Big 10 Expansion Thread -Big Ten ready for a playoff .. finally?

[sooner333]

Originally Posted by cartman

Looks like the Texas Legislature is gonna get involved:

Big 12, SEC, A&M to talk possible conference realignment at hearing in Texas Legislature - The Washington Post

This meeting is why A&M pushed up their Board of Regents meeting to this Monday.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by digamma

ORLY???

I thought someone had said it was a done deal.

I was making the point that it is still an option.

FWIW Mizzou will be playing the role of tight-lipped institution in this round of expansion. They're talking with plenty of people, but won't be doing so in public.

Alden says Mizzou committed to Big 12 | Campus Corner

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by sooner333

This meeting is why A&M pushed up their Board of Regents meeting to this Monday.

A&M has given the finger to just about everyone this week. There's no mending of fences option at this point.

[cartman]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

FWIW Mizzou will be playing the role of tight-lipped institution in this round of expansion. They're talking with plenty of people, but won't be doing so in public.

Which they would done themselves great justice by doing this last year.

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

A&M has given the finger to just about everyone this week. There's no mending of fences option at this point.

Not necessarily. See Mizzou, last year.

[cartman]

Mr. SEC doesn't seem to think this is as slam dunk as others.

MrSEC.com | SEC Football News | SEC Basketball News | SEC Football Recruiting | SEC Basketball Recruiting | SEC Message Board

[Swaggs]

Not sure how accurate, but today I heard that neither FSU or Va Tech would leave for the SEC if asked, but the SEC is interested in an ACC school. Really sounds like Clemson may be the ACC target.

Also heard that Cincy and Louisville politely declined to speak to the Big 12 today (per Louisville). Not sure if that is them being proactive or them being told that they are not on the expansion radar for the B12.

[DeToxRox]

I wonder if WVU would bolt for the Big 12? They could be screwed over by the Big East being torn apart so I wonder how a gamble on the Big 12 might work for them.

[bronconick]

Originally Posted by Swaggs

Not sure how accurate, but today I heard that neither FSU or Va Tech would leave for the SEC if asked, but the SEC is interested in an ACC school. Really sounds like Clemson may be the ACC target.

Also heard that Cincy and Louisville politely declined to speak to the Big 12 today (per Louisville). Not sure if that is them being proactive or them being told that they are not on the expansion radar for the B12.

Don't know about Virginia Tech, but all FSU's president said was

“I don’t think there is anything to talk about right now,” Barron said. “I don’t speculate when there’s no conversation.”


then called the rumors "fascinating."



Kind of a non-denial denial. *shrug*

[Swaggs]

Originally Posted by DeToxRox

I wonder if WVU would bolt for the Big 12? They could be screwed over by the Big East being torn apart so I wonder how a gamble on the Big 12 might work for them.

Other than (maybe) TCU, I don't see any Big East teams heading to the Big 12 unless it is in a large group.

Greg Swaim (Twitter) is tweeting that the ACC issued invitations (whatever that entails these days) to 5 Big East teams today and that two other BCS conferences made advances. Reading between the lines, it sounds like the ACC is going to lose one team, add five Big East teams, and the remaining Big East teams and the Big 12 North teams may group together.

From some of the conversations, Louisville (kind of surprisingly due to their academic reputation, but they make a ton of basketball money) and Syracuse seem to be at the top of the ACC list. Pitt and WVU seem likely (although Pitt was left off of one of the lists, I saw -- maybe Big Ten bound in a group?) and either UConn or Rutgers. Adding Louisville, Cuse, Pitt, WVU and UConn would add some major heft to the basketball side of things and the conference could split into North and South w/ those five + Maryland, BC, and Va Tech (or possibly Miami, as that would allow a Florida presence and Miami has a lot of Northeastern support/transplants).

That was long and rambling, so apologies. I've been keeping a close eye/ear on things, so there is a lot of info and misinformation out there, but just throwing some of the more intriguing rumors out there.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by cartman

Not necessarily. See Mizzou, last year.

Not even remotely similar. A&M has whined for two years now. Last year they got their payday and they still are jumping ship this year. They have no options left. They've used up their chicken little points.

[MacroGuru]

I'm confused....is there football talk involved with all this bitching and posturing that's going on in this thread? Is this the thread discussing maxi-pads so great you can sing....

[Chubby]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Not even remotely similar. A&M has whined for two years now. Last year they got their payday and they still are jumping ship this year. They have no options left. They've used up their chicken little points.

It's a good thing missouri is safe in the Big 10!

[Solecismic]

I cannot imagine a scenario where Cincinnati and Louisville would say no to the Big XII. Not unless they had to give all their television revenue to Texas. Which may not be that far out of the realm of reality.

Where is it decreed that 16 teams is a reasonable goal? Conferences exist to serve the member schools. Most of this 12-team stuff exists so that you can put together a reasonable conference championship game.

The last conference to try and go with 16 was the old WAC. That didn't last long. They did have an interesting idea with the rotating sub-division concept, though. You had three permanent opponents, and the rest of your schedule rotated through the other three subdivisions.

I think 99% of what we're hearing this week is bloggers trying to make a name for themselves. The rest is Texas A&M having a temper tantrum, and it may or may not be sent to time out.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Solecismic

The rest is Texas A&M having a temper tantrum, and it may or may not be sent to time out.

My question is whether the punishment would be staying in the B12 or battling for 3rd place in the SEC west every year.

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

battling for 3rd place in the SEC west every year.

You mean in a good year?

[duckman]

Originally Posted by duckman

My sources told me that Missouri was starting a one team conference. This will give them more opportunities to play with themselves.

This quote will never get old.

[kcchief19]

Doug Gottlieb and ESPN reporting A&M to the SEC is a done deal and Florida State, Clemson and Missouri likely to join as well.

FWIW, Mizzou AD Mike Alden has already denied this morning MU has talked to SEC or any other conference. Big 12 commish Dan Beebe has scheduled a 3pm conference call for members to discuss.

[sooner333]

Dan Beebe is the biggest idiot in sports. Him walking out to the theme of The Natural at media days this year is his "Mission Accomplished" moment.

[kcchief19]

Honestly I don't know what to make of Gottlieb's report. He's not exactly Woodward or Bernstein, so I don't think his name adds any credibility to the report.

As a Mizzou fan, I'm not thrilled at the idea of going to the SEC ...it's going to be a brutal conference. Missouri has gotten to the point where it is a B12 power in a number of sports, and the SEC is stronger in all of them. But given that the B12 appears to be imploding again, the SEC would be a huge win.

I think Deloss Dodds is quickly killing the B12. Texas is making it clear that they are calling the shots in the Big 12, and I think everyone else will take any offer that comes along. The old potential holdout is OU. The B12 will eventually be three tiers: Texas, OU/OSU and the rest. If OU decides it doesn't want to be second fiddle to Texas, you know Larry Scott has an offer in his pocket.

The Texas attitude seems to be if anyone leaves the B12, they'll just replace them with Houston, BYU, SMU or someone else. Tech and Baylor seem ok with that. I think Iowa State is fine with that. I think KU and KSU want to stay together and will stay in the B12 as long as they can. If MU bolts, I think the Kansas schools will look at the Big East. There's been a lot of smoke that the Big East has a standing offer out to the Big 12 North to join any time they want.

All that said, the most likely outcome is the simplest: the SEC adds A&M and one other school and the B12 stays at 9, maybe add Houston. There may be some other small dominoes depending on the 14th SEC team.

[sooner333]

Pete Thamel has reported that one SEC source stated that there is still a 30-40% chance that the SEC Presidents vote against A&M. Another source called angrily to say that any reports regarding Clemson, FSU, and Mizzou are false.

Clay Travis reported that he's heard UGA, USC, and UF will not vote for a school in their state.

Essentially, this is still a fluid situation. If A&M doesn't get into the SEC at this point, it will blow Mizzou's Big 10 gaffe out of the water.

[General Mike]

Originally Posted by sooner333

Pete Thamel has reported that one SEC source stated that there is still a 30-40% chance that the SEC Presidents vote against A&M. Another source called angrily to say that any reports regarding Clemson, FSU, and Mizzou are false.

Clay Travis reported that he's heard UGA, USC, and UF will not vote for a school in their state.

Essentially, this is still a fluid situation. If A&M doesn't get into the SEC at this point, it will blow Mizzou's Big 10 gaffe out of the water.

Unless all 3 of those schools are going to partner together on all votes, it doesn't matter what they think.

[bronconick]

Originally Posted by General Mike

Unless all 3 of those schools are going to partner together on all votes, it doesn't matter what they think.

The theory was UK, USCe, UGA, and UF all agreeing to veto anyone coming from one of their states. Not sure if it's true or if it would stand up to the test. It's not like anyone's ever going to seriously ask Louisville, and Georgia Tech voluntarily left and the things that they left over have only gotten worse, really.

[sooner333]

Originally Posted by General Mike

Unless all 3 of those schools are going to partner together on all votes, it doesn't matter what they think.

The idea was that they essentially have a voting bloc where they will have each others backs.

[kcchief19]

It's been widely reported that there is a gentleman's agreement among the SEC not to admit a school from a state already in the SEC. If schools want to keep out an in-state competitor and vote as a bloc, there's enough votes to keep out George Tech, Clemson, FSU, Louisville and others.

If you let in A&M, who is the 14th? Could be another Texas school, but Missouri, Maryland, Virginia/VTU all seem to make sense.

We'll see what happens Monday, but right now beyond A&M to the SEC I'm not buying any of the rumors out there.

[timmynausea]

One theory is that the new Clemson, FSU and Missouri stuff is actually a fake leak designed to get the Georgia-Florida-South Carolina voting bloc scared enough to vote against inviting Texas A&M. This guy goes into detail:

FSU and Clemson Have No Shot at the SEC : Outkick The Coverage

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by kcchief19

It's been widely reported that there is a gentleman's agreement among the SEC not to admit a school from a state already in the SEC. If schools want to keep out an in-state competitor and vote as a bloc, there's enough votes to keep out George Tech, Clemson, FSU, Louisville and others.

If you let in A&M, who is the 14th? Could be another Texas school, but Missouri, Maryland, Virginia/VTU all seem to make sense.

We'll see what happens Monday, but right now beyond A&M to the SEC I'm not buying any of the rumors out there.

We will see what happens, but seriously doubt a "voting block" would hold up when looking at the $$$$$. Putting in a team from X state would prevent the team from Y state from getting in, why the heck would they block it?

[Swaggs]

Originally Posted by kcchief19

It's been widely reported that there is a gentleman's agreement among the SEC not to admit a school from a state already in the SEC. If schools want to keep out an in-state competitor and vote as a bloc, there's enough votes to keep out George Tech, Clemson, FSU, Louisville and others.

If you let in A&M, who is the 14th? Could be another Texas school, but Missouri, Maryland, Virginia/VTU all seem to make sense.

We'll see what happens Monday, but right now beyond A&M to the SEC I'm not buying any of the rumors out there.

I cannot see Virginia and VPI splitting up, unless they both end up in better homes (ie: UVA to Big Ten and VPI to the SEC).

Too much political maneuvering was used to strongarm VPI into the ACC to let them leave UVA behind in a weakened conference (especially if FSU goes, as well).

[terpkristin]

Ok I haven't been reading this thread in the greatest detail. Now I randomly poked in and see rumors-ish of Maryland joining the SEC? Bleh I hope not.

/tk

[Solecismic]

So much of this seems like speculation based on idle comments from people who aren't making the decisions. And bloggers seem to know they can make a name for themselves by being right once. There's lots of incentive to turn a quote from a mid-level official into some sort of Fact.

Would Alabama or Auburn really be happier if the other school were relegated to the Big XII? The Iron Bowl is one heck of a centerpiece. The SEC and ACC are the only conferences with multiple season-ending rivalry games - Florida and Florida State, Georgia and Georgia Tech, South Carolina and Clemson. These games are a big deal - such a big deal that they don't mind playing them when everyone else in the country is playing in a big conference showdown. These rivalries would only get stronger if conference titles were on the line.

Sure, there's a downside associated with allowing a nearby school into your conference, but the upside is tremendous, and hasn't seemed to hurt the state of Alabama one bit. And then you have the situations in Oklahoma and Texas, where the legislature itself will allegedly step in if one school even thinks of going someplace without the other. Or all the emotion surrounding Virginia Tech joining Virginia in the ACC.

So I don't buy the Clemson or Florida State to the SEC concept as impossible.

But I don't think the SEC is going to act unless there's a clear benefit. Conferences are not countries. They are loose organizations of member schools. They don't expand unless there's a clear benefit to each member organization. Why would you agree to a 14-way split of money that's currently going only 12 ways unless the two new schools brought in more than your average school's revenue?

Texas A&M may offer that to the SEC. Not sure about the others. Probably Virginia Tech offers the most in terms of a valuable school and new markets for the SEC. But the SEC has a television deal which runs for 15 more seasons - would they get enough in the short term from expansion to make this worth while? Would the state of Virginia stand for it? Try breaking up North Carolina/North Carolina State/Duke, and they're just a few miles from each other. Would Virginia Tech even want this?

Personally, I think we'll have some stability now that the Big Ten and the Pac Twelve have their conference championships. I know people are unsettled because the thought of a school with the football prestige of a Nebraska moving is troubling. But this is still essentially fallout from the demise of the Southwest Conference, and there was a lot of anger from the original Big 8 in the deal given to Texas.

Texas still drives everything, and, after seeing what happened to Houston, Rice, TCU and SMU when the Southwest Conference disbanded, there's a lot of in-state pressure to keep the Big XII intact.

[DeToxRox]

@greggdoyelcbs Gregg Doyel

I hear Oklahoma, OK State and 2 other B12 schools approached Big Ten as package and were told no. Academic reasons.

[mckerney]

Originally Posted by DeToxRox

@greggdoyelcbs Gregg Doyel

I hear Oklahoma, OK State and 2 other B12 schools approached Big Ten as package and were told no. Academic reasons.

That and I don't think the Big Ten will be looking to go to 16 anytime soon without adding Notre Dame or Texas.

[DeToxRox]

Originally Posted by mckerney

That and I don't think the Big Ten will be looking to go to 16 anytime soon without adding Notre Dame or Texas.

No question. We'll never go to 16 if they're still available. I think Big Ten will let the other conference blink first and go to 16 before they went ahead with it. I do expect us to get to 14 within the next 16 months though.

[sooner333]

Originally Posted by mckerney

That and I don't think the Big Ten will be looking to go to 16 anytime soon without adding Notre Dame or Texas.

Texas could have been part of of the group. Unlikely, but we don't know.

[DeToxRox]

There is no way Oklahoma State will ever be allowed into the Big Ten. That of course will most likely also keep Oklahoma out for the political reasons.

[DeToxRox]

With Nebraska being allowed into the Big Ten without AAU membership I wonder how much of a stickler that issue will be in the next go around. UM faculty was not happy with Nebraska being allowed in, I know that for sure.

[Solecismic]

Originally Posted by DeToxRox

With Nebraska being allowed into the Big Ten without AAU membership I wonder how much of a stickler that issue will be in the next go around. UM faculty was not happy with Nebraska being allowed in, I know that for sure.

Some weren't. Then again, Notre Dame is not part of the AAU, either.

I guess the idea is that Nebraska will work toward an AAU invitation. They're not that far away from it being a reasonable quest. I know professors at Nebraska were quite happy with the offer.

[sooner333]

Originally Posted by Solecismic

Some weren't. Then again, Notre Dame is not part of the AAU, either.

I guess the idea is that Nebraska will work toward an AAU invitation. They're not that far away from it being a reasonable quest. I know professors at Nebraska were quite happy with the offer.

Nebraska was dismissed from AAU after it was accepted into the B1G

[MrBug708]

Originally Posted by sooner333

Nebraska was dismissed from AAU after it was accepted into the B1G

Yup. Not quite a state secret

[bronconick]

So, now Sporting News has a report saying there isn't even going to be a meeting of SEC presidents tomorrow.

That would be hilarious.

Source: SEC presidents will not meet Sunday to discuss Texas A&M - NCAA Football - Sporting News

[Izulde]

Sporting News is the Sportsdigs of sports magazines.

[Solecismic]

Originally Posted by sooner333

Nebraska was dismissed from AAU after it was accepted into the B1G

I didn't see that. My spreadsheet has them in, hadn't updated it in a long time, assumed it was because an invitation had been made or something. Sorry.

That's got to be a blow to the Big Ten. All the other 11 schools are members. Apparently Nebraska is the first school ever to be kicked out.

[TroyF]

Originally Posted by TroyF

The Big12 won't even last for the next 5 years. Nice deal, but it isn't going to hold.

Looks like I was off by about 4 years.

If Texas wants all of the money and their own network, the only thing they will end up getting in the end is a role as an independent or garbage teams in the conference to play with.

Understand, I'm not blaming Texas, they can do whatever they want. But why would any team with the ability to move NOT move? So they can watch Texas control the entire conference like a puppet master?

This was never going to last. The remnants of the Big East or WAC or whatever may end up being the big 12, but those schools really have no choice but to deal with it and will get more money than they could otherwise

It wouldn't shock me a bit if OU and OSU go to the PAC 12 at some point and you end up with Kansas, Texas, Baylor, Texas Tech, Kansas State, Iowa State and then the six best schools who weren't invited to a power conference as your new Big 12.

[dawgfan]

Originally Posted by TroyF

It wouldn't shock me a bit if OU and OSU go to the PAC 12 at some point and you end up with Kansas, Texas, Baylor, Texas Tech, Kansas State, Iowa State and then the six best schools who weren't invited to a power conference as your new Big 12.

I think Oklahoma wants to stay tied to Texas if they can, but I also wouldn't be surprised if they've been sniffing around as a contingency plan.

The more I think about it, the more I think Larry Scott is sitting pretty. There was a perception he overplayed his hand this past off-season and got worked by DeLoss Dodds, but I think time is on Scott's side.

The financial imbalance in the Big "12", especially in comparison to the other big conferences, is going to lead to other programs breaking away, sooner rather than later. If Mizzou could find a taker among the Pac-12/Big Ten/SEC they'd be gone in a heartbeat.

Texas could try to scape some lesser programs into the conference to try to keep it around and keep a home for their other sports, but I suspect if more than A&M leaves - if Mizzou is able to jump ship, then Oklahoma will bolt (with Oklahoma State tagging along), and then Texas is facing real problems with their TV negotiations as the kings of a very small pond.

Texas really doesn't want to go independent either. I'm sure they'll wave that threat around, but where would they put their other sports? It'd have to be something like Conference USA or the Sun Belt, and (no offense to those conferences), that'd be a big step down.

The way Scott set up the regional Pac-12 networks allows room for the Longhorn Network to be folded in, pending some key compromises. That ESPN is one of the partners in the Pac-12 TV deal also probably helps.

I tend to think the dissolution of the Big "12" is still probably a few years away, because we don't even know if the SEC is willing to take A&M. Chances are probably higher than many of us think that the patchwork alliance holds for a while. But longer-term, I still think there's a decent shot the Pac-12 becomes the Pac-16 with Texas & Oklahoma the key pieces added (and probably Texas Tech & Oklahoma State along for the ride).

[TroyF]

Originally Posted by dawgfan

I think Oklahoma wants to stay tied to Texas if they can, but I also wouldn't be surprised if they've been sniffing around as a contingency plan.

The more I think about it, the more I think Larry Scott is sitting pretty. There was a perception he overplayed his hand this past off-season and got worked by DeLoss Dodds, but I think time is on Scott's side.

The financial imbalance in the Big "12", especially in comparison to the other big conferences, is going to lead to other programs breaking away, sooner rather than later. If Mizzou could find a taker among the Pac-12/Big Ten/SEC they'd be gone in a heartbeat.

Texas could try to scape some lesser programs into the conference to try to keep it around and keep a home for their other sports, but I suspect if more than A&M leaves - if Mizzou is able to jump ship, then Oklahoma will bolt (with Oklahoma State tagging along), and then Texas is facing real problems with their TV negotiations as the kings of a very small pond.

Texas really doesn't want to go independent either. I'm sure they'll wave that threat around, but where would they put their other sports? It'd have to be something like Conference USA or the Sun Belt, and (no offense to those conferences), that'd be a big step down.

The way Scott set up the regional Pac-12 networks allows room for the Longhorn Network to be folded in, pending some key compromises. That ESPN is one of the partners in the Pac-12 TV deal also probably helps.

I tend to think the dissolution of the Big "12" is still probably a few years away, because we don't even know if the SEC is willing to take A&M. Chances are probably higher than many of us think that the patchwork alliance holds for a while. But longer-term, I still think there's a decent shot the Pac-12 becomes the Pac-16 with Texas & Oklahoma the key pieces added (and probably Texas Tech & Oklahoma State along for the ride).

I know OU wants to stay aligned with Texas, but I don't think they'll have any real interest in watching Texas control the entire conference while running around on a leash behind them. Texas wanted all the money from their network and they wanted all the prestige. The problem has always been that they will get what they wish for. They are going to get all the money for their network and they will be in a garbage conference with no prestige. I didn't expect the moment to happen this quickly, but I did expect it to happen.

Texas is either going to accept some major concessions and not hold all the power in whatever conference they are in, or they are going to be surrounded by mediocrity. Their choice.

[timmynausea]

There's a new AP story with some interesting stuff:

Earlier Saturday, The New York Times reported that university presidents from the SEC were scheduled to meet Sunday to discuss expansion and Texas A&M.

A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed to The Associated Press that the meeting will be held in Atlanta. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting had not been publicly discussed.

The person said it's a "zero chance" that Florida State would be the 14th team and that it is highly unlikely it would be any ACC team.

"Our presidents simply don't want to break up another conference," the person said. "Remember, Texas A&M reached out to us. You know how many households there are in Texas? 8.9 million. Why would we want to hand that to the Pac 12 or any another conference?"

West Virginia and Missouri have also been mentioned, but the person said Louisville would make more sense.

"The question is what's the dynamic with Kentucky? Will Kentucky have a problem with it?" the person said. "I doubt Kentucky would have the beef that Georgia does with Georgia Tech or South Carolina does with Clemson."

Big 12 tries to keep A&M as SEC considers adding

[bronconick]

Louisville?

Hell, I don't see why the SEC bothers to expand in that case.

[kcchief19]

Originally Posted by Solecismic

So I don't buy the Clemson or Florida State to the SEC concept as impossible.

I don't buy it as an impossible concept but I can see why Florida, SC, UGA or UK don't want to elevate (or further elevate) a competitor. If your an AD or coach at one of those schools, you're already judged on winning a non-conference game, and now you'd also be judged on whether you finish ahead of them -- and you've just handed them a large bag of money to compete against you. It would be great for fans but bad for the teams.

Originally Posted by Solecismic

Texas still drives everything, and, after seeing what happened to Houston, Rice, TCU and SMU when the Southwest Conference disbanded, there's a lot of in-state pressure to keep the Big XII intact.

That's exactly why we're where we are at. No one outside Texas is happy in the Big 12. OU puts up with it because the Big 12 meets their needs with no risks. The PAC 12 is a time zone disaster, and the Big Ten pulls them from their recruiting base. Plus they are tied to OSU. I don't think OU goes anywhere unless the Big 12 melts down, but they aren't happy.

Baylor is probably the only team outside UT to be in the Big 12 because they have no better home. Tech hates being relegated to second class status, but they have no better option. Same for the entire Big 12 North. If the Big 12 imploded, all four could end up in bad places. The Big East wouldnt be awful, but it would be a bad marriage. Maybe MU and KU could upgrade in the right circumstances, but it's hard for KU to leave K-State and at this point Missouri is the bridesmaid.

The Big 12 can easily survive A&M defecting -- c'mom, it's A&M for crying out loud. But the next domino to fall could be the last. If UT or OU leave, katy bar the door. Even if a Mizzou or Kansas left, it would like have a similar effect because it would just encourage others to bolt.

The Deloss Dodds can pursue his dream of creating a super conference with Notre Dame and whoever else they can scare up.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by kcchief19

OU puts up with it because the Big 12 meets their needs with no risks.

Even if a Mizzou or Kansas left, it would like have a similar effect because it would just encourage others to bolt.

The comments from an OU official in this article pretty much mirror these two points. OU doesn't want a break-up and they know that MU leaving means the conference is cooked.

OU sources say Missouri departure would doom Big 12 | NewsOK.com

[sooner333]

I think OU is waiting around for a bit. They don't like Texas running the show, but the administration is also level headed and knows that they are the best dance partner to have for the last dance.

First, there is a chance the LHN won't work. Then, Texas will be ready to go. This might even be enough for the Big Ten to let OU in (which I think the Peesident wants). Texas also gives OU more leverage to move with Oklahoma State as well.

As for being tied to osu, I think they are saying the right things and legitimately trying to stay together. But if the opportunity isn't out there to move with them when the time comes, they will go alone and tell OSU that they did all they could, and would likely keep that rivalry. Because OU acted in good faith, it would be politically ok.

[TroyF]

Originally Posted by sooner333

I think OU is waiting around for a bit. They don't like Texas running the show, but the administration is also level headed and knows that they are the best dance partner to have for the last dance.

First, there is a chance the LHN won't work. Then, Texas will be ready to go. This might even be enough for the Big Ten to let OU in (which I think the Peesident wants). Texas also gives OU more leverage to move with Oklahoma State as well.

As for being tied to osu, I think they are saying the right things and legitimately trying to stay together. But if the opportunity isn't out there to move with them when the time comes, they will go alone and tell OSU that they did all they could, and would likely keep that rivalry. Because OU acted in good faith, it would be politically ok.

Right on all points. I don't think OU is tied to OSU at all. That said, with the improvement of OSU's football program and the cash surrounding it, I think it'd be dumb for conferences not to take the pair.