Quote:
Originally Posted by BWillie
Why not poach the Big East? Is their football really that bad? I'd like to get some nice bball programs in here. U-Conn would be cool.
Not sure why Villanova doesn't want to try to get into FBS football, but maybe down the road for them.
I think BYU is a HUUUGE get. But not too jazzed on the other three. But honestly they are the best possible 4 we could probably hope for that aren't already in P5 conferences.
I don't know that I'd look to expand as it may water down the conference even further, but here is where I would look, in order:
U-Conn
Boise State
Memphis
Colorado State
South Florida
UAB
Temple
Wyoming
Obviously not much there. I think the Big 12 did pretty well
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The Big East doesn't sponsor football anymore.
UConn's football is a disaster.
About Big East teams joining: 1. P5 conferences aren't into associate members for basketball. 2. The Big East, along with the MAC, is probably the most tightly knit conference in the land. They are mostly all urban, Catholic schools that aren't leaving their cozy conclaves to join a midwestern conference. And they want nothing to do with football schools. That is why the Catholic schools broke away with the Big East name in the first place and left the remaining schools to form the AAC.
Villanova is all about basketball. They had a chance to join the Big East in football in the 2000s. Their pitch included a Powerpoint and a proposal to play in a 15,000 seat soccer stadium. They are happy enough to keep football in FCS world.
BYU is huge. The PAC 12 should have grabbed them but the California schools aren't tolerant enough to let Mormons into their country club. Houston is a solid school. Cincy has shown immense growth and UCF might be the next coming of 80s Miami. They are ambitious and aggressive.
Your list is certainly more realistic than most. I would place Memphis as the #1 candidate. UConn is too far ahead and football is pathetic. Temple has the same issues. Wyoming just isn't good enough yet. Colorado State has a glorious new OCS but they haven't won enough. Boise State doesn't have the academics and their recent football success is faltering. UAB has the potential. South Florida needs to figure what they want to be but they could make a play.
If the Big 12 had to take two more, I would go Memphis and South Florida. Memphis has both basketball and football (plus a nice spot in SEC country) and South Florida brings the I-4 rivalry. Plus, an extra trip for Florida helps with recruiting.
But like you said there isn't much left right now to pick from. Unless you wanted to bring in SMU or Rice to honor the old SWC. SMU will need to win a heck of lot to get in (like TCU did).