***Official Big 12 Expansion Thread '16***

[NetflixAndClone]

I remember someone from Air Force stating that they would not be interested. He didn't think it would be a good fit or good for their players.

Yeah I remember their AD says that I think it was four years ago? But it was released that they are interviewing and presenting to the big 12 for membership. It might be because now service players can leave for the NFL and pros if they are good enough. They might feel like they are able to complete well enough for the P5.

 

[cyclones500]

BYU will be pulling out of candidacy for the big 12 over the social media backlash from LGBT and sexual assault cases.

So, the media backlash will somehow vanish if BYU stays independent?

 

[HoopsTournament]

Cincinnati, Houston, BYU, South Florida, Central Florida, UConn, Memphis, Boise State, Colorado State, Temple, Tulane, East Carolina, SMU, New Mexico and Northern Illinois. ??

are you effing kidding me? Cincy, BYU are the only ones with value. (academics, athletics, national stature) What the h#ll are we wasting our time talking to old WAC and MAC schools??

You people who hate Texas be careful what you wish for. Bowlsby forces a few of these crap schools on us, Texas and OU will leave the Big 12

Let's see, lets trade 85,000-90,000-seat stadiums for NIU and New Mexico and Colo St----and their 18,000-27,000 crowds. Yes...MAKES A LOT OF SENSE

Good gawd A & M and Nebraska left with huge FB followings----and we want to further water down this conference? Because Texas and OU are too good and don't play "fair"

screw that. Political correctness and the whiners out there need to stay out of this process.

There is a hierarchy in every corporation, conference. Life isn't fair. So you think the U of Iowa is going to rock the boat because Michigan, Mich St., Ohio State, and Penn St help subsidize their athletic department?

Nobody would be forcing any schools on Texas or OU. If the Big 12 expands, it will only happen if Texas and OU both want to. The only ones that have a shot if we are expanding by 2 schools are BYU, Houston and Cincinnati. And if the stories about BYU withdrawing are true, then it will be Cincinnati and Houston. And Texas will have picked Houston and Oklahoma will have picked Cincinnati. The other schools on the list are not serious candidates, so why get your panties in a bunch over teams that are not going to happen?

Lastly, Houston and Cincinnati are better football programs than Wake Forest, Boston College, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Purdue, Indiana, Oregon State, Rutgers and probably some others. They do not water down this conference any more those teams water down those conferences. The Big 12 will still have the second best football conference behind the SEC.

 

[Mtowncyclone13]

Nobody would be forcing any schools on Texas or OU. If the Big 12 expands, it will only happen if Texas and OU both want to. The only ones that have a shot if we are expanding by 2 schools are BYU, Houston and Cincinnati. And if the stories about BYU withdrawing are true, then it will be Cincinnati and Houston. And Texas will have picked Houston and Oklahoma will have picked Cincinnati. The other schools on the list are not serious candidates, so why get your panties in a bunch over teams that are not going to happen?

Lastly, Houston and Cincinnati are better football programs than Wake Forest, Boston College, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Purdue, Indiana, Oregon State, Rutgers and probably some others. They do not water down this conference any more those teams water down those conferences. The Big 12 will still have the second best football conference behind the SEC.

Doesn't every sports authority say the big 12 is 4 or 5 out of 5? We are clearly top 2 in bball but everything I've read puts us behind even the acc in football. This isn't my opinion, just things I've read.

 

[Clone2Dbone]

I was all for BYU as my #1, despite reservations about their religion.

Then I learned more about how crazypants their honor code is, and I can definitely say I hope they don't make it in without some radical changes.

As it stands now, the honor code is unconscionable for how it affects victims of sexual assault.

http://www.sltrib.com/home/3817597-155/sexual-assault-victims-say-abusers-wield

Ah, yes, fundamentalism is a many-splendored thing.

 

[Clone2Dbone]

I think UCF is the obvious first choice, not necessarily the university, but because of their strong head coaching decision. I mean it takes a brave man to come out of the closet.

 

[Cloneman89]

Heard Arkansas State was 17? Hoped it was ND and the ACC delayed FB schedule due to unease about ND plans. Now hear BYU is withdrawing due to some LGBT'ers? Screw that - if you don't like a private religious institutions rules -don't go there! I hope BYU is one oft the schools, B12 needs relevance. Houston is a commuter school and CSU is a juco. Anyone beyond BYU/Cincy on this list are jokes. These tools in suits have created a ****storm. Taking the money and running in 2025.

 

[HFCS]

There are times I wonder if Bowlsby is the right man for this job. If he has his eye on the Big 10 job after Delaney, I could see him going with the safe bet in all of this. Not ruffle any feathers. I think we need more of a riverboat gambler willing to shake things up, that will go after the Big Dogs. Someone not afraid to embellish the Big 12 and swing for the fences. Even if it means calling out OU or UT. I just don't see that in Bob.

If Pollard were B12C Louisville would be in the Big 12, not the ACC with grant of rights signed. I'm almost certain he makes that move or convinces enough members to make it when Louisville publicly begged to specifically join the Big 12. They were asking to join the B12, not the ACC. Now they're locked into the ACC when we would love to have them. Not that I don't want Pollard to be our AD but he is drastically better at going for the big victory than our last two B12 commissioners.

We have sucked at this whole thing every step of the way. This 17 team interview is just another stage of sucking at this compared to the other 4 conferences. Hope I'm wrong. If we go through this whole process in public, and not privately like every other league, and end up adding freaking Houston the conference is completely hopeless.

 

[1976]

Doesn't every sports authority say the big 12 is 4 or 5 out of 5? We are clearly top 2 in bball but everything I've read puts us behind even the acc in football. This isn't my opinion, just things I've read.

Obviously I'm biased, but I would rather watch any Big 12 game over the ACC. But I think the 2015 ratings showed that the ratings were higher for all other major conferences in football outside of the Pac 12. It makes sense because I'm guessing they have higher populated areas than we do even with Texas. Nobody cares about Pac 12 football because apparently they have better things to do in California. I would still love to have Pac 12 schools in the Big 12 but I doubt it would happen,

 

[isuno1fan]

If Pollard were B12C Louisville would be in the Big 12, not the ACC with grant of rights signed. I'm almost certain he makes that move or convinces enough members to make it when Louisville publicly begged to specifically join the Big 12. They were asking to join the B12, not the ACC. Now they're locked into the ACC when we would love to have them. Not that I don't want Pollard to be our AD but he is drastically better at going for the big victory than our last two B12 commissioners.

We have sucked at this whole thing every step of the way. This 17 team interview is just another stage of sucking at this compared to the other 4 conferences. Hope I'm wrong. If we go through this whole process in public, and not privately like every other league, and end up adding freaking Houston the conference is completely hopeless.

Thank god he wasn't because Louisville was never a good choice. Cincy isn't either. Stay at ten and take the money.

 

[clonedude]

If we add just 2, which I think is the best move because 14 waters it down too much, then BYU and Cincy would be my choices.

If BYU is no longer an option, then I guess I could accept Houston and Cincy. I think Cincy is a great choice because it helps WV from being on such an island, has a large population, and is very competitive in both football and basketball. In fact, they have been more competitive in football and basketball over the years than some of the current Big 12 members, us included.

And I think you should go with Eastern and Western divisions instead of North and South to try to keep each division somewhat equal. Otherwise a South division would be loaded, and the North would be pretty weak, like the B1G West currently is. Of course a weak North would be great for us, I just don't think it would be that great for the conference.

 

[clonedude]

Thank god he wasn't because Louisville was never a good choice. Cincy isn't either. Stay at ten and take the money.

And watch the conference crawl to it's eventual slow death? You do understand if we stay at 10, the Big 12 won't exist for very long, right? So you want to take the money now, and have ISU be a part of the MAC someday? Is that your plan?

 

[cykadelic2]

And watch the conference crawl to it's eventual slow death? You do understand if we stay at 10, the Big 12 won't exist for very long, right? So you want to take the money now, and have ISU be a part of the MAC someday? Is that your plan?

The B12 will likely extend the GOR with the existing 10 schools and increased payouts to those 10. Fox will demand it so they can retain UT and OU beyond the end of the current TV deals and GOR.

 

[everyyard]

I would stay at 10 with the options of teams available but you don't publicly state you are looking at 17 teams and then say not expanding. Well, maybe the BigXII does...anyway, we are either expanding within that list or much less likely expanding with surprise teams, but we are expanding.

 

[isuno1fan]

And watch the conference crawl to it's eventual slow death? You do understand if we stay at 10, the Big 12 won't exist for very long, right? So you want to take the money now, and have ISU be a part of the MAC someday? Is that your plan?

I don't mind if the Big 12 dies because we won't be relegated to the MAC, MWC, AAC, or any other non power conference. There is a home for us in the PAC, ACC, or SEC.

 

[CYCLNST8]

I think you should go with Eastern and Western divisions instead of North and South to try to keep each division somewhat equal. Otherwise a South division would be loaded, and the North would be pretty weak, like the B1G West currently is. Of course a weak North would be great for us, I just don't think it would be that great for the conference.

Cincinnati
Houston
Iowa State
Kansas
Kansas State
West Virginia

Baylor
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Texas
Texas Christian
Tech

That's the easiest way to do it; preserving rivalries.

"Houston the commuter school" could very well become a juggernaut as a power 5.

 

[Stormin]

IMO, it looks like 2 schools will be added. We need 2 divisions and a CCG. It will likely be Cincy and Houston. Put the 2 Oklahoma schools with WVU and Cincy and ISU. Take a pick of K-State, Kansas, or Houston, to go with them. Texas--Oklahoma will be a protected rivalry game. Networks will want the showdown. I am inclined to put Kansas in the same division as ISU and put K-State in the same division as the Texas schools.

BYU will likely be left out. That is the way it is looking.

 

[Cy$]

I don't mind if the Big 12 dies because we won't be relegated to the MAC, MWC, AAC, or any other non power conference. There is a home for us in the PAC, ACC, or SEC.

the same odds that I sleep with Jessica Alba this week as ISU joining the SEC

 

[acgclone]

I don't mind if the Big 12 dies because we won't be relegated to the MAC, MWC, AAC, or any other non power conference. There is a home for us in the PAC, ACC, or SEC.

At BEST we would have a 50% chance of getting into one of those leagues. Our tv numbers don't look very attractive.

 

[Clonehomer]

Cincinnati
Houston
Iowa State
Kansas
Kansas State
West Virginia

Baylor
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Texas
Texas Christian
Tech

That's the easiest way to do it; preserving rivalries.

"Houston the commuter school" could very well become a juggernaut as a power 5.

Honestly, it would probably be in the league's best interest to give these new schools an easy division to prop them up prior to the next round of TV negotiations. Any immediate success may show them to be P5 worthy thus boosting the conference brand.