Conference Realignment

[bamabear82]

The Alabama and Mississippi schools disagree.

Vandy and UTenn too.

 

[Nerdlinger]

The Alabama and Mississippi schools disagree.

Vandy and UTenn too.

I think the difference there is that those schools were all founding members of the SEC. However, I'm sure if the SEC could cut loose Vanderbilt and Mississippi State, they would. Auburn certainly pulls its weight as #2 in Alabama though.

 

[outofyourmind]

You know who's fucked when the Big XII breaks up.

1. Texas Tech
2. Baylor
3. Iowa State
4. Kansas State
5. Oklahoma State
6. TCU

Those teams will be lucky to get an invite to the AAC or whateverthefuck.

Teams who are not fucked

1. Oklahoma
2. Texas
3. Kansas
4. West Virginia = unless Oklahoma/Texas go to the SEC and ACC then they're fucked.

 

[Nerdlinger]

In order of least likely to most likely to be fucked by a Big 12 breakup:

1. Texas
2. Oklahoma
3. Kansas
4. West Virginia
5. Texas Tech (most likely to be saved by tagging along with Texas)
6. Oklahoma State (ditto, but with Oklahoma)
7. TCU
8. Kansas State
9. Iowa State
10. Baylor

 

[Fountain City Blues]

I don't think I am half as comfortable about KU getting an upgrade by going to the BIG as this board seems to be. Wouldn't like it really, but I am not getting the Big 8 back and you can't put humpty dumpty back together either. Well, KU would get hammered by Nebraska a bunch again...

 

[Nerdlinger]

I don't think I am half as comfortable about KU getting an upgrade by going to the BIG as this board seems to be. Wouldn't like it really, but I am not getting the Big 8 back and you can't put humpty dumpty back together either. Well, KU would get hammered by Nebraska a bunch again...

Kansas has a lot of options. Any of the four other power conferences might take them. Of course, if they drop down to the American or MWC, their opponents might be a bit easier.

 

[Innermind]

As for K-State, the Big Ten certainly wouldn't take them, but what about the SEC? They have a decent football program, it would be a new state for the conference, and the SEC doesn't care much about academics.

I agree that Baylor and Texas Tech are not in the cards for the SEC, but how about TCU? They don't seem all that unlikely an add.

Yeah, technically Kansas would be a new state for the SEC... BUT... Kansas is a low population state... ranked 35th with only 2.9 million residents... that's not something to be desired. However.... look at the the state of Ohio - ranked 7th in population with 11.6 million residents! Now we're talking a more desirable market. If the SEC is looking for a new state in which to expand, they need look no further than Ohio. IMO, the Cincinnati Bearcats would be a much better match for the SEC than K-State. I'm not saying the SEC would expand... but if they did, Cincinnati would have a better shot at SEC membership than K-State. Once Bill Snyder retires, K-State will most likely slip into obscurity. If the Big 12 collapses, K-State is MWC material.

As for TCU... I actually believe that wouldn't be such a bad addition for the SEC in order to get more exposure in the Dallas market area.
If Oklahoma and Texas go to the B1G or PAC, I could possibly (but not likely) see the SEC consider grabbing Oklahoma State and TCU. BUT.... the SEC already has Texas cable deals in place, so TCU probably wouldn't add much to the SEC...... but again, as I already mentioned, the state of Ohio is an interesting (but not likely) possibility for the SEC with the Cincinnati Bearcats.

In order of least likely to most likely to be fucked by a Big 12 breakup:

1. Texas
2. Oklahoma
3. Kansas
4. West Virginia
5. Texas Tech (most likely to be saved by tagging along with Texas)
6. Oklahoma State (ditto, but with Oklahoma)
7. TCU
8. Kansas State
9. Iowa State
10. Baylor

I would put Iowa State ahead of K-State in desirability for one main reason... academics. Iowa State is an AAU member, and that fact could possibly rescue the Cyclones if the Big 12 collapses.... meaning both the PAC and ACC would probably take Iowa State over K-State because of academics..... but something like this would only happen if the 4 power conferences expand beyond 16 members after the hypothetical collapse of the Big 12.

I would probably also place Baylor over K-State in desirability because Baylor is located in Texas... and a Texas presence would be much more desirable for conferences (such as the ACC) than would a Manhattan, Kansas presence!

 

[ralphiewvu]

You know who's fucked when the Big XII breaks up.

1. Texas Tech
2. Baylor
3. Iowa State
4. Kansas State
5. Oklahoma State
6. TCU

Those teams will be lucky to get an invite to the AAC or whateverthefuck.

Teams who are not fucked

1. Oklahoma
2. Texas
3. Kansas
4. West Virginia = unless Oklahoma/Texas go to the SEC and ACC then they're fucked.

This is exactly why I pray this conference doesn't dissolve. Even if ut/OU go to the PAC, I'm not so confident WVU is safe. I really think we'd get passed over.

 

[Deep Creek]

You know who's fucked when the Big XII breaks up.

1. Texas Tech
2. Baylor
3. Iowa State
4. Kansas State
5. Oklahoma State
6. TCU

Those teams will be lucky to get an invite to the AAC or whateverthefuck.

Teams who are not fucked

1. Oklahoma
2. Texas
3. Kansas
4. West Virginia = unless Oklahoma/Texas go to the SEC and ACC then they're fucked.

I agree 100%. And one would be able to come up with similar lists if any conference imploded. Let's face reality here, there are only a few "national draw" gems in each conference and the rest are viewed as varying degrees of ugly step children. Hell, we already have a thread to discuss the SEC divesting itself of Mizzou!

 

[outofyourmind]

the rest are viewed as varying degrees of ugly step children. Hell, we already have a thread to discuss the SEC divesting itself of Mizzou!

Like the Big XII did:
Colorado
Missouri
Texas A&M

• 

 

[jonvi]

This is exactly why I pray this conference doesn't dissolve. Even if ut/OU go to the PAC, I'm not so confident WVU is safe. I really think we'd get passed over.

That would be a crime.

 

[Deep Creek]

This is exactly why I pray this conference doesn't dissolve. Even if ut/OU go to the PAC, I'm not so confident WVU is safe. I really think we'd get passed over.

I can see that being a legitimate concern for the couch burners. But I think West Virginia and Okie Lite are less ugly step children than Texas Tech, Iowa State, K-State, Baylor and TCU.

 

[outofyourmind]

I can see that being a legitimate concern for the couch burners. But I think West Virginia and Okie Lite are less ugly step children than Texas Tech, Iowa State, K-State, Baylor and TCU.

I think this same thing.
However, in the end, I don't think it helps them when it comes to finding a better home than the others.

They will all start a new conference and called "The Homeless" 16

 

[batchaps4me]

Vandy and UTenn too.

I want to say something like I was only including football schools but this thread has been such a great read that one jackass shouldn't derail it. It is hard for me not to be a jackass.

I think the difference there is that those schools were all founding members of the SEC. However, I'm sure if the SEC could cut loose Vanderbilt and Mississippi State, they would. Auburn certainly pulls its weight as #2 in Alabama though.

Good and fair points(except for that Auburn #2 joke ). I have family ties to both Vanderbilt and State so I would hate to see them go. IMHO neither will ever be on the chopping block, at least in our lifetimes.

 

[ralphiewvu]

I think this same thing.
However, in the end, I don't think it helps them when it comes to finding a better home than the others.

They will all start a new conference and called "The Homeless" 16

An we'll get Notre dame to join and piss everyone off.

Iowa St
K-State
Baylor
TCU
Notre Dame
Navy
BYU
Cincy
Uconn
WVU

BOOM

 

[outofyourmind]

An we'll get Notre dame to join and piss everyone off.

Iowa St
K-State
Baylor
TCU
Notre Dame
Navy
BYU
Cincy
Uconn
WVU

BOOM

Notre Dame is happy in the ACC and happy not in the ACC.
All at the same time.

 

[Nerdlinger]

Some possible roads to a 4x16 power conference scenario by 2025 (* = football-only affiliates):

Scenario 1
Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, and Texas Tech to Pac-12/16
Kansas and Missouri to Big Ten
Houston/Kansas State, TCU, and West Virginia to SEC
Cincinnati/Connecticut and Notre Dame to ACC

Scenario 2
Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, and Texas Tech to Pac-12/16
Iowa State and Kansas to Big Ten
Houston/Kansas State/TCU and West Virginia to SEC
Cincinnati/Connecticut and Notre Dame to ACC

Scenario 3
Kansas and Oklahoma to Big Ten
Boise State*, BYU*, Texas, and Texas Tech to Pac-12/16
Oklahoma State and West Virginia to SEC
Cincinnati/Connecticut and Notre Dame to ACC

Scenario 4
Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and West Virginia to SEC
Kansas and Missouri to Big Ten
Boise State*, BYU*, Texas, and Texas Tech to Pac-12/16
Cincinnati/Connecticut and Notre Dame to ACC

Scenario 5
Oklahoma and Oklahoma State to SEC
Iowa State and Kansas to Big Ten
Boise State*, BYU*, Texas, and Texas Tech to Pac-12/16
Notre Dame and West Virginia to ACC

What's interesting is that all these realignments hinge upon where Oklahoma chooses to go rather than where Texas does, despite Texas being the most sought-after prize. OU leaving for the Pac makes it harder for the Big Ten and SEC to realistically reach 16, putting such dubious adds as ISU and KSU into the mix. Conversely, OU going to the Big Ten or SEC leaves the Pac resorting to football-only affiliates. I suppose all this goes to show is that the ideal scenario of 4 power conferences of 16 may be a longshot.

 

[USCDoom]

We need Contraction not Expansion...

Here is what I would like to see
1 - USC, UCLA, Arizona, Arizona State, Stanford, California, Oregon, Oregon State, Washington, Washington State
2 - Boise State, Utah, BYU, Colorado, Colorado State, Nebraska, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, Missouri
3. Texas, Texas Tech, TCU, Baylor, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Houston, Rice(?)
4. Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Purdue, Northwestern, Minnesota, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State
5. Boston College, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Penn State, Maryland, Syracuse, Rutgers, West Virginia, Louisville, UConn
6. Virginia, Wake Forest, Duke, North Carolina, NCState, Florida State, Clemson, Miami, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech
7. Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Kentucky, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia

Too hard to get 8 10 school conferences that makes sense, so how about a Wild Card?

 

[outofyourmind]

No No No

The best of the Big XII and the ACC put together.

Oklahoma
Texas
Kansas
West Virginia
Florida State
Clemson
Miami
Virginia Tech

and just to round it out
Duke, you know, because, basketball
North Carolina, need their academic plan, and basketball to go with Kansas and Duke
Oklahoma State, just because we need some laughs
Iowa State, because, you know they beat Iowa half the time.

 

[AlaskaGuy]

Poor Cyclones.

Iowa State ... has ... upside?