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.

[TribalElder]

Mizzou moving to the SEC looks like such a smart decision now

wow

[lawrenceRaider]

Originally Posted by TribalElder

The ACC, Big Ten and Pac-12 announced the formation of an alliance on Tuesday.

The joint announcement emphasized "the future evolution of college athletics and scheduling." pic.twitter.com/V32NsX2e0b

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 24, 2021

So they'll be poaching the remaining Big12 teams to get to 16 in each conference.

[Kiimo]

Originally Posted by TribalElder

Here it is. Dave Wannstedt says he was at the FOX meetings and was told KU to the B1G. KState to the Pac12. pic.twitter.com/h4DPU9oTST

— Mike Vernon (@M_Vernon) August 24, 2021

Please please please

[sedated]

Originally Posted by lawrenceRaider

So they'll be poaching the remaining Big12 teams to get to 16 in each conference.

That was the rumor, I think was posted in this thread - the alliance also includes how to break up the Big 12 remnants.

TCU and Baylor might be in the most unfortunate spot, they have big markets and good athletic programs including football but PAC doesn't want religious schools and they don't meet the B1G's academic profile. ACC seems like the only option.

Rust posted a rumor about it earlier but Houston could benefit from this to get into a P4 conference - everyone wants Texas schools, SEC already has Texas and aTm, Baylor/TCU are religious, so that leaves Texas Tech and Houston.

[sedated]

Not that anyone would want to join this dumpster fire, but there are a couple good options to add if the Big 12 wanted to try to survive. Drop WV (too far, as much as I like them), add Houston, BYU, and San Diego State to get back to 10 and stabilize. Those are all money-making programs in with big markets.

A SD reporter was on the radio a few weeks ago and said they HATE the Mountain West. They want to PAC, but would move elsewhere if it was an option.

[Sassy Squatch]

I don't really understand why the PAC-12 would bother but otherwise that makes sense. I wonder how many behind closed doors are grumbling they didn't seal the deal a decade ago for that 16 team super conference.

[Sassy Squatch]

Also expect Bowlsby to start rattling his lawsuit sabre at the other conferences now that these rumors are out there.

[lawrenceRaider]

Originally Posted by Superturtle

Also expect Bowlsby to start rattling his lawsuit sabre at the other conferences now that these rumors are out there.

That twerp has been asleep at the wheel for a long time.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by Superturtle

I don't really understand why the PAC-12 would bother but otherwise that makes sense.

They wouldn’t. PAC has the most wonderful markets in the country. Yes they’re pro sports markets primarily, but still the best ones. The only Irate8 school who even fits is Kansas and it’s too far logistically to take unless they did a hoops-only (Or hoops-FB only) deal.

I wonder how many behind closed doors are grumbling they didn't seal the deal a decade ago for that 16 team super conference.

They massively screwed the pooch not getting Texas and OU. Even if they had to swallow Tech and Okie Light.

[TribalElder]

Originally Posted by lawrenceRaider

So they'll be poaching the remaining Big12 teams to get to 16 in each conference.

probably, that would get Texas and OU to the SEC quicker

[tredadda]

Originally Posted by sedated

Not that anyone would want to join this dumpster fire, but there are a couple good options to add if the Big 12 wanted to try to survive. Drop WV (too far, as much as I like them), add Houston, BYU, and San Diego State to get back to 10 and stabilize. Those are all money-making programs in with big markets.

A SD reporter was on the radio a few weeks ago and said they HATE the Mountain West. They want to PAC, but would move elsewhere if it was an option.

So drop WV because of distance but add BYU and San Diego State? Interesting take.BYU at least brings a big market, I just wonder how much San Diego even cares about SDSU.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by TribalElder

Mizzou moving to the SEC looks like such a smart decision now

wow

It was always a smart decision.

[sedated]

Originally Posted by tredadda

So drop WV because of distance but add BYU and San Diego State? Interesting take.BYU at least brings a big market, I just wonder how much San Diego even cares about SDSU.

If moving to the east coast, no way they can hold onto WV.

I think a couple of other programs to add if wanting to go to 12 would be Colorado State and Boise State. I don't think those get many people tight in the pants, but there are more options toward the west than moving east.

[RustShack]

Lol SDSU wouldn’t be joining the Big12 if the Big12 expands. They’d go after schools like BYU, Cincinnati, Memphis, UCF, Houston, Boisie.

[sedated]

Originally Posted by RustShack

Lol SDSU wouldn’t be joining the Big12 if the Big12 expands. They’d go after schools like BYU, Cincinnati, Memphis, UCF, Houston, Boisie.

Having BYU and UCF in the same conference would be a logistical issue. They'd have to pick a side of the country.

It doesn't matter anyway, after hearing the statements after the alliance meetings, the Big 12 is done. At least a few of the schools sounds like they will have landing spots.