
FSU-Texas
GTech-Clemson
TCU-Baylor
TTech-Lousiville/VTech/Pitt...Ect

Give Tech to Texas.
Florida State gets Clemson as they could drive there.
GT gets the 14 school.

More regional. SWC rivalries kept.

[AlumfromAmes]

If ACC football teams start to jump to the Big XII, then the Big Ten and SEC will feel pressure to expand. Especially true if Big XII goes for all it can.

SEC will want VTech and one other from ACC. They'd be the first to 16, unless the Big XII can beat them to it. Personally, I'd love to see the race to 16 between the Big XII and SEC. Let the Big Ten and PAC 12 pick through the leftovers.

[CyFan61]

I like some sort of geographic divisional balance, but maybe we are past those days. I really thought the Big 10 should have done a straight East/West divisional split.

[BloodyBuddy]

Give Tech to Texas.
Florida State gets Clemson as they could drive there.
GT gets the 14 school.

More regional. SWC rivalries kept.

Sounds good, but I think the whole pointe of getting FSU is so they can play Texas every year.

[BloodyBuddy]

12 Works alot better than 14 for the split, you could go with the Old Big 8 vs the other, Or you could do 4 pods of 3 geographically. Problem with pods is OU/OSU/Tex pod is too stacked, and ISU/KU/KSU pod is too weak (Good for us though).

OU-Tex
OSU-FSU
ISU-TTech
KU-WVU
KSU-Baylor
TCU-Clemson

[CyFan61]

12 Works alot better than 14 for the split, you could go with the Old Big 8 vs the other, Or you could do 4 pods of 3 geographically. Problem with pods is OU/OSU/Tex pod is too stacked, and ISU/KU/KSU pod is too weak (Good for us though).

OU-Tex
OSU-FSU
ISU-TTech
KU-WVU
KSU-Baylor
TCU-Clemson

I was under the impression that OU and UT had no interest in being in separate divisions. I have a hard time seeing that happen if both of them are unified against it

[southernfriedCY]

I was under the impression that OU and UT had no interest in being in separate divisions. I have a hard time seeing that happen if both of them are unified against it

Not the case anymore. With the FSU/Clem talks, they're considering all options now.

[Wesley]

Penny Wise and Pound Foolish: Rumors of Florida State and the Big 12 « FRANK THE TANK'S SLANT

Same old weak arguments we used last year when we were in the wringer. If four big conferences is the way it goes, B12 and ACC will be fighting each other for the fourth spot.

[Boxerdaddy]

Not the case anymore. With the FSU/Clem talks, they're considering all options now.

This is your opinion of course....

My opinion is they will be fine with a split...AS LONG as they get to play Texas NO MATTER what EVERY year. So if there is some sort of protected rivalry game...they'll be on board. If not...no way.

[CYphyllis]

Yep. And I just found out from Reddit this weekend Louisville basketball is insanely profitable.



Source.

Would be an easy 14 pick in my mind.

First off, athletic department accounting is open for interpretation. Things are added and subtracted from the bottom line to make a school seem more popular then they really are (see: Mizzou).

Let's say that amount is dead on, to the penny on what most would consider ethical accounting (doubt it). It still doesn't mean a damn thing. So there are a lot of Louisville basketball fans that show up to some ridiculously named KFC Yum! Arena to watch a game, why does that exactly matter to any other school? Their game time attendance isn't going to effect ISU's bottom line if they are in the same conference.

We all know this is about football. The value of Louisville would have to come from marquee matchups and television ratings pulled for their football program and it just isn't there.

All I can see in Louisville is another outlier team with a small national identity that the likes of ISU/KSU would now have to battle with in B12 recruiting areas. **** that.