How's this for a possible scenario:

 

Missouri threatens to leave the Big XII unless they go to 12 teams and get a conference title game again.

 

That means the Big XII ends up at 12 either way, but one way leaves one of the three Big East candidates holding an enormous bag of crap. I know who I vote for.

 

All signs point to it being UC left holding the flaming bag of crap at the moment...

From what I have heard it is going to cost Mizzou about $41 million if they leave the Big 12. Ouch...

 

If it goes through, I doubt it is anywhere near that number.

The bylaws in the Big 12 are screwed up.

Remember, there was talk of Nebraska and Colorado having to pay 20+ million to exit, but in the end it was less than 10 million.

If the Big 12 wants to be at 12 teams why are they waiting to offer 2 other teams? Seems silly to wait. If Mizzu goes they still need to add an additional team to meet 12.

If the Big 12 wants to be at 12 teams why are they waiting to offer 2 other teams? Seems silly to wait. If Mizzu goes they still need to add an additional team to meet 12.

 

I don't believe the two big boys in the Big XII want to go to 12 teams. Less teams means an easier path to a national championship for Texas/Oklahoma. The little boys all want the championship game, because its an extra shot at getting to a BCS bowl and it can potentially be a financial gold mine.

 

The addition of TCU seems like a concession from Texas (and slightly Oklahoma) so that the other guys won't call for 12 teams and a conference championship game.

If the Big 12 wants to be at 12 teams why are they waiting to offer 2 other teams? Seems silly to wait. If Mizzu goes they still need to add an additional team to meet 12.

 

If they go ahead and offer Louisville and West Virginia (for example), then Missouri leaves, they are stuck on 11. Then they almost have to add a 12th school, probably Cincinnati, which is a school they don't appear to really want.

 

By waiting out Missouri they know exactly what they have and that's currently a 10-team conference.

 

(a) If Missouri decides to stay, then they can keep their 10-team league or move ahead and ask Louisville and West Virginia.

 

(b) If Missouri leaves, then they can add one team they really want to get back to 10, or they can add three if need be.

 

They have nothing to gain by showing cards before Missouri has played theirs. Right now the league seems a bit more stable and they don't want to toss things into disarray without knowing what will ultimately happen to Missouri.

I don't believe the two big boys in the Big XII want to go to 12 teams. Less teams means an easier path to a national championship for Texas/Oklahoma. The little boys all want the championship game, because its an extra shot at getting to a BCS bowl and it can potentially be a financial gold mine.

 

The addition of TCU seems like a concession from Texas (and slightly Oklahoma) so that the other guys won't call for 12 teams and a conference championship game.

 

The 10 team league stuff is just posturing. At 10 they just open themselves up to more raiding the next go round. A lot of what they are saying right now is to try and avoid or lessen legal action if they have to be the one to kill Big East football.

 

The TCU deal is mainly about getting someone in next year to keep the number even. It was going to be BYU, but as that started falling through, the next logical choice was TCU since there was no waiting period tied to them for 2012..

The 10 team league stuff is just posturing. At 10 they just open themselves up to more raiding the next go round. A lot of what they are saying right now is to try and avoid or lessen legal action if they have to be the one to kill Big East football.

 

The TCU deal is mainly about getting someone in next year to keep the number even. It was going to be BYU, but as that started falling through, the next logical choice was TCU since there was no waiting period tied to them for 2012..

 

I thought Texas was supposed to be dead set against including TCU in the Big 12. Was that overblown, or what happened to that? I'm curious because it seemed to be the same type of stuff that we are hearing about UF / FSU, USC / CLEM, UGA / GT. Makes you wonder that if when push comes to shove the SEC might not be as opposed to say an FSU as they want you to think.

I thought Texas was supposed to be dead set against including TCU in the Big 12. Was that overblown, or what happened to that? I'm curious because it seemed to be the same type of stuff that we are hearing about UF / FSU, USC / CLEM, UGA / GT. Makes you wonder that if when push comes to shove the SEC might not be as opposed to say an FSU as they want you to think.

 

Mostly things going sour with BYU and a lot of behind the scenes political pressure for Texas to let TCU go without blocking. With BYU out they had to have an instant fix for 2012 and TCU slid in with no resistance. Things played out perfectly for TCU, and the SEC situation is not nearly as turbulent as what has been going on with the Big 12 trying to save itself. Apples and anchovies...

Okay - Word on several other sites is Mizzu will accept a bid to the SEC on Monday. Then UL will announce Tuesday they have accepted a bid to the Big 12.

 

The Big 12 at this point will also add two more teams. Names floating are Houston, Tulane, UC.

 

GT are you hearing anything?

I am so glad the Tulane float made it on here. They make Vandy look like a jock school.

Houston would make sense for the Big 12 ... before we know it, it will be close to the old Southwest Conference all over again.

Okay - Word on several other sites is Mizzu will accept a bid to the SEC on Monday. Then UL will announce Tuesday they have accepted a bid to the Big 12.

 

The Big 12 at this point will also add two more teams. Names floating are Houston, Tulane, UC.

 

GT are you hearing anything?

 

Pretty close to what I'm hearing except that it will be UL/WVU/UC to get to 12. Houston would make sense over WVU because it helps keep the TV market size stable and would allow them to rework the TV deal...

From all I can gather is that the Big 12 will actually roll with 10 teams.

One reason, is that the conference is not very stable, and they would have to go to the networks and ask for money for an inferior product.

They have already lost their most attractive TV markets, aside from Texas.

You go with 10 and that is more money to slice between teams.

 

They may go with 12 but money wise 10 may be best.

 

In addition, West Virginia may be more of an option to replace Missouri, more so than many may believe.

Edited October 8, 201114 yr by letabrotherspeak

From all I can gather is that the Big 12 will actually roll with 10 teams.

One reason, is that the conference is not very stable, and they would have to go to the networks and ask for money for an inferior product.

They have already lost their most attractive TV markets, aside from Texas.

You go with 10 and that is more money to slice between teams.

 

They may go with 12 but money wise 10 may be best.

 

In addition, West Virginia may be more of an option to replace Missouri, more so than many may believe.

 

WVU is gaining steam to be number 10 because taking UL alone doesn't likely put the nail in the Big East coffin. Taking the program with the most juice left would be all she wrote, and then the remaining members would be free to do as they wish to find new homes.

 

The TV deal stuff is in play, but the contract would stay the same if they go to 12. Problem is they wouldn't renegotiate because the markets they are losing would be bigger than what they gain with UL/WVU/UC. They would lose the championship game, so that would be a hit that would have to be absorbed in a 10 over 12 situation. They will be at 12 or more eventually, just not set in stone when it will happen at this point...

^ You would think they have to have a Conf. Championship Game or the TV would say forget you.