Where Will ISU End Up if the Big 12 Implodes?

Where Will ISU End Up If the Big 12 Implodes?


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quasistellar

Well-Known Member
Feb 29, 2016
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I don’t think the Big 10 is an “ISU thing” as in “the Big doesn’t want ISU. I think if they wanted expand ISU would have a chance, it’s more about them just not doing anything. The only school that they would 100% absolutely rock the boat for would be ND.

Okay, so, for the sake of argument, let's say adding ISU would be a net neutral or positive revenue-wise.
Let's also assume ND is off the table at the moment, along with other non-big12 schools.

ISU currently is a preseason top 10 team, with an overall upward trajectory, AAU school, and a relatively popular rivalry game built in with Iowa.

Given the SEC is about to add Texas and OU, why would the B1G not want to grab us if we approached them? It seems to me, that despite what some are saying, doing nothing isn't necessarily in their best interest, seeing as how the SEC is moving very aggressively.
 
  • Disagree
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clonefreek

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Jun 24, 2009
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I think the big12 goes out and tries to get back to 12 teams. I think they should either go east or west. So if they go east add Memphis, Cincy, UCF and try and steal Virginia Tech or Virginia. Or go West and add Boise, Colorado State, Houston and UNLV. Definitely weakens the conference but were not going to be able to add in a big name team. I just dont see us getting invited to any big conference, as sad as it is. And if we dont end up in a big conference i think Iowa State should sue oklahome and texas for costing this school millions in revenue.
 
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Jack Gladney

Active Member
Oct 31, 2017
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The ACC is pretty much off limits because their grant of rights goes another 15 years and they have a large exit fee. If the Big 10 decides to expand, and that is a big if, then our competition is the other Big 12 schools plus schools not currently in a P5, like Cincinnati, Houston, Memphis, UCF, and USF. However, one other school that might be poached from another P5 is Missouri. They always wanted to be in the Big 10, and if they got the chance they might take it. And the SEC, being confident that its the premier football league, doesn't have an exit fee and, IIRC, allows schools to take their rights with them if they decide to go. So that makes Missouri a real possibility for the Big 10. And if Missouri goes to the Big 10, that would leave just one other slot instead of two. And we'd have zero chance of replacing Missouri in the SEC. That slot would almost surely go to OSU.
 

deadeyededric

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Dec 12, 2009
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Parts Unknown
I think the big12 goes out and tries to get back to 12 teams. I think they should either go east or west. So if they go east add Memphis, Cincy, UCF and try and steal Virginia Tech or Virginia. Or go West and add Boise, Colorado State, Houston and UNLV. Definitely weakens the conference but were not going to be able to add in a big name team. I just dont see us getting invited to any big conference, as sad as it is. And if we dont end up in a big conference i think Iowa State should sue oklahome and texas for costing this school millions in revenue.
There is zero chance Virginia or Virginia Tech leave stable environments to join a Big 12 that doesn't have Texas or OU. There is no financial incentive to do so.
 

inCyteful

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Feb 28, 2012
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This is a tough post for me to write.

This is all my fault, UT and OU leaving, the trend toward us heading to the Pac 12. I think I started it.

When we moved to Colorado in 2009, I was thrilled with the fact that ISU would come to the Front Range every other year and would be in the news here as a Big XII team along with CU. Of course, 2010/2011 happened.

I thought ISU/CU might schedule a home/away series. Of course not.

I think sometime during the COVID lockdown I made a deal and sold my soul (probably under the influence of too much IPA) that whatever it took, get ISU back to games on the Front Range. Didn't think it would come to this though.

So Sorry.
 

FallOf81

Well-Known Member
Oct 24, 2017
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Just better win the the CFB championship this year and give a big F-U to everyone.
Beating both of them this year, and one of them in the Championship game would be the icing on the cake. The media would have a blast with that. Headline "Once Doormat ISU Kicks Outgoing Teams Out The Door Themselves!"
 

CrossCyed

Well-Known Member
Mar 30, 2006
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While it's hard to be optimistic about ISU's landing spot in all of this, all I do know is that if I want anyone at the helm during this crisis, it is Jamie Pollard. Granted, while that may not mean we end up with the favorable outcome we would all like, it at least gives us a fighting chance.

The university presidents are the much more important ones in all of this. In none of these articles have Chris Del Conte or Joe Castiglione been mentioned much. They were certainly aware, but the majority of this stuff happens above the athletics department level. I would imagine Pollard would be involved in any of this, but Wintersteen is the actual one at the helm.
 

Triggermv

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Jul 16, 2010
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The university presidents are the much more important ones in all of this. In none of these articles have Chris Del Conte or Joe Castiglione been mentioned much. They were certainly aware, but the majority of this stuff happens above the athletics department level. I would imagine Pollard would be involved in any of this, but Wintersteen is the actual one at the helm.

You raise a good point, but I have zero doubt Pollard and her are working hand-in-hand on this.
 

BWRhasnoAC

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He’s still gonna look out for his own. But I think it’s way above even him at this point.
We're basically their only real rival anymore. Big ten basketball kind of sucks to be honest I'm not really happy to be a part of that if we do move over but everything else would be better for Iowa State if we ended up in the Big ten. In the end it's probably fairly insignificant but right now we need as many friends as we can get.
 
  • Agree
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BWRhasnoAC

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Just throwing stuff at the wall right now but what if the Big 10 tried to poach Cal UCLA USC Oregon ISU KU. That would be a massive Flex and I think one of the only things that could compete with a super league in the SEC.
 
  • Disagree
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ForeverIowan

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Feb 23, 2013
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The Big Ten is not going to do a damn thing that would piss off their major players Ohio State, Michigan and Penn state. If you are the President and AD of those Universities what net positive does the addition of Iowa State and Kansas bring to those institutions? AAU status perhaps? I'm not familiar with the financial incentives there. I truly do not know the answer to that. If there is no net positive there is no reason to extend an invite. Folks in those positions aren't out to do anyone any favors. Quite frankly it is out of Jamie Pollards hands. If we do not strengthen their university and conference and financial standing there is nothing he can do.
 

CysRage

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Oct 18, 2009
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This is my first time posting since everything went down. Assuming OU and Texas are gone, ISU’s best case is to join the Big Ten and anything after that will destroy ISU Athletics as we know it. I’m sorry but a Big 12 without OU and Texas is a glorified MWC (similar to AAC). There very well could be no interest from the Big Ten to add ISU (or Kansas) but if there is, ISU (and KU) would be out of their mind to not take the offer. For ISU, Campbell practically primarily recruits Big Ten territory anyways so it actually could help in FB recruitment. Both ISU and KU are a natural fit for the Big Ten (academics, geography, natural rivals) with the exception of neither bringing in Elite level eyeballs (which nowadays means everything).

If the Big Ten passes, naturally the PAC is the next best but in my opinion it’s a huge drop off from the Big Ten and the Pac would be even less interested in ISU than the Big Ten. No offense to Iowa at all but who on the west coast will look forward to cold late fall games in Ames? We have little to nothing in common with the west coast schools and practically no games within driving distance (except any old Big 12 foes who also defected should ISU flee to the Pac). This would absolutely kill ISU FB recruiting as it is a whole new territory we would have to recruit. After the PAC, another huge drop off would be to remain in a OU or UT less Big 12 minus the current teams who were able to get PAC, Big Ten, ACC invites. This isn’t a Power 5 league, this is essentially the AAC. I won’t keep going.

I know most of this is common knowledge but I see some people are saying the Big Ten isn’t ISU’s best option if OU and Texas leave. I see zero positives on ISU’s outlook if OU and UT leave and there isn’t a Big Ten invite for ISU.