Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Expand the Big 12?
As pretty much everyone expected, re-alignment of college football conferences has not finished, even after a raft of moves, including the following:
Nebraska from the Big 12 to the Big 10
Missouri and Texas A & M from the Big 12 to the SEC
Rutgers from the Big East to the Big 10
Maryland from the ACC to the Big 10
Colorado from the Big 12 to the PAC-12
West Virginia and TCU into the Big 12
Now the Big 12 finds itself as the smallest of the major conferences, with only 10 teams-- not enough to split into divisions and host a championship game. Estimable Kansas State Coach Bill Snyder recently weighed in to support expanding the league by two more teams. At least then, the name would fit!
Because the members of the "Power 5" conferences are locked in by TV contracts, newcomers to the Big 12 would probably have to come from the pool of schools outside of those conferences. Here are the teams that might be considered for such a move:
BYU
Cincinnati
Boise State
UConn
Univ. of Houston
Memphis
University of Southern Florida
University of Central Florida
To my mind, only one of those schools has the combination of size, athletic ability, and academic reputation to fit into a league like the Big 12-- BYU. But, adding just one school doesn't help much. What should the other addition be?
Comments:
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DISCLAIMER: I'VE SPENT ABOUT 5 MINUTES THINKING ABOUT THIS, SO I ACCEPT ALL CHALLENGES AND DISAGREEMENTS AS HAVING BEEN MORE THOUGHT OUT THAN MY OPINION.
In my mind, West Virginia was a mistake, geographically. It should have been Louisville (not a lot closer, but at least a little). BYU takes the Big 12 in the other direction and would have it spread over 3 time zones. In my mind, you have two add two from either the central or eastern time zones. If it's central, then you split the conference up into north and south divisions again and West Virginia keeps fending for itself in the eastern time zone. If it's eastern, then you break up into east/west divisions (Iowa State and the two Kansas schools go east and the rest stay west). Assuming an east coast split, then I think schools like Central Florida (opens up Florida recruiting and they have a HUGE alumni base) and Cincinnati (opens up Northeast a little, but pretty small support base) make some sense.
I just think BYU and Boise State send us in the wrong direction since we have West Virginia in the mix.
BUT, here is what I have a feeling will actually happen. I don't think the Power 5 conferences want to add more schools to the club. I have a feeling that in the next 10 years there will be a dissolution of the Big 12 and the parts will be divided among the other four conferences and you will end up with four 16-team conferences. Any conference that keeps talking about its instability this much can't be stable.
In my mind, West Virginia was a mistake, geographically. It should have been Louisville (not a lot closer, but at least a little). BYU takes the Big 12 in the other direction and would have it spread over 3 time zones. In my mind, you have two add two from either the central or eastern time zones. If it's central, then you split the conference up into north and south divisions again and West Virginia keeps fending for itself in the eastern time zone. If it's eastern, then you break up into east/west divisions (Iowa State and the two Kansas schools go east and the rest stay west). Assuming an east coast split, then I think schools like Central Florida (opens up Florida recruiting and they have a HUGE alumni base) and Cincinnati (opens up Northeast a little, but pretty small support base) make some sense.
I just think BYU and Boise State send us in the wrong direction since we have West Virginia in the mix.
BUT, here is what I have a feeling will actually happen. I don't think the Power 5 conferences want to add more schools to the club. I have a feeling that in the next 10 years there will be a dissolution of the Big 12 and the parts will be divided among the other four conferences and you will end up with four 16-team conferences. Any conference that keeps talking about its instability this much can't be stable.
That's the most ridiculous set of mascots yet. Makes the Big 10 guys look normal. Looks like the Creature from the Black Lagoon, the Frito Bandito, some sort of pyschotic Davey Crockett/Daniel Boone character and Elmo in a cowboy hat.
BTW, Maryland was in the ACC. Which was a big deal basketball-wise. Not so much for football. But there's a LOT more money in football, so despite the history and tradition and rivalries with UVa, Duke, UNC, NC State, Wake Forest et al, the Terps left their tobacco road brethren behind and joined the midwesterners. ... and lost a lot of fans. They're still trying to re-invent themselves identity wise
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BTW, Maryland was in the ACC. Which was a big deal basketball-wise. Not so much for football. But there's a LOT more money in football, so despite the history and tradition and rivalries with UVa, Duke, UNC, NC State, Wake Forest et al, the Terps left their tobacco road brethren behind and joined the midwesterners. ... and lost a lot of fans. They're still trying to re-invent themselves identity wise
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