New Conference re-alignment thread

[Saulbadguy]

The old one has AIDS.

Anyways, Chip Brown from Orangebloods.com reports OU may apply to the Pac-12 by the end of the month.

Oklahoma will apply for membership to the Pac-12 before the end of the month, and Oklahoma State is expected to follow suit, a source close to OU's administration told Orangebloods.com.

Even though Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott said Friday the Pac-12 was not interested in expansion at this time, OU's board of regents is fed up with the instability in the Big 12, the source said.

The OU board of regents will meet within two weeks to formalize plans to apply for membership to the Pac-12, the source said.

Messages left Sunday night with OU athletic director Joe Castiglione and Oklahoma State athletic director Mike Holder were not immediately returned.

If OU follows through with what appears to be a unanimous sentiment on the seven-member Oklahoma board of regents to leave the Big 12, realignment in college athletics could be heating back up. OU's application would be matched by an application from Oklahoma State, the source said, even though OSU president Burns Hargis and mega-booster Boone Pickens both voiced their support for the Big 12 last Thursday.

There is differing sentiment about if the Pac-12 presidents and chancellors are ready to expand again after bringing in Colorado and Utah last year and landing $3 billion TV contracts from Fox and ESPN. Colorado president Bruce Benson told reporters last week CU would be opposed to any expansion that might bring about east and west divisions in the Pac-12.

Currently, there are north and south divisions in the Pac-12. If OU and OSU were to join, Larry Scott would have to get creative.

Scott's orginal plan last summer was to bring in Colorado, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State and put them in an eastern division with Arizona and Arizona State. The old Pac-8 schools (USC, UCLA, Cal, Stanford, Oregon, Oregon State, Washington and Washington State) were to be in the west division.

Colorado made the move in June 2010, but when Texas A&M was not on board to go west, the Big 12 came back together with the help of its television partners (ABC/ESPN and Fox).

If Oklahoma and Oklahoma State were accepted into the Pac-12, there would undoubtedly be a hope by Larry Scott that Texas would join the league. But Texas sources have indicated UT is determined to hang onto the Longhorn Network, which would not be permissible in the Pac-12 in its current form.

Texas sources continue to indicate to Orangebloods.com that if the Big 12 falls apart, the Longhorns would consider "all options."

Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe held an emergency conference call 10 days ago with league presidents excluding Oklahoma, Texas and Texas A&M and asked the other league presidents to "work on Texas" because Beebe didn't think the Pac-12 would take Oklahoma without Texas.

Now, it appears OU is willing to take its chances with the Pac-12 with or without Texas.

There seemed to be a temporary pause in any possible shifting of the college athletics' landscape when Baylor led a charge to tie up Texas A&M's move to the Southeastern Conference in legal red tape. BU refused to waive its right to sue the SEC over A&M's departure from the Big 12, and the SEC said it would not admit Texas A&M until it had been cleared of any potential lawsuits.

Baylor, Kansas and Iowa State have indicated they will not waive their right to sue the SEC.

It's unclear if an application by OU to the Pac-12 would draw the same threats of litigation against the Pac-12 from those Big 12 schools.

Stay tuned.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Really?

I'd be bummed if the Chiefs left the Raiders and Broncos, especially if it were a lateral move.

And I'd be pissed if the Cardinals ended up in that glorified shithole of a softball league - the AL.

If all things are equal, I understand the 'rivalry' aspect of it. However, A) All things aren't equal and B) The rivalry element will never be dispositive. In college football, moving to the SEC w/ the history and tradition of the conference trumps the XII rivalries w/ Kansas and...well really only Kansas.

See, I don't give a shit. Never really have. Teams move, and build new rivalries. Personally, I think the concept of rivalries is a bit overrated.

We completely agree on Mizzou/SEC however. I know a lot of guys give DaKCManAP shit when he says the SEC is the best conference going, but he's 100% correct.

Unfortunately for you Tiggers, you'll probably **** this up and stay in a dying B12.

[mikeyis4dcats.]

Originally Posted by mnchiefsguy

There have been a couple of tweets today saying Deaton has resigned as president of the Big 12, but Gabe DeArmond just answered a tweet about it saying he has not heard anything about it.

the issue isn'treally football and basketball, it's all the non-revenue sports - baseball, lacrosse, soccer, volleyball, wbb, etc that would be costly to travel great distances.

[Dr. Gigglepants]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

I think you are forgetting though that MU would have been in the 2007 NC game if it wasn't for the Big 12 title game.

And how would we get to the NC game with a regular season loss to OU, in a Big XII without a title game? If I'm interpreting your post correctly that is.

[KChiefs1]

MU would have to expand their stadium if they joined the SEC.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

MU would have to expand their stadium if they joined the SEC.

Why?

They currently seat 71K, IIRC.

That's more than 4 current SEC schools.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by Dr. Gigglepants

And how would we get to the NC game with a regular season loss to OU, in a Big XII without a title game? If I'm interpreting your post correctly that is.

They were ranked #1 in the BCS prior to the Title Game.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_BCS_computer_rankings

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Why?

They currently seat 71K, IIRC.

That's more than 4 current SEC schools.

Demand for tickets would skyrocket.

[KChiefs1]

Per Twitter: DaveSittler Source: Neinas "working hard at re-recruiting Mizzou and talking them down off the ledge" and away from jumping to SEC.

[DaKCMan AP]

Originally Posted by Mr. Plow

Yeah, but assuming that they are going to try to get back to 12 - MU would dominate the "North" in football giving a Big 12 title game & possible BCS bowl game nearly every year.

You won't get that in the SEC.

I wouldn't eliminate the possibility that if the Big XII does expand back to 12 teams that they don't pull a Big X and put OU in the North and UT in the South creating the possibility of those two meeting in the Big XII Championship Game.

[eazyb81]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Question for Mizzou fans:

Why in God's name do those of you that would "prefer to stay in the B12" feel that way?

Major Kansas City bias towards the small minority of Mizzou fans that want to stay. KC is the center of the Big 12 and would be on the outskirts of the SEC's footprint. It is unlikely the SEC bball tourney would ever come to KC (as hilariously minor as that is in the grand scheme of things).

The Curators have reportedly said over 90% of Mizzou fans appear to be in favor of leaving.

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

Demand for tickets would skyrocket.

Then you charge more.

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

I wouldn't eliminate the possibility that if the Big XII does expand back to 12 teams that they don't pull a Big X and put OU in the North and UT in the South creating the possibility of those two meeting in the Big XII Championship Game.

OU and UT only want to play each other once though. They really don't want a rematch in the Big 12 championship game.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

Demand for tickets would skyrocket.

Which means you raise ticket prices. No need to expand the stadium, IMO.

Hell, I'm not even that big of a CFB fan, but if Mizzou moved to the SEC and had the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss, etc on their home schedule, you bet your ass I'm making the trip to Columbia a few times.

I'm not wasting my time/money to see ISU/KSU/KS, etc.

[Dr. Gigglepants]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

They were ranked #1 in the BCS prior to the Title Game.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_BCS_computer_rankings

I was at the game, I'm aware of their ranking at the time and the implications of the loss. I'm saying we lost to OU in the regular season in 2007. If that happens now, with no title game, what are the chances we are ranked #1, are in a position to win a Big XII title and go to the NC game? How do you win a 9 or 10 team league with a conference loss? If all the stars do align and you win the Big XII "title" with a conference loss, what are the odds you're #1 in the country and get a NC game bid?

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

I wouldn't eliminate the possibility that if the Big XII does expand back to 12 teams that they don't pull a Big X and put OU in the North and UT in the South creating the possibility of those two meeting in the Big XII Championship Game.

Sounds great. Perhaps they could take a page from the B1G and name the divisions Lackeys and Losers.