They should switch Texas A&M and Arkansas so that A&M and Texas are in the same pod.

They probably could have done that without needing to add two more teams and further divide up the $3 billion media contract they just signed and bowl/CFP money.

Just from a market expansion/potential new recruiting territory perspective, they should have looked east and added UNC and Virginia Tech or Virginia.

That adds new TV markets including Charlotte, Raleigh/Durham, Washington, D.C. and its Virginia suburbs and also increases their recruiting footprint in North Carolina and Virginia.

It isn't just about media markets, it's about the quality of the team and value of the brands you bring in. I'd imagine this entire conversation is being driven by ESPN.

They just signed a new 10 year contract with ESPN worth $3 billion that goes into effect in 2024.

Hopefully this means KU to the B1G miss the easy drive to Lawrence to see the Huskers play

Right. That is why last time this came up the Pac12 and B1G came calling asking KU to join up.

MU made a mistake leaving the B12 as did Nebraska and Colorado. None have faired better in their new conferences. Hope the Texas envy was worth it.

They’d only be adding Oklahoma to the footprint. I’d rather have North Carolina or Virginia.

IF UT + OU leave and IF the PAC decides to add schools, Texas Tech has a seat at that table. Tech has a strong history and partnership with the two AZ schools (shared a conference for decades) as well as CU (hours up the road and Big12 history). Geographically, that cluster of 4 would be easy travel. Tech has forged pretty strong relations with other PAC leaders over the last few rounds of re-alignment conversation. Tech has been deliberately scheduling non-con games with PAC teams. Tech also adds quite a bit of value in track, baseball, and basketball… all areas that the PAC wants to shore up. Tech isn’t big enough or strong enough to force realignment like OU and UT… but with a drastic shift in the landscape I think they have a life raft out of the Remnants of the Big12.

So, if the PAC does expand and we assume Tech is in… that leaves 1-3 spots depending on if they go to 14 or 16. There aren’t a lot of great candidates. BU, TCU, and BYU are hard no’s due to religious affiliation (non starter for the PAC).

Maybe they pull from Houston, Colorado State, San Diego State, Boise State, or UNLV…

But some combo OSU, KU, KSU, and ISU just feels better if I’m the PAC despite the geographic distance. That assumes that those schools are available. Certainly understand the BIG being a lot more appealing to KU/ISU/KSU if the offer is there.

It’s all about eyes added.

Only Oklahoma adds to the SEC network footprint, however UT would triple or quadruple SEC programming viewership in the second largest (and fastest growing) state in the US while also converting it to firmly an SEC state.

A&M is first place in Houston, but is still second/third to the Big12 in the DFW and SA-AUS metros. Add UT and the SEC dominates all major Texas metros. The population and viewership add that Texas brings would likely exceed the reach in NC or VA.

Assuming the B1G getting KU and ISU would be the next shoe to drop if this ultimately ends up happening. After that not too sure.

Mizzou being punished ROFL

If I'm the BIG 10 I'm not sure that Iowa State really excites me all that much.

If the Big 10 expands I think it would look at schools like Colorado and someone else, maybe Kansas, but not sure about that.

Did they really, though? All I remember was Kansas fans being upset that Texas Tech was being looked at over them by the PAC 12. A lot of KU fans speculated that’s where they could end up, but make no mistake, those conferences never actually showed as much interest in adding Kansas as KU fans would like to think. Their value is even lower now that it’s obvious the expansion is based on the CFP expansion. Good luck in the MVC or Big East. Maybe if you get lucky the ACC will throw you a bone.

A free conference win isn’t sooo bad