Big 12 may be small, but its strength in hoops, football looms large - CBSSports.com (http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/writer/dennis-dodd/24481252/big-12-may-be-small-but-its-strength-in-hoops-football-looms-large)

Interesting take on everything. I think any future additions is all going to come down to how well the Big 12 can place in the playoff format. If it gets left out for 2 from them SEC or someone else because of the lack of a title game, then it might be time to add in a couple more.

From a basketball perspective...Cincy and UConn would be mega additions. Would expand the Big 12 into additional large TV markets, which is never a bad thing. From the football side...UConn would likely be a cupcake most seasons to pad wins for the big guys. Cincy I think would be a pretty comparable team to TCU. Some years they have it together to really put up a fight and get in the Top 10, other years they are just going to be a typical good mid range program. Neither are as sexy as Clemson, FSU, or another potential target...but I don't think the exit fees and media rights issues are as significant as the ACC's.

Still we have it pretty good right now, but we are also about to be the smallest conference in the FBS. That can be good and bad, something the story hits on pretty well.

Unless a university adds more than it takes in TV contract revenue there is little to no need for the Big 12 to add any new members....
University's with small fan followings are at a big disadvantage and do little to nothing to help the quality of the conference TV contracts.

If you could work past the no play on Sunday issue BYU would probably be the only university available to the Big 12 that would be a net revenue increase for the Big12 conference members.

IMO Louisville would have been a better sports university to add than either TCU or West Virginia.
To counter the SEC in recruiting Houston would have been better for the Big 12 than TCU.
UH is pouring big money into its athletics and academics.

The Big 12 is set in stone for now. Many people thought that Baylor wouldn't add anything to the mix of the Big 12; now Baylor looms large in both football and hoops.

If you were to add a Louisville, Connecticut or Cincinnati; the Big 12 will continue to prosper. As of now, 10 teams doesn't hurt the Big 12. Twelve teams would make it more powerful as a league with a conference championship in football; however, that would mean that everyone doesn't play everybody in the league.

So, whoever is added to the Big 12 if and when expansion occurs--the league will benefit.

The Oklahoma Sooners definitely made a statement with its Sugar Bowl 'signature win' over Alabama 45-31; Auburn's 34-28 last play of the game win was indeed a setback for one of college football's marquee programs. Who would have ever thought that Bama would end its season with a two-game losing streak?

Saban signed a lucrative contract with the Crimson Tide which will set him up to retire at Alabama.

2014 Oklahoma vs Alabama Sugar Bowl Highlights - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4rIMpdvcX0&feature=player_detailpage)

Stephen A: Nick Saban, Alabama Got Exposed Last Night - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6kathw7Eqo&feature=player_detailpage)


http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif

Was reading on the ratings draw that UConn was pulling in the game against ND for the NCAA.

UConn-Notre Dame Draws Huge Ratings | NBC Connecticut (http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/blogs/dog-house/UConn-Notre-Dame-Draws-Huge-Ratings-254714701.html)


Nashville was the second highest-rated market with a 6.8 followed by Knoxville (6.0), Louisville (5.5), Indianapolis (4.8), Raleigh-Durham (4.7), Providence (4.6), New York (4.6), Memphis (4.5) and Greenville (4.5).

Pretty darn good share for NYC. Granted ND had something to do with that as well, but I've been hearing a lot of people saying that it is common for UConn to pull really good ratings in NYC. Also they tend to always out do Rutgers which has some people questioning if the Big Ten made a mistake and got the wrong school.

Might not be a bad idea to revisit looking at UConn and Cincy to get us back to 12 at some point.