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

[DistrictCyclone]

BYU and UTEP

Hahaha, stick 'em with UTSA.

 

[DistrictCyclone]

I was told today that Notre Dame has agreed to join the Big 12...Florida State, Clemson and GA Tech would also join the Big 12.

SEC would then take NC State and VA Tech.

Remaining ACC Schools would merge with Big East.

There's no way in hell that UNC gets jilted in this. Probably not Maryland, either.

 

[aeroclone]

I think it is funny that the Pac 12 has been backed into a corner. They really started a lot of this mess, making a couple runs at the Big 12 and really starting up a lot of the talk about 16 team super conferences. However, just based on their geographical location, their options are limited and they really overplayed their hand. All they got out of the Big 12 was Colorado. Now the Big 12 is stable and on the offensive, and the SEC and B1G have already made strong moves. It looks like the Pac 12's move will totally backfire. In an attempt to raise their profile, they have locked themselves in a corner while the B1G, SEC, and Big 12 will grow even more powerful, leaving the Pac stuck clearly in the 4th place position of the 4 power conferences.

 

[cyingreen]

I agree. Basically, the PAC's choices are BYU, Air Force, Boise St, and San Diego State honestly. That is unless, they want to go the Big East approach and steal from the ACC or Big East as well. However, if they even try to keep geographic sense, they're basically screwed. They do have teams like Hawaii or Nevada too, but I feel that might be reaching to just keep up with everyone else.

I think you can leave AFA out of the calculations. Their AD made it clear when the BigXII expansion talk was going on last year that they felt the BigXII would be a too physically imposing conference for the Falcons to compete in. Which being an Air Force vet wounded me a bit. I would have loved to see them in the conference. But if we are too physically imposing, the Pac12 would be too.

 

[HFCS]

To me, what is interesting, is what does the PAC do? The B1G, SEC, and BIG12 all have plenty of expansion options. However, the PAC, with the Big12 solidified, has no options.

They have to lower their standards for any option with a solid Big 12 if they want to expand. This should not be the huge problem they act like it is. Washington State is not Harvard and Vanderbilt loves being in the SEC.

If they want to add quality football BSU and BYU are the obvious options. If they want to add new markets UNLV is the best option imho even though Nevada football has been better. BSU as football only might make sense if they want to keep up the pompous idea that Washington State is the MIT of the West. I'm not sure Pac 12 football gets on TV any more times anywhere in the country with the addition of Hawaii, I'd imagine they already are the dominant TV conference there. UNLV is the $ potential add for them.

Staying at 12 with a championship game may work fine for them. Being at 10 with no title game would have been bad if all these 3 other leagues all expand like the rumor mill suggests. Then they'd have really felt pressure to add 2 from BYU/BSU/UNLV/NM even if they weren't really sure of the long term impact.

 

[drednot57]

If the PAC12 decides to expand, the likely candidates I see are Nevada, Wyoming, Houston, and Air Force.

I'm pretty sure Wyoming's academic credentials are better than BSU's, so a better fit; Nevada, right now, has stronger FB and MBB programs than UNLV; Air Force adds another academic feather to the conference; Houston gives the PAC a strong foothold in Texas.

The only other option I see is the PAC reaching out to a Louisiana school, perhaps La Tech? Tulane is a Catholic school like ND, so cultural issues there with the conference.

 

[HFCS]

Yes...yes there is:

And that's just from the first two pages of one thread...

Yes, the Iowa boards are 100% hilarious on the topic. Some of the Iowa trolls who hang out here were trying to defend it in another thread. The majority of their conference realignment posts are complete jealous rage.

My favorite was that Bowlsby is going to set up a trade with the Pac 12, then add a ton of teams from the east...and just Iowa State is going to be left out and have no conference. Serious, can't make it up. A few non-mentally-handicapped Iowa fans called this post out, but more agreed with it saying things like "I could see ISU left with no home in all this".

 

[DistrictCyclone]

I think it is funny that the Pac 12 has been backed into a corner.

The PAC will be fine. There may not be many current high-profile schools that are logical geographic targets for them, but the western US (especially Nevada, Arizona, and Utah) is growing rapidly, and California remains the largest state in the nation by a wide margin. If they wanted to expand immediately, their academic stature might take a hit and they'd likely get less revenue per school...they may have to "groom" some programs like Nevada, UNM, and SDSU, who have all shown that they can field halfway decent teams and would expand the PAC's footprint.

 

[DistrictCyclone]

Yes, the Iowa boards are 100% hilarious on the topic. Some of the Iowa trolls who hang out here were trying to defend it in another thread. The majority of their conference realignment posts are complete jealous rage.

My favorite was that Bowlsby is going to set up a trade with the Pac 12, then add a ton of teams from the east...and just Iowa State is going to be left out and have no conference. Serious, can't make it up. A few non-mentally-handicapped Iowa fans called this post out, but more agreed with it saying things like "I could see ISU left with no home in all this".

I was poking around one of their threads when the FSU rumors first broke, and I couldn't believe how many "the Big 12 is a step down from the ACC" comments there were. They just don't get it.

 

[Wesley]

From Shaggy...

I'm working on a more in-depth story, but the reason Texas is tapping the brakes on any frenzy about other school additions (Fla St, Clemson, etc) is because DeLoss Dodds is convinced Notre Dame is moving to the Big 12. Initially, it was ND's non-football sports. But now, there could be some formula built into the Big 12 that would allow ND to function - at least in the short term - with its NBC contract in tact before being phased into the Big 12 as a whole football member.

DeLoss, I'm told, wants that ironed out before anything else gets ironed out. It's complicated. But it's fascinating.

The top priority is Notre Dame (at least in Texas' eyes) and then everything else.

I know that one other factor necessary for ND's consideration is that they want a minimum of 4 OCC games, and 5 would be better. That requires a small conference (12, 5division games & 2-3 cross division games) or a pod system with 16( which has NEVER been successfully done long term before). This is a major limiting factor, and will require some compromise probably on both sides parts. The 16 might be easier, but is way riskier. Adding some of ND's traditional rivals might be part of the process. GT and Miami would be the obvious ones, and I'm not sure where Miami's administrative head is at. They are about to get slammed hard by the NCAA. Their administration is talking about reducing their athletic funding and emphasis. And their relevant historical financial data (attendance, etc.) is trending downward so that they won't be able to keep up in facilities or top level coaches, becoming only a coaching stop rather than a destination. Their current status is no worse than some of our current members, except their infractions record is way worse, and the trends are equally bad, and then the forthcoming penalties. That's a lot of negatives to overcome, and a lot for the B12 to swallow. They would ONLY be invited as part of a ND package, & ND would have to sign first.

Not sure what other items would have to be worked out, or who else would be attractive or tolerable to both ND & the B12. NCAA might have to change rules to allow 16 teams on a pod system with rotating divisions for the championship, not sure.

We would be much better served with 4 ACC teams than a bow, kneel, obey relationship with ND. They smack of BYU restrictions.

 

[DistrictCyclone]

UNLV seems to have some potential to me for them. BYU definitely does, but there are religious and cultural problems there. Maybe the bring in Boise with expectations of academic improvements. If the other 3 conferences go to 16, they are going to have to as well, or risk being left behind.

It's too bad for Nevada and UNLV that the state's university system don't have one flagship campus, because you'd think that would make it a no-brainer expansion target.

 

[Palmer]

We would be much better served with 4 ACC teams than a bow, kneel, obey relationship with ND. They smack of BYU restrictions.

You take ND if there are no restrictions.......the $ per Big12team would be insane.

 

[HFCS]

I hope ND comes as well if it does not impose obtrusive conditions. I have heard two scenarios.....FSU & Clemson with ND #13 and ? #14 and FSU & ND(hopefully) and stop at 12. I really hope we do not lose Clemson as they really want to be part of the new Big XII. That is important......I know.

I think if Clemson wants in, they'll be in, as long as ND or FSU is in as well. The only scenario they're out is as the 11th team or if a 12th team brings little value.

If it's an odd number and no other ACC teams want to leave I can't believe Louisville is such a horrendous add that we'd turn away Clemson for the inclusion of Louisville. I think it's a long shot that Clemson would be the only ACC team that wants in anyway.

We've seen this enough times to know Clemson is completely down wanting to leave. The momentum you see from them seems to carry through like manifest destiny (Mizzou/A&M).

 

[HFCS]

The PAC will be fine. There may not be many current high-profile schools that are logical geographic targets for them, but the western US (especially Nevada, Arizona, and Utah) is growing rapidly, and California remains the largest state in the nation by a wide margin. If they wanted to expand immediately, their academic stature might take a hit and they'd likely get less revenue per school...they may have to "groom" some programs like Nevada, UNM, and SDSU, who have all shown that they can field halfway decent teams and would expand the PAC's footprint.

There's a reason why non-BCS programs who suddenly kick some @$$ are usually in the mountain region.

If any league can add non-BCS programs and have them eventually be a perfect competitive fit it's the Pac 12. People still love football in these regions and there are practically no BCS conference teams or NFL teams. It's just Denver Broncos/BYU/Utah/CU for an entire gigantic region of the nation as far as high level football goes.

 

[DistrictCyclone]

This "PAC-12 is backed into a corner" talk and some stupid crap I read on HokNation has me thinking some crazy stuff:

Would you trade Texas Tech to the PAC if it guaranteed FSU? Clemson? Maryland? Pitt?

What if the PAC wanted Tech and K-State if the ACC gave up GA Tech and NC State? VA Tech and UNC?

What about Okie State, K-State, Tech, and Baylor for the entire ACC except for Syracuse, Boston College, Pitt, and Wake Forest?

I know none of this is how these decisions get made, but it's interesting to think about which programs you most like to have in the conference.

 

[DistrictCyclone]

There's a reason why non-BCS programs who suddenly kick some @$$ are usually in the mountain region.

If any league can add non-BCS programs and have them eventually be a perfect competitive fit it's the Pac 12. People still love football in these regions and there are practically no BCS conference teams or NFL teams. It's just Denver Broncos/BYU/Utah/CU for an entire gigantic region of the nation as far as high level football goes.

Good point; this part of the country isn't crowded with other BCS teams or pro football. Little recruiting competition and lots of football-starved TV sets = potential.

 

[bosco]

Post by the guy that runs Tigerdroppings (LSU message board)

FSU sources: Florida State/Clemson to Big12 "inevitable" - Page 3 - TigerDroppings.com

In the middle of the page.

I was told today that Notre Dame has agreed to join the Big 12...Florida State, Clemson and GA Tech would also join the Big 12.

SEC would then take NC State and VA Tech.

Remaining ACC Schools would merge with Big East.

The last couple of parts are his own speculation but the first part was from a "source".

 

[DistrictCyclone]

Post by the guy that runs Tigerdroppings (LSU message board)

FSU sources: Florida State/Clemson to Big12 "inevitable" - Page 3 - TigerDroppings.com

In the middle of the page.

I was told today that Notre Dame has agreed to join the Big 12...Florida State, Clemson and GA Tech would also join the Big 12.

SEC would then take NC State and VA Tech.

Remaining ACC Schools would merge with Big East.

The last couple of parts are his own speculation but the first part was from a "source".

Agronomist and helechopper dropped (pun intended) this back on page 1,401.

I don't see how UNC gets ignored by the super conferences and is forced into merging with the Big East.

 

[Wesley]

Good point; this part of the country isn't crowded with other BCS teams or pro football. Little recruiting competition and lots of football-starved TV sets = potential.

And the pro teams are struggling to play .500 ball.

 

[RayShimley]

Agronomist and helechopper dropped (pun intended) this back on page 1,401.

I don't see how UNC gets ignored by the super conferences and is forced into merging with the Big East.

Probably because they refuse to leave Duke which is an absolute joke in football. Honestly, Duke and UNC could join up with Syracuse, UCONN, Pitt, BC, etc and form a fine basketball conference that would still probably give them a bump in revenue over what they are getting now.