Yeesh, only the Aggie fans were loud when the SEC talks were heating up. The only thing you heard from A&M themselves were canned responses right before they left. FSU you're doing it wrong.
Still going to be ten times as much money as we were getting in Conference Mickey Mouse. Have fun playing Old Dominion and Charlotte.
Orange Bloods is stirring the pot for the 3rd year in a row about conference realignment. Hope there is some truth to it. Would love to see Florida St & Miami but the EARLY chatter is Clemson. They are saying that Miami and Virgina Tech as well but who knows. Considering the history and caliber of Florida St and Miami, the big 12 would be better off with those additions than they were before everyone left. TCU and West Virgina are all way better on the field than Nebraska, Colorado, A&M and Missou. I know Nebraska has put together a couple good seasons but they have been irreverent since the early 2000s. Miami and Florida St. are both on the same caliber of program and history as Nebraska and A&M. So: The big 12 goes from an at large team to end the year to the SEC. A giant Media Contract (MAYBE) Replacing Colorado, A&M, Nebraska and Missou with Florida St. Miami, TCU & West Virginia. They are better off in every way. All the big 12 haters and A&Mers talking **** can suck it.
Um, those two have been "winning" against the dregs of the MWC and Big East. I think much remains to be seen about the results of TCU and West Virginia when they're playing viable competition on a weekly basis. Get back to me on that comparison in a few years when there's a level playing field. As far as ACC movement, I'll believe it when I see it. If there's one thing to be learned from realignment rumors (for three consecutive years), it's that nothing is done until the ink is dry. We've had two years in a row now where the Big 12 was on the brink of collapse, only to have good fortune step in at the last minute. I don't think it can be stated enough that OU and Oklahoma State were gone eight months ago, only to have the rug swept out from under them by Pac-12 presidents in the final stage. Undoubtedly, the Big 12 is in a lot better shape now - but largely based on external factors. The SEC/Big 12 alliance came to be because Mike Slive (SEC commissioner) needed an ally in playoff talks to counter the Big Ten/Pac 12 faction. TCU and West Virginia are solid additions that helped stop the bleeding on the surface, but they were each desperate given the crumbling of the Big East and didn't really have a choice. The ACC isn't crumbling, yet. I think the football schools want conference leaders to take their needs more seriously and go to bat for them, but there's a LONG history of unity and stability in that league. The relationships between those schools are deep, both in football as well as other sports and academics. The Big 12, on the other hand, is a marriage of convenience. Odd combination of big schools that would love to be elsewhere (if on their terms) and smaller schools that are desperate to hang on. Will Florida State and Miami really leave the ACC to join the up-and-down Big 12 as an island of sorts? I don't doubt that they're sending out "feelers", but I think the end game they hope for is to pressure conference leaders into going to bat for them, both in TV contracts and playoff discussions. Kinda similar to what UT did in its flirtation with the Pac 10 during the first half of 2010. I think the ACC schools want the perception out there that it's almost inevitable, but behind closed doors? I'm not sold that that's their ultimate goal.
Yes, TCU is on par with Nebraska. Big coup for the Big 12, major conferences have been clawing, begging, and bending over to get TCU to join them for years and years and years. All hail the mighty TCU. Yes Miami is the same value as TAMU and Nebraska. Miami packs the house game-in and game-out and everyone tunes in when they play. That possible death penalty that's looming over their heads is no biggie, PSU's scandal made everyone forget about em'. They'll be fine.
But, but, they made a BCS bowl (as if that has any real significance, but that's another discussion) in the past five years! Never mind who they beat to get there, or whether the success appears sustainable in a legitimate league, etc. It never ceases to amaze how simplistic and short-sighted the analysis is for some people on what, in reality, is a 50+ year decision.
Aside from TCU though I like what the Big 12 (Texas?) is doing. I wanted the league to crumble but now they have some serious footing. If they can add an FSU they'll be sitting really pretty. I just don't like how Texas has been running the show (c'mon that's obvious), hopefully the new teams get treated with a little more respect.
I don't think anybody has noticed yet, certainly not the ACC, but the 16 team superconferences are here. That's what the "SEC-Big 12 to play in their own version of the Rose Bowl" thing is all about. That game is eventually going to be the precursor to the national title (it doesn't make any sense that they're selling it so hard if it's just for runners up) vs. the Rose Bowl winner.
i tend to agree..happening a lot more quickly than i guessed, frankly. for selfish reasons, i'm glad it APPEARS AT THIS POINT, that the Big 12 will be a survivor.
Based on the huge factor that they all pledged away their very own Tier 1 media rights. Nothing external to that. Which goes to show how not remotely close the OU defection to the Pac 10 was. As if....
Oh, I agree it's in a good position. But it's more by luck and necessity than anything the league is "doing", I think. For example, from Tulsa's Dave Sittler a couple days ago: The tensions and various agendas that were present the past two years are still there. They're just choosing to deal with it this time because most of the Big 12 schools found out they didn't have options, at least on their terms. The league should survive because there need to be more than three major conferences. The SEC needed a partner, and disagreements be damned, there's more strength in the Big 12 than the ACC as long as Texas is there. So they extended the lifeline, and the Big 12 took it. I'm fine with that and want the league to do well. I'm just amused by the delusions of grandeur from some of the homers, because the league is definitely facing consequences for the missteps of the past few years.
Assuming there's no last-ditch attempt for an eight-team playoff, you're right. But given that reality, I think you're about to see one last push from the ACC for it, since their survival is on the line. It'll be a hail mary, but crazier "last minute" things have happened in the past two years. Dan Wetzel has a nice column up today on this issue. http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ncaaf-...layoff.html;_ylt=AvqmCFz7DNGqnIaT_e4Gy0Y5nYcB
Pretty strong words from Deloss Dodds today, by the way: http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoo...-for-expanding-but-admits-courting-notre-dame Any wonder who the one team "pushing hard to prevent" expansion is? To me, the most likely outcome is the ACC surviving and the Big 12 only adding Notre Dame as a non-football member and having some loose football scheduling alliance with ND.
I agree with Dodds on this. I like playing everyone once. I hated only playing Nebraska every other year and at home every 4 years.
