Big 12 implosion again? A&M and Oklahoma looking at the SEC

[MoValley John]

Call me crazy but I could see Kansas jumping past the Big East and right into the ACC. A true, basketball first conference. Given the option of Big East or ACC, travel costs are already going to be high, why not jump to a basketball conference that is a better academic and athletic fit for KU? Kansas State, Baylor and Iowa State are simply screwed; not enough fans, not enough money, no tv interest and not good enough at athletics to draw regional, much less, national interest.

Deeper into the equation, if the Big XII implodes and all other BCS conferences expand to 16, there still will be plenty of openings for some successful FCS schools to move a step up, C-USA and MAC. I'm sure a couple of Valley schools are weighing their options right now, Doug Elgin better be weighing his.

[shockem]

Try and get your kids into Texas or A&M and you'll see how many they decline each year. While not selective like the privates, you still have to graduate top 10% of your class to be guaranteed admittance just due to the sheer volume of applicants each year.

But I did finish in the top 10%, it wasn't that difficult. In fact, I really didn't try. I hated school, I never studied, not even for tests. I simply showed up, did the minimum homework, always turned it in and received A's and B's. I hated school so much that I took time off between high school and college to join the service. I was a slacker in the Navy as well. Slacking, staying out of trouble and simply obeying orders earned 4.0 evals! All that did was get me accepted into a private college in which I also finished in the top 10%.

80% of success is simply showing up.

Don't mean to harp on this too much, and not knowing where or when you were in high school, admission standards have changed drastically in the last 15 years or so at UT and A&M. In most of the best high schools in Texas, a 4.0 GPA isn't good enough to get you top 10% anymore. You have to not only make straight A's but also take enough college equivalent classes to elevate your GPA well above 4.0. I've known many kids graduate with a 3.8 or 3.9 and have to get in the "back door" by going to a JUCO first. Growing up in Kansas I can tell you the admission process is miles apart.

[MSUDuo]

Mizzou, ISU, KState, Baylor, and Tech very well could end up in conferences that have no BCS ties...Might be a long shot but no one is going to want those schools.

I could see BYU, OU, OSU, and Boise going to Pac 12 to get to 16

Texas as an independent

A&M, FSU, and Va Tech to SEC with someone else to get to 16

Big Ten finally grabs ND, UConn, Louisville, and Pitt to get to 16

I guess the aforementioned schools could try and raid CUSA to get a smaller BCS conference back up with Memphis, Houston, SMU, UCF, and UTEP. That is still only 10 teams

[MVCfans]

This is the first I've seen from anyone even speculating that the MVC could be affected. From Tom Shatel of the Omaha World Herald:

If the Big East comes to take KU, MU, ISU and K-State, the basketball schools in that conference likely will split and form their own league. And the conference realignment game could suddenly find itself on Creighton's doorstep.

[MoValley John]

This is the first I've seen from anyone even speculating that the MVC could be affected. From Tom Shatel of the Omaha World Herald:

If the Big East comes to take KU, MU, ISU and K-State, the basketball schools in that conference likely will split and form their own league. And the conference realignment game could suddenly find itself on Creighton's doorstep.

I've been speculating for several days!

[MSUDuo]

This is the first I've seen from anyone even speculating that the MVC could be affected. From Tom Shatel of the Omaha World Herald:

If the Big East comes to take KU, MU, ISU and K-State, the basketball schools in that conference likely will split and form their own league. And the conference realignment game could suddenly find itself on Creighton's doorstep.

I don't think CU would be the only MVC team affected in that scenario. Bradley and WSU also come to mind...

[CaseyGarrisonforPrez]

Mizzou, ISU, KState, Baylor, and Tech very well could end up in conferences that have no BCS ties...Might be a long shot but no one is going to want those schools.

I could see BYU, OU, OSU, and Boise going to Pac 12 to get to 16

Texas as an independent

A&M, FSU, and Va Tech to SEC with someone else to get to 16

Big Ten finally grabs ND, UConn, Louisville, and Pitt to get to 16

I guess the aforementioned schools could try and raid CUSA to get a smaller BCS conference back up with Memphis, Houston, SMU, UCF, and UTEP. That is still only 10 teams

Nice thoughts, but I do see a few issues:

1. I find it amusing that you think that "no one is going to want" those 5 Big XII schools yet you have BYU, Boise, Pitt, and Louisville featured prominently in expansion scenarios. It is highly unlikely any of those five Big XII schools would fall below the Big East.

2. BYU and Boise State to Pac-12. This ain't happening in a million years. Boise State is a glorified junior college that has been good at one sport the past decade. Conversely the Pac 10 is nearly as conscientious of academics as the Big Ten. No chance on this unless the Pac 12 quickly changes admission standards. BYU on the other hand is a really good academic institution but they are ultra conservative and considered cult like by the uber liberal Pac-12. On principle they would never be accepted. Add to it the BYU network which is not something that Larry Scott will allow in that league. They have great athletics and are a perfect geographic fit but they would've been invited last year if that is all that matters. No way either school ends up in Pac-12.

3. Texas absolutely does not want to be an independent. They will try incredibly hard to preserve the Big XII so that the LHN will survive. The Big Ten and Pac-12 will not accept the LHN, only the Big XII will. Also, if Texas goes indy, where will they put their other sports? BYU and Notre Dame have theirs in the WCC and Big East respecctively. Geographically it would be tough for Texas. And currently they are in a Texas-centric league that they have a great chance of winning each year and grabbing a BCS bowl.

4. VA Tech to the SEC. Possible, but not probable because Va Tech used a considerable amount of political capital to get into the ACC from the Big East. They would be aggravating a great number of VA politicians and the like if they turned tail and ran now. Plus they are in a weak football league and have a great chance at a BCS bowl every year. Is that going to happen in the SEC as often? I wouldn't think so.

5. Louisville and Pitt to Big Ten. Remember what I was saying about BYU and Boise to the Pac-12? Louisville has even less chance than that to get in the Big Ten. They are a glorified commuter school that doesn't belong to the AAU. Every school in the Big Ten does but Nebraska which just was kicked out. The Big Ten had an immense amount of egg on their face in that fiasco and will not repeat it. Also Louisville what does it bring exactly? Pitt makes some sense, but Penn State is radically opposed and the Big Ten already has the PA market. Maybe it could happen but I don't think it is anywhere near a certainty.

The Big XII has a good chance to survive as is in my humble opinion. They can't lose anyone else at this point though. I expect them to inquire about Notre Dame, Arkansas, and BYU. The first two will tell them no quickly but I think BYU might very well accept. The Big XII won't care about BYU's network and it is the only conference option that really exists for BYU at this point. Fair chance it'll happen.

[MoValley John]

The Big XII has a good chance to survive as is in my humble opinion. They can't lose anyone else at this point though. I expect them to inquire about Notre Dame, Arkansas, and BYU. The first two will tell them no quickly but I think BYU might very well accept. The Big XII won't care about BYU's network and it is the only conference option that really exists for BYU at this point. Fair chance it'll happen.

You do realize that the SEC is meeting today to vote on aTm. Also, The Texas Legislature Education Committee is set to meet on Tuesday to block aTm from moving. Unfortunately for the politicians in Austin, the aTm Board of Regents did a flanking move and will vote to move on Monday, one day ahead of the Legislative move. The B of R rules requires less time to publish public meeting dates, so when the Legislature scheduled their meeting to block, the B of R simply scheduled their meeting to move one day ahead. By the time the legislature convenes to keep aTm in the Big XII, they will have already committed to the SEC. Whether or not the Big XII is dead, it is much weaker.

Oh, here's a linky with more exact details: http://texas.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1251051

[CaseyGarrisonforPrez]

The Big XII has a good chance to survive as is in my humble opinion. They can't lose anyone else at this point though. I expect them to inquire about Notre Dame, Arkansas, and BYU. The first two will tell them no quickly but I think BYU might very well accept. The Big XII won't care about BYU's network and it is the only conference option that really exists for BYU at this point. Fair chance it'll happen.

You do realize that the SEC is meeting today to vote on aTm. Also, The Texas Legislature Education Committee is set to meet on Tuesday to block aTm from moving. Unfortunately for the politicians in Austin, the aTm Board of Regents did a flanking move and will vote to move on Monday, one day ahead of the Legislative move. The B of R rules requires less time to publish public meeting dates, so when the Legislature scheduled their meeting to block, the B of R simply scheduled their meeting to move one day ahead. By the time the legislature convenes to keep aTm in the Big XII, they will have already committed to the SEC. Whether or not the Big XII is dead, it is much weaker.

Oh, here's a linky with more exact details: http://texas.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1251051

What is your point exactly John? I am well aware that Texas Aggie is leaving, I've been following this saga closely. When I said that the Big XII can't afford to lose anyone else, I thought it was implied that I was stating this assuming that Aggie is gone and thus meaning anyone in addition to the Aggies.

The league is somewhat weakened, yeah. My understanding of the situation is that the new Big XII TV deal is not affected by Aggie leaving. This is supposedly what the league has been told. Now whether this is truly the case remains to be seen and in any event, it will remain a point of contention. The talk of adding Houston is...well interesting to say the least. Not sure what will happen, but the league will survive as long as Texas wants it to so all eyes are on Deloss Dodds and the power structure at Bellmont.

[MVCfans]

Confirmation from the school:

Texas A&M intends to move from the Big 12 to the Southeastern Conference, where it hopes to begin play in 2012, school officials have said.

After 15 years in the Big 12, Texas A&M has been considering the switch for the second time in a year.

A high-ranking source within Texas A&M confirmed to ESPN's Doug Gottlieb on Saturday morning the Aggies were poised to join the SEC. The San Antonio Express-News reported the time frame of their tentative plans to begin competition.

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story ... icial-says