Here we go again... Maryland, Rutgers to the Big Ten

[bluedogok]

Florida State and Clemson also have in-state schools that have supposedly blocked discussion of their admission to the SEC in the past.

I thought during the last go round of conference stuff the Big 12 went to equal distribution. According to the linked article West Virginia is the only one not getting a full distribution because the conference financed their separation from the Big East. The 60/40 split was before the current agreement and most was determined on a scale based on who was on TV the most and appearance on certain outlets (like ABC) paid more than other outlets. Since OU and Texas were on the main network games the most, they got a larger share of revenue.

Statesman.com - Big 12 to share the wealth of revenues, TV deal

[venture]

Big East has added Tulane and East Carolina.

Big East adds Tulane and East Carolina, can't nab BYU - CBSSports.com

They were talking to BYU as well, but BYU turned them down.

[BrettM2]

I was really hoping the Big XII would take Louisville before the ACC. I feel like we missed a good opportunity for expansion that wouldn't water down the conference.

Louisville to the ACC - ESPN.com

[Just the facts]

I guess maybe the Big XII just plans to stay with 10 teams. We can always add Rice and Houston.

[SoonerDave]

I'm virtually certain Texas, and to a lesser extent, OU, are happy with 10 teams. They don't want a conference title game to hold the risk of spoiling a chance at a conference rep making it to the BCS title game, at least under the current format (for the next two years). That's weighed against the idea that a CCG might actually *help* a team, as it did OU in 2008.

Purely from a competitive standpoint, I'm kinda old-guard in that I like a round-robin schedule because it gives you a natural champ. Everyone gets a shot at everyone. Divisions with a title game tend to manufacture something in the vein of a made-for-TV event, especially when you factor in rematches (which I certainly don't like).

I don't get *too* worked up about not being at 12 teams, but what does concern me is that it may become a practical necessity whether we like it or not, but things are moving in other conferences toward 16 teams, and the time is rapidly approaching where the only schools available will necessarily water down the conference. I am not crazy about Louisville as a prospective 11th member, but I like their prospects geographically and competitively a great deal more than, say, Houston, or (yikes) Rice - and you have to think in pairs, because the Big 12 won't just add a single member. Now, adding two good programs will be tough. The notion of adding four is daunting. Adding six may be next to impossible.

If the Big 10 jumps to 16, as it appears they want to, don't think for a second ol' Mike Slive in the SEC will stand by idly. The ACC is moving quickly, leaving potential for a slew of bad Big East leftovers as the remains for the Big 12. I hope Bowlsby (sp) has some sort of plan. Like I said, competitively, I personally don't have to go to 12 or 16, but if we want to keep the conference competitively relevant, we may have to make the jump. If that arises, I'd hate for us to have waited too long, and find nothing valuable to invite to the conference.

[BoulderSooner]

if the BIG and sec go to 16 we will have plenty of schools to choose from to expand ... so until they move we will stay at 10

[Just the facts]

Getting teams isn't the problem. Getting quality teams is the problem.

[BoulderSooner]

Getting teams isn't the problem. Getting quality teams is the problem.

right which is why the big 12 won't expand unless the BIG and SEC go to 16 .. then there will be quality teams around to add ..

[venture]

I was really hoping the Big XII would take Louisville before the ACC. I feel like we missed a good opportunity for expansion that wouldn't water down the conference.

Louisville to the ACC - ESPN.com

Reading comments from Louisville it seems they were still wanting the Big 12, but they didn't want to wait around for the Big East to completely collapse. They wanted to control their own path and not let a group of indecisive people string them along. This is a pretty big loss for Oklahoma and things are going to get tighter.

if the BIG and sec go to 16 we will have plenty of schools to choose from to expand ... so until they move we will stay at 10

We are already at a disadvantage to the SEC with them at 14. If they go to 16 it'll be game over. They have stocked their conference with the perception of having strong, amazing teams that always garner high rankings. The ability to isolate them some in divisions helps to keep everyone from blowing each other up - like we have in the Big 12. Of course it all comes down to money.

The Big 12 is nearly capped out on Bowl potentials this year with 9 out of 10 teams eligible. With the way it is shaping up, all 9 teams have a good chance at going bowling. If we are going to be in the position to have all 10 eligible, it would mean no school escaping with only 1 conference loss. the SEC is also sporting 9 eligible teams right now and could easily have had 12 teams without negatively impacting the 3 1-loss teams. That is more money to go around.

The Big 12 is going to need to move. They might be waiting on Maryland v. ACC to get resolved. With UL out of the picture the options seem to go down to: Clemson, Florida State, Cincinnati, and Georgia Tech.

[venture]

Some rumors going around in media back East that the Big Ten is considering invites to North Carolina and Virginia. SEC is considering invites to Clemson and Florida State (not sure if something changed to make it possible so I'm not putting much stock in that).

[BoulderSooner]

Some rumors going around in media back East that the Big Ten is considering invites to North Carolina and Virginia. SEC is considering invites to Clemson and Florida State (not sure if something changed to make it possible so I'm not putting much stock in that).

the sec doesn't want clemson of florida state ... the are going to launch a BIG style network in 2014 and they want new markets .. (north carolia and virginia)

if the SEC goes e clemson and flto 16 we will havorida st to expand into .... and most likely georgia tech or NCstate

[jedicurt]

I think that the Big 12 will be gone in a couple of years, and they know it... I look to see OU and Texas in the PAC within 5 years, and maybe they drag along OSU and Texas Tech with them. Who knows what will happend to the rest of the conference... but our content attitude to stay at 10 makes me believe that we are just trying to hold a conference together till something better comes along

[venture]

I think that the Big 12 will be gone in a couple of years, and they know it... I look to see OU and Texas in the PAC within 5 years, and maybe they drag along OSU and Texas Tech with them. Who knows what will happend to the rest of the conference... but our content attitude to stay at 10 makes me believe that we are just trying to hold a conference together till something better comes along

Quite possible. If the Big 12 dies, it nullifies the 13 year TV rights agreements.

[venture]

the sec doesn't want clemson of florida state ... the are going to launch a BIG style network in 2014 and they want new markets .. (north carolia and virginia)

if the SEC goes e clemson and flto 16 we will havorida st to expand into .... and most likely georgia tech or NCstate

If the SEC wants new markets, Virginia Tech and NC State state the most sense. GT does give them Atlanta...but they already have it most of the time.

[Just the facts]

I think that the Big 12 will be gone in a couple of years, and they know it... I look to see OU and Texas in the PAC within 5 years, and maybe they drag along OSU and Texas Tech with them. Who knows what will happend to the rest of the conference... but our content attitude to stay at 10 makes me believe that we are just trying to hold a conference together till something better comes along

I am afraid you are right. I know one thing, as an east coaster I am not staying up until 2AM watching the end of the OU/Washington St game.

[BoulderSooner]

Quite possible. If the Big 12 dies, it nullifies the 13 year TV rights agreements.

it takes 8 votes to kill the grant of rights ... that is not going to happen ..

[venture]

it takes 8 votes to kill the grant of rights ... that is not going to happen ..

Who gets paid if the conference no longer exists?

[BoulderSooner]

Who gets paid if the conference no longer exists?

the teams that are left ...

[Just the facts]

I think Venture was saying if the league folds, there is no one left. How many votes does it take to disband? Or can the Conference office just say - we quit.

[venture]

I think Venture was saying if the league folds, there is no one left. How many votes does it take to disband? Or can the Conference office just say - we quit.

Exactly. I didn't realize I was being that cryptic when I said "if the Big 12 dies." LOL

[BoulderSooner]

I think Venture was saying if the league folds, there is no one left. How many votes does it take to disband? Or can the Conference office just say - we quit.

it takes 8 votes to disband 75% so the league is not going away ... and the GOR is very legit ... no one is leaving the big 12 for 13 years

[venture]

it takes 8 votes to disband 75% so the league is not going away ... and the GOR is very legit ... no one is leaving the big 12 for 13 years

Now that everyone is on the same page, we can take this forward with the mindset that the Big 12 might then be forced into growing.

[venture]

Dodd did a fairly decent write on the Big 12 today: Why the Big 12 is happy with 10 amid the latest round of realignment - CBSSports.com

Key Points

One industry source estimated Big 12 schools will be cashing checks for $30 million-plus in the first year of the playoff beginning in 2014. The total now stands at approximately $20 million per school. Beginning in 2014, the Big 12 will begin taking in $40 million per year from the alignment with the Sugar Bowl (previously Champions Bowl).

Big 12 expansion rests, indirectly, on a perceived gentleman's agreement with the SEC. The league supposedly would not expand to states where there currently are teams. That seemingly takes Florida State, Clemson and Georgia Tech out of the mix.
If the SEC honors that agreement, then the SEC might go after NC State and/or Virginia Tech if Mike Slive feels like he has to respond to the Big Ten's recent moves. In that occurrence, Florida State, Clemson and Georgia Tech would be in play for the Big 12.

Even then industry sources argue whether one or some combination of those schools brings pro rata – at least equal value – to the Big 12.

The Big 12 can't lose any schools in next 13 years (see below) so a raid by another conference seems unlikely. Think of a law of diminishing returns. The ACC's 14 aren't going to be making as much as the Big 12's 10. The pecking order will remain the same: The Big Ten and SEC will be 1-2 in revenue in some order. The Big 12 and Pac-12 will be 3-4 in some order. The ACC will be the fifth major conference, still most vulnerable to being picked apart by one of the other four.

So pretty much Big 12 schools will make more money with this setup than if they added others, but I wonder how long that will really last. He also pointed out the grant of TV rights locking everyone in for 13 years.

It is interesting that the same schools we mention here are the ones he is talking about - FSU, Clemson, and GT. He also brings up Miami and Virginia Tech. Depending on the year, that is a lot of high profile football programs that could make the Big 12 a solid competitor to the SEC. It almost seems like that is how the two conferences want it as well (i.e. Champions Bowl) and if the SEC goes to 16 they'll expect the Big 12 to keep up and let there be some overlap in markets.

[venture]

Midd Tennessee State and Florida Atlantic are moving to C-USA.

Middle Tennessee State, Florida Atlantic to join Conference USA - CBSSports.com

[SoonerDave]

I think that the Big 12 will be gone in a couple of years, and they know it... I look to see OU and Texas in the PAC within 5 years, and maybe they drag along OSU and Texas Tech with them. Who knows what will happend to the rest of the conference... but our content attitude to stay at 10 makes me believe that we are just trying to hold a conference together till something better comes along

Let's pretend, for argument's sake, we don't know about the GOR or the 8-votes-to-disband-rule. Even beyond that, it'd take a temper tantrum of nuclear proportions for that to happen, because *no* conference in the country wants Texas with its LHN. Texas would rather be a three-team conference with OSU and a fraternity flag football team before it gives up LHN. Now, some might just say "Texas will go independent," but with other schools joining ever larger conferences, scheduling becomes a nightmare - even Notre Dame realizes it can't continue without a nod to a conference in their hip pocket.

That also happens to be the only reason we're holding at 10, because that's what Texas wants. Texas must have a viable conference that will let them retain the LHN, and the B12 is the only one left that will entertain it. I think OU could have leveraged a deal to go elsewhere, but I think Boren blew up all the leverage he had in his faux Pac 12 dance from last year.

We'll see how it works out.