Big Ten Expansion - Texas?

**hawkfan** · 01-08-2010, 06:12 PM

Just thought I'd get a Big 12 fans take on this. The Chicago Trib. recently reported that the Big Ten is going to be looking at teams "outside of its geographical footprint" in order to expand. One team that has been brought up a number of times has been Texas. I came across this blog, and the points the reader brings up make sense....just seeing what your thoughts were on the topic. It would be ideal for the Big Ten because it would add millions of viewers to the BTN and add a highly regarded academic and athletic school.

Read these blogs, I'd be interested in your opinion. JUST MAKE SURE YOU READ THEM BEFORE MAKING THE STATEMENT "THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN". This guy covers A LOT of ground, and I think you'd find the read interesting.

The Big Ten Expansion Index: A Different Shade of Orange FRANK THE TANK’S SLANT

Big Ten Expansion Index Follow-Up #1: Superconferences, Conference TV Revenue and More Reasons Why Texas to the Big Ten Makes Sense FRANK THE TANK’S SLANT

Now for the reason I brought this to a Big 12 board. This is diving into a world of all kinds of theoreticals, but I've heard the opinion that the Big 10 might go to 14, bringing in Texas, Notre Dame, and one other team (aimed primarily at bringing in a large number of TV sets), if that were to occur (and assuming that team wasn't ISU), what would happen to the Big 12? It seems to me that the loss of Texas would be a crippling blow to the Big 12. Would the Big 12 be forced to go to 14 or 16? What would their response be?

This seems ridiculous, but it is the offseason now, so we have nothing better to talk about.

**LindenCy** · 01-08-2010, 06:15 PM

This would have a major domino effect. But I thought a new Big 10 school had to be in a bordering state or current state. Did they discuss waiving that?

**JD720** · 01-08-2010, 06:16 PM

Originally Posted by LindenCy

This would have a major domino effect. But I thought a new Big 10 school had to be in a bordering state or current state. Did they discuss waiving that?

From what I've read that is a current rule, but could be changed with a simple vote.

**hawkfan** · 01-08-2010, 06:18 PM

Originally Posted by LindenCy

This would have a major domino effect. But I thought a new Big 10 school had to be in a bordering state or current state. Did they discuss waiving that?

They (being the 11 university presidents) would most certainly waive it if Texas wanted to say yes....Texas ASKED to join both the PAC TEN and Big Ten back before joining the Big 12....they got stuck in the Big 12 (because of some involvement by the Texas legislature) and have resented it ever since - I believe this part can be found in the first article (there is a story linked about it in one of the two articles).

**alarson** · 01-08-2010, 06:20 PM

Texas out, TCU in? TAMU rises?

**snowcraig2.0** · 01-08-2010, 06:24 PM

Ahem, THIS WILL NEVER HAPPEN. UT has it made right where they are at financially.

Add to that, they are not going to abandon the natural rivalries with OU and TAMU.

After reading that more thoroughly, I am even more convinced that the author has no clue what he is talking about.

**hawkfan** · 01-08-2010, 06:24 PM

If this were to happen, I think it would be neat to see the Big 12 go to an 18 team "Megaconference". The members of the original Big 8 could be in one division (add Colorado State for a natural rival for Colorado to get to the 9th team), then make the other division consist of nine of the following: Utah, TCU, BYU, Houston, SMU, Boise State, Fresno State, Nevada, UNLV, Wyoming, San Jose State, or pretty much anyone else you could think of.

I think that would be neat, and it would eliminate the problem of having BCS busters in college football.

**erikbj** · 01-08-2010, 06:24 PM

Texas would not want to share money evenly, they want it all and they are getting it all currently.

**hawkfan** · 01-08-2010, 06:26 PM

Originally Posted by snowcraig2.0

Ahem, THIS WILL NEVER HAPPEN. UT has it made right where they are at financially.

Add to that, they are not going to abandon the natural rivalries with OU and TAMU.

I've seen suggestions that TAMU be the Big Ten's fourteenth team, so that Texas could keep its rivalry with them (and add more Texas TV sets to the BTN). The Oklahoma game would just be a nonconference game (as it was for mostly all of history, the Red River Shoot out has only been a conference game for 15 years).

You obviously didn't read the article, because, financially, this would be a good move for Texas.

**delt4cy** · 01-08-2010, 06:30 PM

It all looks great on paper, but Texas won't come north of the mason-dixon past October to play. Big 10 teams would beat them at their home fields in cold November weather. Imo, no way Tejas goes. If they do, they are incredibly ignorant.

**ktoddcyclones** · 01-08-2010, 06:32 PM

your joking right?

**uthaman** · 01-08-2010, 06:34 PM

Texas goes NOwhere without A&M. So, this is NOt going to happen...

**cygrads** · 01-08-2010, 06:37 PM

Originally Posted by hawkfan

If this were to happen, I think it would be neat to see the Big 12 go to an 18 team "Megaconference". The members of the original Big 8 could be in one division (add Colorado State for a natural rival for Colorado to get to the 9th team), then make the other division consist of nine of the following: Utah, TCU, BYU, Houston, SMU, Boise State, Fresno State, Nevada, UNLV, Wyoming, San Jose State, or pretty much anyone else you could think of.

I think that would be neat, and it would eliminate the problem of having BCS busters in college football.

The best way to keep the dominos from falling on you is to expand before anyone else. I would be for expanding to add Utah and BYU. Both Utah schools are good academic schools and BYU like ND is more of a national team - 14 teams is enough.