[College Football] Big Ten, Texas have initial talks

I think it's a reaction to Colorado. Colorado was the logical team in the MWC if Baylor got included in the Pac10 scenario. With them out of the way, Boise has a spot. If the B12 implodes, the MWC is still only 10 teams, so they could happily expand another 2 or 4 teams if KU, KSU, MU, and ISU are available. That covers basically everyone that will be available in any scenario.

 

http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_15277577

Texas regents to meet Tuesday about Big 12 future

AUSTIN, Texas—University of Texas regents will meet next week to decide whether the Longhorns will remain in the Big 12 or switch to another conference.
The regents announced Friday that they will hold a meeting by telephone Tuesday for "discussion and appropriate action regarding athletic conference membership."

The future of the Big 12 is in jeopardy after Colorado agreed Thursday to jump to the Pac-10. The Pac-10 is also reportedly interested in inviting Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech to form a 16-team league.

Nebraska, meanwhile, is expected to announce Friday whether it will remain in the Big 12 or join another conference, likely the Big Ten.

 

If the Big XII looks at adding Louisville, remember your boy, MadMax, and buy him a beer the next time you see him.

 

IF UT can still manage to pull off a join Pac 10/Big XII TV deal....and remain the big dog in the Big XII, pretty much getting whatever they want....

isn't that a better scenario for UT than picking up shop and joining the Pac 10?

Might that still allow them the flexibility for their own network if they still want that?

UT runs the Big XII like they're an independent....if they could get new revenue streams and keep that position, I think that would be a best case for them.

 

Turned of SportsCenter at the office an hour or so back....had CNBC on...

had a Sports Business Reporter on talking about how moving conferences like this isn't a money-maker....and saying it's ridiculous to suggest it will be.

He says if you're not UT (who is well insulated) you will lose money becaise of increased travel costs and so many mouths at the table feeding off the same trough. He was almost incredulous at it...scoffing saying, "i can't believe educated people would actually buy into this."

 

thats kind of what I've been thinking. They also have the BCS bid with the big XII and not much competition other than OU.

 

FWIW -- my understanding is nearly everyone in the athletic dept at UT wants to stay put in the Big XII...but the university's president is the one who wants to move to the Pac 10.

 

And then, of course, there's Barry frickin' Switzer:

http://www.koco.com/sports/23872262/detail.html

Switzer: OU, UT Could Go Independent
Former OU Coach Says Concept Of 16-Team Pac 10 Conference Intriguing
POSTED: 1:18 pm CDT June 11, 2010
UPDATED: 1:20 pm CDT June 11, 2010

NORMAN, Okla. -- A former football coach for the University of Oklahoma says the Sooners and the Texas Longhorns should consider going independent.

Barry Switzer, who coached the Sooners from 1973 until 1989 and won three national titles, talked with Eyewitness News 5's Mark Opgrande on Friday. Switzer said that while the concept of a 16-team Pac 10 conference is intriguing, he believes OU and Texas could survive on their own.

He said that if the Big 12 is truly fracturing, Oklahoma and Texas could put a TV package together, play each other each year and compete as independents for a national championship.

"Everyone says Texas is a giant gorilla. I look at Oklahoma as a pretty good-sized ape," Switzer said.

He believes Oklahoma and Texas should move in the same direction "because we both know who we are when we go on the football field."

 

OU is less important than all the good SEC teams IMO. Am I crazy?

 

you're not crazy.

i can't vouch for Switzer.

 

This sounds right. This is as much about improving the university's academic connections and reputation as it is about sports (both the Pac10 and Big10 moves). The athletic department dominates the B12 and the state, and may or may not dominate a 16-team Pac16. They would also be the ones doing all the travelling. So it's not surprising they are opposed.

The President is looking more long term at the University as a whole. The athletic department is looking more at their immediate futures and how it affects them. That's probably how it should be. I hope the President wins.

 

I feel like if it weren't for TAMU jacking around there would be a Pac-16 already...

 

LOL and TAMU? limbo?

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=5276551

As expected, Nebraska officially accepted an invitation to join the Big Ten Conference, multiple media outlets are reporting.

Nebraska departs the Big 12 to become the 12th member of the Big Ten. Earlier this week, a source told ESPN.com that no other schools are imminent to accompany the Cornhuskers into the Big Ten.

The future of the Big 12 is in jeopardy after Colorado agreed Thursday to jump to the Pac-10. The Pac-10 is also reportedly interested in inviting Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech to form a 16-team league.

University of Texas regents will meet next week to decide whether the Longhorns will remain in the Big 12 or switch to another conference.

The regents announced Friday that they will hold a meeting by telephone Tuesday for "discussion and appropriate action regarding athletic conference membership."

One Big 12 football coach, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach this week that if Nebraska left the Big 12, the conference would dissolve, according to his athletic director and university president.

 

RT @ESPN_BigTen: Perlman: Beebe called two days ago and asked for Nebraska to make commitment to Big 12 through at least 2016

Perlman: "Neither Tom or I thought that was a very long-term commitment to the Big 12."

RT @SeanKeeler: Reading between the lines, Perlman is swinging the 'bad guy' hat back on the heads of the Longhorns. We didn't kill the Big 12 — they did.

RT @SeanKeeler: Perlman: Want to begin competitive play in the Big Ten in 2011, want to begin academic integration immediately.

Perlman: On Big 12 penalty for withdrawal, "any penalty imposed on the University of Nebraska" would be inappropriate.

 

This reminds me of a comic book crossover. You have all these teams in one immersive battle and no one knows the outcome. A new chapter is printed in each "teams" book. Basically, this is the Age of Apocalypse.

 

Osborne: "Harvey took a bit of a beating at the Big 12 meetings. Sometimes, I did." Man, they are just killing the Big 12

RT @ESPN_BigTen: Osborne: Twice asked coaches and administrators what their preference would be. Didn't steer it one way. Both times, vote 100 % Big Ten

RT @marcmorehouse: (Osborne)Breaking up conference, one school leaving doesn't break up, two schools doesn't either. Six, that breaks up a conf. #gazBig12

RT @ESPN_BigTen: Resolution to submit application to the Big Ten has been passed by Board of Regents.