Grading Conference Realignment

[swarthmoreCY]

You don't think they could have gone 18-6 in the Big 12 over the past two years? There's not a single team that they could not have beaten either year. The real problem is that people think teams from three years ago are the same as the current team. A&M is nothing like their former self, and using their success with Manziel/Sumlin compared to the trainwreck of Mike Sherman is flawed completely.

They likely would have done slightly worse in the Big 12. It pays to be different.
You say there is less defense in the Big 12, but we have seen with A$M and MU's success, it is more of a case that there is more offense in the Big 12. In the Big 12 teams have the offense to capitalize on average defenses. If A$M or MU have an off day or injury on offense they cannot count on the other team having a bad offense (unless playing The Mess).

 

[CyCrazy]

A&M also has a different coach and the Heisman winner at QB. There's no doubt they would have done just as well and most likely better yet in the wide open Big 12 where defense is not stressed.

Did you watch the SEC this year? I would hardly say that league stressed defense this year.

 

[Tornado man]

Really, no doubt at all?

I'd say that A&M and Missouri's seasons the last two years, while TCU and WVU have struggled mightily, have shown just how much of a myth SEC superiority is.

How can you say that? Never mind the fact that last year's Texas A&M, which tied for second in the SEC West, pounded the Big 12's best team - OU, 41-13 in the Cotton Bowl...

 

[CyCrazy]

How can you say that? Never mind the fact that last year's Texas A&M, which tied for second in the SEC West, pounded the Big 12's best team - OU, 41-13 in the Cotton Bowl...

So one game proves the SEC far superior then the Big 12? Makes sense.

 

[alarson]

The Big 12 may have lost two high profile programs, but the increased media exposure and massive television contracts make it very hard to call the Big 12 a "loser" with a straight face.

The true test will come as we approach the time for the current GoR to expire and for the next set of contracts. And of course from the other direction, over time we'll see how well these large conferences play out for B10\SEC\ACC. Theyre showing a lot of benefits (they can avoid their top programs running into each other, so they can have multiple 'great' programs) but there are downsides too

 

[swarthmoreCY]

So one game proves the SEC far superior then the Big 12? Makes sense.

Are you not familiar with Tornado Man?

 

[CyCrazy]

Are you not familiar with Tornado Man?

Touche`

 

[drednot57]

Honestly, the biggest winners in conference realignment were ones who got to stay in their conference, and didn't get thrown to the curb; AKA ISU, KSU and KU. Why ESPN didn't consider these three schools is beyond my understanding,