This is so depressing.
First the Big East says they might be interested in KU, KSU, and Mizzou.... and then the Mountain West says they aren't sure if they'd even be interested in ISU either.
Seriously folks, this isn't going well at all. It seems that we provide NOTHING to any conference.
Our best hope might just be that neither the Big East or MWC wants us, and then the Big 10 decides that they need to go to 16, so they take us for some unknown reason?
But if we aren't at least in the Big East after all of this, I will pretty much lose all interest in college athletics period.
I really think all the Big 12 teams will land on their feet somewhere. Iowa State won't fall to the MAC/CUSA or anything crazy like that.
There are a ton of different scenarios that could still play out.
Say for the moment A&M to the SEC happens as expected AND the texoma 4 head to the Pac 16. Not exactly guaranteed at this point but we have to start somewhere. If Texas passes on the Pac it opens up a whole bunch more possible scenarios.
IF the Big Ten can be believed they are currently happy with 12.
The SEC however isn't likely to stay at 13. They will add at least one more.
If they add an ACC team for their 14th member the ACC can raid the Big East for a team getting the ACC back to 12 and leaving the Big East with 4 spots to fill instead of three and ISU is back in the picture just like they were last year. KU, KSU, Mizzou, and ISU all join the Big East.
Or the ACC after losing a team to the SEC raids three Big East teams to match the SEC with 14 teams. The Big East now has 6 teams and merges with the remaining 5 Big 12 teams (BU, ISU, KU, KSU, MU) + one more to form a BCS conference either under the Big 12 name or Big East name with the non football playing schools.
Or the ACC after losing one team decides to expand to 16 in order to match the Pac and secure its self against any future raids leaving the Big East with 4 teams. The four teams join the remaining 5 Big 12 teams and form a new base to rebuild the Big 12 conference.
Or the SEC takes Missouri as their 14th team. This is least messy for them since the Big 12 is already falling apart with A&M gone and the Texoma 4 four to the Pac 16. They won't be seen as a destroyer raiding two different conferences. ISU then takes MU's proposed spot in the Big East with KU and KSU. Assuming the Big Ten and ACC are actually not planning on expanding this is the simplest solution for everyone. And of course my personal favorite for obvious reasons. :smile:
Of course there are still a ton of ways this can all go, but if the Big Ten doesn't expand, Texoma 4 goes to the Pac, and A&M is accepted into the SEC I think those are realistic scenarios. Sadly it is still early in this process but I really think ISU will be fine.
At the absolute worst case scenario the Mountain West would be crazy not to add you all and Baylor. If that did happen the MWC could try to convince BYU to come back and add Houston/SMU and try to take the former Big 12's spot as the 6th AQ BCS conference.