MUST-READ: Pete Thamel on the future of the Big 12

[ChrisMWilliams]

It addresses the same issues that the Big 12 has had for a while but consider two things while reading this: 1) Thamel is as connected of a guy as there is in college athletics. 2) Presidents/ADs don't just leak this stuff for no reason at all.

Brace for change and as I think we all can agree, expansion would be a very good thing for Iowa State football.

http://www.campusrush.com/big-12-conference-questions-future-expansion-1528668401.html

 

[CyFan61]

I'm glad Pete validates my thought that the Big 12 seriously messed up when it didn't also add Pitt and Louisville around the time it was grabbing West Virginia and TCU, before those first two schools went to the ACC. We'd be set at a very solid 12 that makes more geographic sense than we could possibly put together right now. And as Pete said, the Big 12 presidents and ADs are feeling remorse for that mistake now.

 

[fenton06]

Raid the ACC. I think it's them or us, and I'd rather it be us.

 

[CyArob]

Hopefully the ACC collapses soon because that list of schools Thamel has really stinks.

 

[CyFan61]

BYU and Cincinnati are the leaders for expansion according to the article. Football divisions would be interesting if that were the case. Not sure what they would look like. Maybe an East/West split that puts two Texas schools in each division for recruiting purposes, like how the Pac-12 carved up the state of California.

 

[gocubs2118]

BYU = Hell yes

Cincy = Meh

I mean, there are no perfect solutions to this. Hopefully they just approve a 10 team conference title game and all this becomes moot.

 

[LindenCy]

I do not want BYU unless it is football only. We already went east. Let's get Cinci and one more.

 

[Jambalaya]

Not interested in BAILING OUT Memphis, Colorado St, Tulane. Those additions DEGRADE the Big 12.

GO for Fla ST and Clemson. We had an outside chance three years ago and were not aggressive

Cincinnati would be "OK"....

BYU would be great, but West Virg is so culturally different and 8 states away. We become the WAC Conference of the 1990's/2000's

 

[CyFan61]

BYU = Hell yes

Cincy = Meh

I mean, there are no perfect solutions to this. Hopefully they just approve a 10 team conference title game and all this becomes moot.

I agree. Pass the CCG legislation, add a title game where the Big 12 sends the top 2 finishers from the round robin to Jerryworld, and Iowa State gets to cash a $2 million check every year and everyone is happy. No new schools.

CW and others think expansion is good for Iowa State; I think it could help win some more football games maybe, but the 9-game conference schedule isn't going anywhere. And if we were to add BYU to our schedule one year and happen to rotate out Kansas, for example, the schedule doesn't get easier at all!

 

[letsgostate]

Not interested in BAILING OUT Memphis, Colorado St, Tulane. Those additions DEGRADE the Big 12.

GO for Fla ST and Clemson. We had an outside chance three years ago and were not aggressive

Cincinnati would be "OK"....

BYU would be great, but West Virg is so culturally different and 8 states away. We become the WAC Conference of the 1990's/2000's

Great idea..add two sure losses each year

 

[letsgostate]

BYU! Yes!

 

[Prone2Clone]

Hopefully the ACC collapses soon because that list of schools Thamel has really stinks.

Agree. Please no BYU.

 

[ghettocowboy4cy]

I've always been for 12 teams. Hope they expand!

 

[JohnnyFive]

I really don't want BYU

In order I'd like to see Cincy, then Memphis. If the Big 12 went to 14, assuming Louisville and Pitt would say no if we asked them to join, Id then say take a serious look at the South/Central Floridas.

 

[CyFan61]

BYU is way better than every other reasonable option right now. Much bigger fan base than the rest.

 

[brianhos]

Gotta expand to get that championship game. At this point they need anyone to solidify the league.

 

[isulive2train]

(Potential to be a large thread)

 

[CyFan61]

Gotta expand to get that championship game.

Actually, not necessarily the case; the article discusses the NCAA legislation that would change that rule

 

[gocubs2118]

Gotta expand to get that championship game. At this point they need anyone to solidify the league.

ANYONE? No. There are quite a few schools being mentioned that would degrade the current Big 12.

 

[3GenClone]

The thing about TV sets isn't potential market share, but rather actual eyeballs. New Yorkers aren't watching Rutgers despite what the Big 10 tells us. Cincinnati may not be a top market but Ohio is a football heavy state that would have TV viewers, put fans in the stands and have the alumni base that I think warrants a Big 12 invite.