Big XII to add schools within days?

[Rods79]

But NFL plays on Sunday and college plays on Saturday. I care more about Iowa State than I do the Chiefs, but I still watch every game for both. Comparing fan bases for college and NFL is not a valid comparison.

I’ve explained this in multiple posts. Getting excited and saying UC is the #2 college team in Ohio, while technically accurate, is a mischaracterization of what matters in that state. This assumes there is a dedicated Bearcat fanbase that is going to command significant fan support on Saturday in a state that loves college football, but that simply is not the case.

 

[CyCrazy]

I’ve explained this in multiple posts. Getting excited and saying UC is the #2 college team in Ohio, while technically accurate, is a mischaracterization of what matters in that state. This assumes there is a dedicated Bearcat fanbase that is going to command significant fan support on Saturday in a state that loves college football, but that simply is not the case.

It still matters no matter how much you prefer to trivalize it.

 

[Macloney]

I’ve explained this in multiple posts. Getting excited and saying UC is the #2 college team in Ohio, while technically accurate, is a mischaracterization of what matters in that state. This assumes there is a dedicated Bearcat fanbase that is going to command significant fan support on Saturday in a state that loves college football, but that simply is not the case.

Cincinatti metro has 2.2 million people vs. the State of Iowa's 3.2 and let's not pretend that over half of Iowa are not hawk fans. They are the #8 team in the country right now. Cincinatti is a pretty close and fun trip, it will be okay.

 

[Wally86]

2021 CBS Preseason Rankings

3 OU
6 ISU
11 Cincy
18 Texas
26 OSU
27 UCF
29 TCU
38 WV
45 BYU
59 KSU
66 TT
67 Baylor
72 Houston
113 KU

Louisiana is 25 and Memphis is 40. For discussion sake these schools are ranked higher than BYU and Houston. Could they be better picks? Seems like the 4 teams are about market size like Rutgers and Maryland.

College Football Rankings 2025-26 - CBS Sports Rankings

Get the latest College Football rankings for the 2025-26 season. Find out where your favorite team is ranked in the AP Top 25, Coaches Poll, CBS Sports Rankings, or Playoff Rankings polls and rankings.

www.cbssports.com

 

[clonedude]

Bring your own pop

Provo is not a dry town.

 

[StateThrowdown]

Big12 is about to be they cousin

Only slightly more attractive step brother

 

[Neptune78]

Provo is not a dry town.

Try ordering more than two beers.

 

[Dr.bannedman]

Provo is not a dry town.

Try getting caffeine in that stadium

 

[jmb]

 

[clonedude]

 

[Gilbyone]

The size of the football stadium is a good measure of football interest.
The remaining Big 8 have stadiums: 61,500 (ISU), 60,000 (OkSt), 60,000 (TT), 60,000 (WVa), 50,000 (KSt), 50,000 (TCU), 50,000 (Baylor), and 47,000 (KU). We currently have four schools at about 60,000, and four schools at about 50,000. (This also helps explain the problem with our last big metro school KU.)

Suggested new member stadiums: 77,200 (Houston), 63,470 (BYU), 45,301(Central Florida), and 40,000 (Cincinnati).

The two western schools match our four highest capacity schools, but the two eastern colleges have smaller stadiums than our smallest, so what makes them good for us.

Others could have included Louisville (61,000) etc.

FYI: Boise State is 36,387. UNLV uses the new pro stadium (65,000), but is one more time zone west ----we can inspect it in two weeks.

 

[ILikeBacon]

Cincinatti metro has 2.2 million people vs. the State of Iowa's 3.2 and let's not pretend that over half of Iowa are not hawk fans. They are the #8 team in the country right now. Cincinatti is a pretty close and fun trip, it will be okay.

There is certainly some decent football being played by these additions..

If "old TV models" still apply like B1G fans say, there are also some potential $$ from the new markets. While I assume it will still be a pay cut for the rest of the remaining teams, partial sharing plus the new markets maybe keeps us close-ish to current payouts.

Campbell (and staff) dollars required vs. dollars available is the next key stat to watch.

 

[Rogue52]

The most interesting thing to me is if the 12 schools sign a new GoR immediately. I suspect the answer is NO until the next media rights deal starts in 2025.

Several have asked why we are adding 4 schools immediately. I think it’s a defensive move against the likelihood that there may be more defections come 2025. Who - if anyone - has a realistic shot to join another conference? No idea.

 

[Clonehomer]

After watching some of the games yesterday, I'm going to say that expanding the Big12 feels like a better option than a PAC invite. As the industry moves from TV markets to actual fan support, the PAC is going to continue to fall behind. It's probably best not to hook our wagon to that. And really, if there is talk of only 4 power conferences, the proposed Big12 is still better on the field than them.

 

[CascadeClone]

Bring your own pop

Make sure its caffeine free

 

[jackrabbit]

Houston Cougars play at TDECU Stadium with capacity of 40,000. It is designed to expand to 60,000.

 

[CascadeClone]

Louisiana is 25 and Memphis is 40. For discussion sake these schools are ranked higher than BYU and Houston. Could they be better picks? Seems like the 4 teams are about market size like Rutgers and Maryland.

College Football Rankings 2025-26 - CBS Sports Rankings

Get the latest College Football rankings for the 2025-26 season. Find out where your favorite team is ranked in the AP Top 25, Coaches Poll, CBS Sports Rankings, or Playoff Rankings polls and rankings.

www.cbssports.com

How are louisianas academics and overall student size? I thought they might be interesting since a little closer to ucf, and a new state to cover. Obv they are an afterthought compared to LSU (similar to cincy and osu) but could they be better than houston?

Obv the cmttee didnt think so, i suppose.

 

[knowlesjam]

After watching some of the games yesterday, I'm going to say that expanding the Big12 feels like a better option than a PAC invite. As the industry moves from TV markets to actual fan support, the PAC is going to continue to fall behind. It's probably best not to hook our wagon to that. And really, if there is talk of only 4 power conferences, the proposed Big12 is still better on the field than them.

Depends on the actual media set-up of the Big 12 with the new teams added. Perhaps the combination of traditional and streaming will get us close to current...perhaps not. I think all need to realize that any Big 12 team going to the PAC wasn't going to get a full share for perhaps five years. So even if the PAC does see a bump in revenues, the Big 12 teams were going to see a reduction until they reached full member status.

And new Big 12 will actually be 12 teams...

 

[Rural]

Depends on the actual media set-up of the Big 12 with the new teams added. Perhaps the combination of traditional and streaming will get us close to current...perhaps not. I think all need to realize that any Big 12 team going to the PAC wasn't going to get a full share for perhaps five years. So even if the PAC does see a bump in revenues, the Big 12 teams were going to see a reduction until they reached full member status.

And new Big 12 will actually be 12 teams...

Back to 8 conference games?

 

[AlaCyclone]

The point is they are Buckeye fans primary, and NFL fans secondary. In Cali, they are NFL primary, and pick-your-college secondary. The Buckeyes dominate Saturdays in Ohio, and dominate Ohio sports in general. UC is barely on the radar on Saturday.

This is all true. The Bearcats will never be bigger than Ohio State in the State of Ohio or bigger than the Bengals in the Queen City.

However, on College Football Saturdays, the Bearcats Conference (C-USA / Big East / AAC) non-national Game of the Week is always on Network TV (ABC) in the Cincinnati market in the early afternoon slot. So, Iowa State will find themselves on Network TV (ABC) more often in the Cincinnati market with the addition of UC. That is good thing for Iowa State!

FWIW, I am speaking as a former resident of Cincinnati (17 years) and UC football season ticket holder - when I lived there.

I love the addition of the UC Bearcats to the Big Xii!

Let's Go State!