[College Football] Big Ten, Texas have initial talks

Why would BYU want to be an independent, especially in football?

 

Sounds to me like they're pissed so they're taking their ball and going home. I read they are mad about the TV money they're getting and want to get better deal but I agree, not sure how going indy helps them achieve anything. I also think that is why the MWC is after Texas schools now, as a way to get the Texas TV audience and get a better package thus convenience BYU to stay on.

 

Wow. I didn't figure Houston would make a decision for a while. That news would be shocking.

 

http://www.themwc.com/blog/2010/08/mountain-west-strategizes-with-conference-usa.html

 

BYU already has it's own network. With Utah gone, their chief rival is gone, and the MWC is getting weaker and weaker. To me, picking up more teams is just going to further dilute the conference, and that's not the right direction to go.

I definitely think they can pull off being Notre Dame lite by going independent. They have national appeal with the niche Latter-Day Saint audience, and it frees up their scheduling somewhat.

I'm a BYU alum and I endorse going independent 100%.

 

I would think TCU would love bringing in Houston and potentially SMU into the conference. For them, travel costs and things like that really do matter, and having more local games means better attendance at home games (ie, more money) and less travel. Plus, it gives them more local rivals to play.

 

Things are getting VERY interesting, from Wesley Ruff the Salt Lake City ABC TV sports director....

@wesleyruff4: Here's the latest...BYU to stay in MWC. The MWC adds Houston and Utah State. The WAC goes away so there is no $5 million fine.

 

(continued)

 

So has this been confirmed at all??

 

I've read tweets from Dennis Dodd and Tom Dienhart that UH is going to the MWC and Houston's Rivals site is reporting it's a done deal once BYU confirms it's remaining in the MWC.

But I've also read from Dodd that the MWC Commish says Houston is not in its plans and a partnership with MWC and C-USA is more likely than Houston jumping ship.

 

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/cont...bohls/entries/2011/07/27/no_pac12_for_te.html

No Pac-12 for Texas

In the next two hours, the Pac-12 will make a major announcement concerning the startup for the conference’s new television network next August and its television partner, commissioner Larry Scott just told me.

In addition, Scott hinted with the network’s formation and the launching of the Longhorn Network next month, that Texas probably will never be joining the Pac-12 Conference.

“I think you could certainly imply that, with the news that we’re going to announce tonight,” Scott said in a phone interview from Bristol, Conn. “The Longhorn Network would be certainly a huge impediment.”

That was the case before Texas and four other Big 12 schools chose to remain where they were and not join what was the Pac-10 Conference, and with a Pac-12 Network, joining that league will apparently not be an option for the Longhorns down the road if the Big 12 dissolved.

That said, Scott remains on the record as saying he expects further expansion and realignment down the road.

“I do think there will be further consolidation,” Scott said. “It’s not something we are looking at now. We did our deal. We’re very happy with it. We’re not thinking or looking at expanding at the moment, but we are trying to create the strongest conference possible. I do feel there will be further expansion, and I want to be an attractive place to come.”

 

Texas is going to go independent. It's only a matter of time and a big mistake.

 

I don't know if its a mistake. Seems like their best bet to me. Especially when the rest of the college football landscape is so unbalanced and stale. Why are you against it?

 

While I don't like our crappy conference, it is the easiest way to get into the national championship game year after year. Beat OU, aTm, and the lesser JV schools and they're in due to media bias. It won't be so easy as an independent. Plus, where will our other sports move to? Basketball, what conference? Too many negatives imo.

 

I guess the Big 12 is an easy road, didn't think of that. The other sports needing a conference shouldn't be a big deal though. They'll improve in those sports due to the increased exposure, and if you're good in a sport like basketball you transcend your conference fairly easily. Besides, they can just stay in the Big 12 no? Or move to the SEC. No biggie.

 

Texas should go independent. Texas has the name, fan base, and TV network.

Just imagine 6-7 home games a year on your network!

But there's no Iowa State, Baylors, etc. on the schedule.

A lot of conferences would j*zz to take Texas' other sports if the Big 12 kicked them out...MWC, C-USA, WAC, etc.

 

If Texas leaves the Big 12 the conference will fold. I'm looking forward to it too!
Texas (Ind); aTm (SEC); Tech (Pac 10); Baylor (MWC); TCU, Houston (Big East); North Texas (Sun Belt); Rice, UTEP, SMU (Conf USA); UTSA, Texas St (WAC) (starting in 2012).

That's 12 Division 1A schools in 7 different conferences with Texas being independent. Compared to right now with 10 DI-A schools in 4 different conferences. College football in Texas is going to be much more fun to watch when this happens. UH has had interest in going to Big East along with TCU for football only, that'd be great.

If that's still not enough you got DI-AA, TSU and Prairie View A&M in SWAC. Along with Sam Houston, Lamar and SFA in the Southland Conference; West Texas A&M wants to move up from DII after UTSA and Texas St leave while getting UT-Arlington(already in Southland) its football program back since the 80's.

College football can't get any better than this, if fans from other states look at this post they would be completely envious of Texas. Hopefully the majority of you don't just blindly cheer for UT(alumnist excluded) and only pay attention to the Big 12, your missing out on some great college football in Texas.