Is ISU safe? Could the Big 12 still implode?

[DrDrunkenstein]

A&M expects $20 million annually from Big 12 | College Sports | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

The Big 12 Conference promised Texas A&M $20 million annually and the Aggies intend to collect, A&M president R. Bowen Loftin said Wednesday. “A key part of Texas A&M’s decision to remain in the Big 12 earlier this summer was the commissioner’s commitment that Texas A&M would receive a minimum of $20 million annually in future conference distributions,” Loftin said in a statement. “We remain committed to the conference and fully anticipate that the Big 12 will honor its commitment to Texas A&M.”
And what happens if the Big 12 doesn’t honor its $20 million pledge? A high-ranking A&M official said late Wednesday that every legal avenue would be explored first, with the potential of bolting for the Southeastern Conference coming after.

[CyAggie]

Tle the efforts of ISU and the other 4 schools kept the B12(-2) together, in my opinion the league is potentially as dysfunctional as before.

(For the record, imho, for ISU the outcome was one of the best from the options we were looking at.) However, do not think for a moment that all is settled and all are "one for all". In TX the fight continues

Once again, we are seeing the effects of unequal conferences relationships. In terms of the B12, that usually manifests one of 2 ways, either in money distribution or equitable decisions for other areas (scheduling, etc).

Do they look greedy (TAMU), probably yes. But would any other school not do the same if they were made that promise to not go to the SEC ? (probably.)

Hopefully it will be resolved quickly, but it shows why we need to be prepared and planning for the potential to be to going through this fiasco again in the near future (defined as a few years)

[CycloneErik]

Yes, we're still in trouble and yes, the conference could still implode. The next couple years or so have to be all about positioning ourselves to be set better than we were last time this blew up.

[LindenCy]

I just hope if we do implode, the Big East option is back.

[CycloneErik]

I just hope if we do implode, the Big East option is back.

That was a fun option. They seemed excited about it, too.

[WalkingCY]

Just have the Big East on speed dial and stay with KU, KSU and Missouri somehow. That is our best outcome if this thing blows up and we need to look for another conference to play in. I say Big East because the B10 won't take us on, and the Mountain West would be horrible.

[twojman]

For all of you that think 10 teams is great, unequal revenue sharing is great and that the Big 12 Network is unnecessary I hope you realize this conference is not going to last 5 more years without changes to all of the above.

[JonDMiller]

It bought ISU time, and hopefully it brought them closer with MU, KU, KSU, etc, to realize that they are in the same boat. If those schools stick together, they will have solid options in the future. Maybe not as much money as they would being in a league with Texas, but they will have time to plan for it.

[cygrads]

Someone is going to blink - be it ATM, Mizoo... and when that happens it is every school for itself. If this conference doesn't expand then it's members will be targets. I know the Big XII can't invite just anyone and staying at 10 will not work in the long run as long as some members percieve this conference as lacking stability. In order to continue to increase money coming into the conference the Big XII will need to get back to 12 teams to have a championship game - just to raise revenue to keep schools like the above from bolting.

[Istate]

A&M expects $20 million annually from Big 12 | College Sports | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

I think it's pretty safe to assume that we'd be pretty lucky to see a Big 12 conference in five years. First, we've seen zero solid numbers about what the "new" conference numbers are truly going to be. Second, Texas taking care of itself is only going to make it more difficult for the rest of the conference to operate. Third, the Big 12 still struggles with the population numbers necessary to support a large television contract. Finally, the conference has found out that it has 3 or 4 haves (with one of them already leaving), and a bunch of teams that are along for the ride. No natural rivalries or anything to truly stay committed to each other. In my opinion, ISU is better off being aggressive in positioning itself with KU, KSU, and Mizzou and looking for a spot in the Big East or Mountain West sooner rather than later.

[DrDrunkenstein]

Texas taking care of itself is only going to make it more difficult for the rest of the conference to operate.

What exactly does this mean? Texas throwing its hat in with the Big12-2 is pretty much what saved the conference. Nebraska & Colorado leaving is what almost sank the conference. The only instability now is coming from Texas A&M. Based on the actions of the member institutions, who in the Big 12-2 has been better to ISU than Texas?

[CyBobby]

I have been saying that the big 12 conf would not last five years but, after seeing and hearing about the media days down in Dallas TX, I have come to the conclusion that this conference may not last three years!!


When you have one school Texas of course siphoning all the money off the top all the rest of the league will always be looking for greener pastures elsewhere and no one should blame them imho....

If you want to know why the u of texas will never move to another conference its really quite simple.... NO OTHER CONFERENCE WILL LET THE 'HORNS GET THE BULK OF THE MONEY AND THE SCHEDULE OF THEIR CHOICE!!!

[Clonehomer]

My question is when did Beebe promise this money to be coming to A&M? From all of the interviews that I've heard, Beebe has always said that the money will be coming after the next round of TV contracts get signed. Assuming all of the TV talk is true, I don't see $20 mil for the top schools to be much of a problem. If A&M wants it coming by next year, this could be a problem. Maybe that's what the Neb/CU buyout money pot was all about.

[tazclone]

Why is this story an issue and why does it indicate the demise of the Big 12-2? aTm, Texas and OU were promised $$$$ to stay. Texas and OU turn the money down because they will earn more thatn $20 million. It was a worthless offer to them. aTm most likely will not earn $20 million so they should get paid the difference from the forgotten five. It makes them look greedy but we offered so we should pay. The $$$ will come from the CU/NU payouts and considering it will be $3-5 million split 5 ways, we still come out way ahead.

The only way this ruffles feather and hurts the Big 12 is if the forgotten five do not pay up.

[isuno1fan]

LMAO...A&M isn't going anywhere without Texas.

Bunch of fluff.