Big 12 Expansion (new thread)
- Thread starter Gilbyone
- Start date
I agree. A late kick every once in awhile is ok and kinda fun. Being in the PAC12 would of been a little much for that.
No one in the mwc does, it was kind of low key because it took a decade or so to happen but that conference more or less had its "upper crust" leave. Losing BYU and Utah was huge, TCU hurt as well. I think it was obvious those were the p5 teams and everyone else is a step down. It's a solid league that is fun to watch but those teams would all be too risky to bet on raising their ceiling. It'll will be similar to what the AAC ends up looking like after the big 12 raiding them this round.
Bingo. I know the majority of it is people just want that Colorado road trip back, but put aside the personal reasons and look at it objectively. Colorado itself is almost worthless in that state because it's all Denver Broncos all day every day. CSU is so far down the list on G5 schools to move up at this point.
The Mtn West and AAC have pretty clear top programs in Boise State and Memphis respectively and then a big gap. It’s a little like the Big 12 after 2010 when the “middle class” of the league was hollowed out. Except this time Boise and Memphis can’t leave for a better league because no one wants them now. Their only other option would be to band together to try to create a clear #6 conference. Which must sting Memphis a bit since they have been in the clear #6 league already and now that’s in peril.
I could see a Louisiana or an App State get on their level with an AAC promotion though.
I think you’re underestimating UCF.
FL is a football crazy state, and historically has been college leaning. Being 4th there is very viable. And if in a real conference UCF is closer to 2nd than 4th. Not in terms of national brand, but they’re way bigger than private Miami, and their location plus sheer size is narrowing the gap on FSU.
Having spent time in Ohio and FL, I’d say UCF carries it’s area better. Rust belt Ohio is a century of die hard Ohio St snd Big 10. Florida is much more transient, so there are so many more free agent fans, and at 71k in a fast growing metro in the center, UCF is becoming relevant t locally much more than Cincy
UCF is going to have the most alumni of any university in the country within a decade - it has a current enrollment of 72,000 - and Orlando is one of the biggest metros in the country without an NFL team. Sure most people there are Gator fans, with some Seminoles and even fewer Hurricanes, but there is still plenty of room to be successful as the #4 team in the state.
And UCF is putting a ton of investment into football. They want to win at the highest level. That will go a long way. They're going to build P5-worthy facilities and as fan support grows they have plans to expand their stadium to what will be one of the largest in the Big 12.
IMO BYU and UCF were no brainer additions (along with Cincinnati). The fact that three schools were just easy slam dunks made it easy, in my mind, to support going to 12 instead of stopping at 10 again, since 12 is more stable as well.
And UCF is putting a ton of investment into football. They want to win at the highest level. That will go a long way. They're going to build P5-worthy facilities and as fan support grows they have plans to expand their stadium to what will be one of the largest in the Big 12.
IMO BYU and UCF were no brainer additions (along with Cincinnati). The fact that three schools were just easy slam dunks made it easy, in my mind, to support going to 12 instead of stopping at 10 again, since 12 is more stable as well.
For night owls like myself, this would be absolute greatness.
I think the people that mention CSU just look at them as replacing Colorado and they fit in footprint. They have a good size enrollment at 33K and the state is growing. The problem is they are bad right now and Colorado doesn't produce a lot of recruits.
I think you also have to look at what is the objective of the expansion. I think the Jamie Pollard interview this week was interesting, in that he said someone is leaking to Pete Thamel who wasn't supposed to be because Thamel is accurate in his reporting.
A few things Thamel is mentioning worth noting. A spread out league with large metro areas(can't remember if he hinted coast to coast), expansion to possibly 16 teams and playing games at flexible times to help the tv contract.
Memphis and Boise St. are the next best content schools, and would seem to be the likely two to go to 14 everyone is telling us but the two schools from large areas to look at if the league goes to 16 is South Florida and San Diego St. Matter of fact, Thamel retreated a tweet and a podcast link where they did discuss SDSU being potentially a good add.
I don't know if I want 16 but who knows this league may actually be aligning with the SEC more for future scheduling than the Alliance and the SEC has 16 schools. If a league wants to play you as a non-conference game they want recruiting areas to see their program.
Also, if BSU & SDSU are additions you have 3 sites you can play late night games for football and basketball.
I don't know what I think of it but it seems plausible in the future. Then again, further expansion could be backfilling from a raided ACC or PAC OR B12 schools could be backfilling those leagues.
I just saw a BYU youtube channel, The "MonteShow" and he was saying that his sources from BYU said that BYU and the Big12 have been talking since a month or two before Texas and Oklahoma announced that they were leaving. He also said that his sources said that the divisions will be:
West - TCU, Baylor, Texas Tech. Houston, Iowa State and BYU
East - K-State, Ku, Oklahoma State, West Virginia, Central Florida and Cincinnati. PurpleWildcat
West - TCU, Baylor, Texas Tech. Houston, Iowa State and BYU
East - K-State, Ku, Oklahoma State, West Virginia, Central Florida and Cincinnati. PurpleWildcat
Don't like those divisions
TDECU Stadium only has a capacity of 40,000 unless Houston is only going to play at NRG once they are in the big 12.
which would be a shame since the stadium is pretty new and looks nice.
Flip ISU and OSU and I might believe it...
Edit* especially considering what Gundy stated this week about the State of Texas being paramount to OSU recruiting success.
those divisions are dumb AF. Especially since ISU is further east than 3 of the eastern schools. It makes more sense to keep Oklahoma with the Texas schools and Iowa State with the kansas schools. It would be a crime to split up Farmageddon.
Another big question:
Do we go the SEC route and move to 8 conference games? So you play your 5 divisional opponents and rotate 3 in the other division every other year.
I would prefer it. Gives us more flexibility to play different non conference opponents rather than being stuck playing only Iowa every year.
Do we go the SEC route and move to 8 conference games? So you play your 5 divisional opponents and rotate 3 in the other division every other year.
I would prefer it. Gives us more flexibility to play different non conference opponents rather than being stuck playing only Iowa every year.
I'd hate to not be in the same division as the Kansas schools...
IMO, it'll be: ISU, KU, KSU, OSU, Cincy and WV
Other division: BYU, TTU, BU, TCU, UH and UCF
For competitive and regional fairness.. I Like ISU, KU, KSU, UH, TCU and BYU
ISU, KSU, KU and Houston are known basketball brands, this splits some of the Texas schools up and currently splits OSU, ISU and Cincy who are currently the top football players
UCF, Cincy and WV get to be together out East. WVU, OSU and Baylor are Very strong in basketball
I would want UCF/Cinci in ISU division for Ohio/FL recruiting. ISU really doesn't attack TX for recruiting. I would think OSU would want TX for recruiting.
I would guess there have been multiple proposals and what BYU would like (TX schools) was provided but UCF and Cinci may not have had their input yet. I'd guess Cinci would want ISU in the same division for travel.
