Texas and Oklahoma Next?

The regents for Texas and Oklahoma have met and have opened the door for them to join the PAC12.  Both regents have approved the option of leaving the Big 12.  Texas has been trying to work out the details of how they could work the Longhorn Network into the plan for the PAC16 – no details yet on that.  But it is looking more and more like we will soon be hearing that Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma St will be joining the PAC12 soon to be PAC16.  It seems like they will be doing a pod system, with 4 teams in each pod.  Many of the teams want to be assured they will be able to go to California, so it looks like a possibility of splitting the California schools into different pods.  Rumor has it that each team would play the other 3 teams in their pod, then 2 of the 4 in each of the other pods for 9 games total.  It is also rumored they will take the top 2 teams from each of the 4 pods to the conference championship game.  If Texas does decide against the PAC16, then the PAC12/16 is likely to go after Missouri and Kansas.

There is now talk that the leftover Big East schools (South Florida, Connecticut, West Virginia, TCU, Rutgers, Cincinnati and Louisville) and the leftover Big 12 schools (Missouri, Baylor, Iowa St, Kansas and Kansas St) are talking about a merger.  That is twelves schools, but of course there are rumors of other teams like Connecticut and Rutgers to the ACC and Missouri and West Virginia to the SEC.  If the new conference were smart, they would try to invite Boise St to help solidify an automatic qualifier spot then take your pick of a handful of MWC or CUSA schools to get to 12.  It is pretty imminent that the football and basketball schools of the Big East are now going to part ways.

Other rumors – Apparently, I have heard the SEC is not interested in West Virginia at all and this seems to be a rumor that is confirmed by West Virginia officials.  I have also heard that the Big 10 is pretty much satisfied staying at 12 schools unless they can get Notre Dame.  There are still rumors of Notre Dame to the ACC but staying independent in football.  They would likely play 4 games with ACC football schools and all other sports would be in the ACC.  If this is the case, the ACC is rumored to take another non FBS football school with Notre Dame, such as Villanova or Georgetown.  There are still rumors of Texas to the ACC with either Notre Dame, or Texas Tech or Kansas, but that just seems very far fetched.

Big East and Big 12 about to Crumble

The ACC accepted Pittsburgh and Syracuse into the conference early this morning.  UConn is now pushing really hard to get into the ACC.  The rumors of the possibility of Texas and Notre Dame to the ACC for all sports but football is now about all dead.  So now the rumors are that UConn and Rutgers will be the next in the ACC.

There are also rumors of Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma St to the PAC12 being revived.  Seems like we will hear something soon about this being a reality because Texas will be able to work something out with the Longhorn Network.

This all means that the PAC12, soon to be PAC16 and ACC will be at 16 schools.  The leftovers from the Big East are TCU, South Florida, West Virginia, Louisville and Cincinnati.  It is likely that West Virginia will be moving to the SEC, leaving 4 schools that will need a home.  The Big 12 leftovers will be Baylor, Missouri, Kansas, Kansas St, and Iowa St.  Could Missouri be heading to the SEC or will they get an invite to the Big 10?  Will the Big 10 expand beyond 12?  Will we hear something about Notre Dame to the Big 10 soon?  Is Kansas an option for the Big 10 or SEC?  Will the Big 12 and Big East leftovers come together and invite other teams from CUSA or will some of these teams go to the Mountain West?  We shall find out very soon.

Realignment Will Begin?

Rumor has it that Texas A&M was approved to join the SEC and they will hold a press conference today to announce.  This will begin the shakeup as it is likely that Oklahoma and Oklahoma St will leave for the PAC12+2.  Oklahoma indicated they are not going to wait for Texas and are fine if the rivalry ends.  After this, it will be interesting to see if Texas decides to join the PAC12+2+2 bringing Texas Tech along or whether they will try to resurrect the Big12-5 or go independent.  Rumors have Kansas and Kansas St going to the Big East with either Iowa St or Missouri.  Missouri is a bit of a mystery as I have seen rumors of them going to the Big East or SEC though they covet an invite to the Big10.  That will leave Baylor out of the mix and joining either the MWC or CUSA, possibly with Iowa St.  But, this could be a huge sticking point – Baylor could litigate against the SEC and that would null the move of Texas A&M.  Is this the SECs way of saying we want to stay at 12 but don’t have the balls to say so?  This is going to get ugly.

Will there be expansion?  If so, who will the SEC pick up as their 14th school?  Missouri, an ACC team or a Big East team?  Or will they target 16 schools?  Will any other conference try to grow?  We shall find out soon.

Texas A&M is Leaving the Big 12

Texas A&M released a statement today that they would like to leave the Big 12 by 6/30/2012 to join another athletic conference.  That is no big surprise as I have been following the story in the previous posts:

1. Texas A&M Denied SEC Invite – Not So Fast
2. NCAA Conference Realignment on the Horizon
3. Is Conference Realignment Hell About to Break Loose?

There is a stipulation that they receive acceptance to the conference before they leave the Big 12 – but even though we don’t have any proof, it is pretty certain that the SEC outlined the steps for Texas A&M and they are following them.

Now there will be many questions:

1. Who will be the 14th member in the SEC?  Rumors are flying surrounding quite a few schools, this one is difficult to predict.
2. Will the SEC go with more than 14?  Highly unlikely, but don’t hold your breath.
3. Will the SEC stay with 13?  It’s unbalanced, but the MAC has had 13 members for several years.
4. Who will the Big 12 add?  We have heard BYU is the target, but not sure they will accept.  SMU is the only school to publicly proclaim they want in.
5. Will the Big 12 collapse?  Could Oklahoma, Oklahoma St, Texas and Texas Tech head to a PAC16?
6. Will there be a huge realignment shift ahead and the beginning of mega conferences?

What are your thoughts?  I would love to hear them!