I'm not trying to be mean, but what does Tech bring to the table? Nothing that I can think of. Being physically in Texas is OK, but it's far away from where the HS talent pool is. TU is a tiny private school of less then 5,000. Not about to happen. Rice might have a better chance at the Pac 12, LOL!
Like I said, they aren't anything special but the travel is easier and the Pac 12 has already courted them before so I think they'd take them. They've never even heard of Rice before.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Had a lovely time with UT Chancellor McRaven. <a href="http://t.co/2aXM0sthuZ">pic.twitter.com/2aXM0sthuZ</a></p>— Renu Khator (@UHpres) <a href="https://twitter.com/UHpres/status/544534762937798656">December 15, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> itshappening.gif
IIRC, the only reason the Pac 12 would take them last time is because absorbing Tech was a requirement if UT went. UT got 100% of the "courting". Tech got zero.
Not sure if you're serious. Losing 4 million a year in TV money because two new schools are added to the conference is more important than getting the name right. I would not be surprised if they get that ncaa waver to add a conference championship game with 10 teams since the NCAA gave up so much control to the conferences over the summer. There is no other reason to expand.
As a longhorn fan, and a Houstonian I would love to see the Big 12 add UH. With Big 12 opponents, I would be more apt to go to their games, as would many people I believe. Having said that, I just don't see it happening, they simply add nothing to the teams already in the conference.
Spoiler <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Doesn't necessarily mean B12 is going to change but Bowlsby says it's time to address co-champ philosophy. <a href="http://t.co/xG8oTPhPvN">http://t.co/xG8oTPhPvN</a></p>— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) <a href="https://twitter.com/dennisdoddcbs/status/544973291929075713">December 16, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Bob Bowlsby: Oliver Luck said Big 12's co-champions didn't make a difference w/ playoff committee. <a href="http://t.co/Jht8YWVyPJ">http://t.co/Jht8YWVyPJ</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/dennisdoddcbs">@dennisdoddcbs</a></p>— Jon Solomon (@JonSolomonCBS) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonSolomonCBS/status/544974488559837184">December 16, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Bowlsby: Everybody knows "13 games are better than 12 games. That was .. never said before." <a href="http://t.co/F3aNL9QJYO">http://t.co/F3aNL9QJYO</a></p>— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) <a href="https://twitter.com/dennisdoddcbs/status/544975502084026369">December 16, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Juice boxes for everyone! :grin: <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Bowlsby reiterates no equity partners that fit B12 for expansion. Talking to u Memphis, UConn, Cincy, BYU, USF, UCF. <a href="http://t.co/F3aNL9QJYO">http://t.co/F3aNL9QJYO</a></p>— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) <a href="https://twitter.com/dennisdoddcbs/status/544979291201486848">December 16, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
This is a pretty good article. Four Reasons UCF Will Not Join the Big 12 The reason this article is important is because you could replace "UCF" with virtually any other G5 program and it would be 100% applicable. Right now no one, short of BYU, makes financial sense as a P5 addition. Especially not to the Big 12. The one thing in this article I don't think is accurate is the section about recruiting in Florida. UT/OU probably couldn't give a flying fart to compete with UCF/USF for Florida recruits. They aren't really fishing from the same pond in terms of caliber of athletes. On the whole, the Big 12 (especially the non-premier programs) would benefit from recruiting exposure in Florida. The most important point though is that the Big 12 does not have a network to sell. This undercuts the whole "new markets" argument severely. It's also a huge part of the reason we're seeing the PAC, B1G, SEC, and ACC expanding so much more rapidly than in years prior. These conferences do have a network to sell. The reason the Big 12 will expand, IMO, will be one of 3 reasons: 1) UT/OU get left out of the playoff 2) A G5 program becomes lucrative enough to increase the Big 12 payout 3) Another conference, with a network to sell, will attempt to invade a Big 12 market Depending on how the dice come down, #1 may happen sooner than later. #2 is a virtual lock to never happen. But #3 will eventually happen, probably within 10 years, if not sooner. When it does happen, the Big 12 will be forced to react. How they choose to react will be the interesting part.
Is there any chance that Texas State can become a contender in joining the Big 12 within the next 10 years?
The demise of the Big 12 has been coming for quite some time, and to me seems unavoidable. When the conference was formed UT, OU, A&M, Nebraska and Colorado where all major factors nationally. But fast forward to about 2003 or so, all of the programs save for OU and Texas became also rans, and have largely remained so to this day. The rest of the conference simply does not register nationally, particularly now that the other programs of consequence have vacated the conference. During that same time, Texas under Mack Brown became a monolithic presence money wise. Financially speaking, which is what really matters, Texas became too powerful for the Big 12. They know they can make much more with the LHN than they can make with a Big 12 network. This is clearly detrimental to the conference as a whole, but the only reason this conference still exists is because it allows Texas to have the LHN. A big 12 network without Texas fully committed simply isn't worth much, and to Texas, joining another conference is likely much more beneficial financially than going all in on said network. Simply put, the only thing that could save the conference likely isn't in the best interest of Texas. At some point one of the other schools (probably the Oklahoma programs) will come to the conclusion that joining another conference is their best financial option. At which point Texas will be forced to join another conference.
I think the conference is clearly going backwards, they've made a lot of stupid decisions over the years. They have 99 problems but money isn't one. Those teams will be getting large TV payouts for a while regardless of the quality. They'll always have 1 top 10 team, almost always 2. UT doesn't want to leave, they want their own TV channel, they'll keep the strings on the puppets.
I could see OU getting tired of UT like A&M did and taking OSU to the Pac 12. Problem is the Pac 12 doesn't want OSU.
I think the SEC takes the Oklahoma couple in a heartbeat assuming they can retool their TV contract immediately after. UT would come running at that point I imagine, begging for the SEC to take them too. The SEC would love to add UT, who wouldn't but at that point... it'd be hard for them to get in. The SEC members have kept out FSU and UT is going to want to keep its network. And 16 teams is the most I could see right now.
Conferences should be limited to 12 teams. It's absurd to say you play in the same conference as a school when you could have an entire class of players who do not play that school.
Would the SEC be willing to take OSU with OU if OK state politicians demanded it? Would the SEC be willing to take Tech and Baylor if TX state politicians demanded it? I think OU & UT may be stuck with the Big 12 and can't get out.
