The problem is we're only seeing Boren speak about this. Did you notice the other 9 presidents aren't saying anything? Their silence says everything to me. It's why I'm not that confident this conference will expand unless they keep getting left out of the playoff picture. All of these presidents are weighing the bottom line. That's all they are really concerned about. Sure the payouts will go up, but so will the travel expenses etc. So right now it's just a wait and see. The biggest problem with this entire expansion thing is the boat has already sailed for the Big 12 to add teams of stature and great value. It's why I can't get very excited over anybody they add. Memphis, UCF, Cincy, they are all the same to me. Mid major power 5 wanabees. They aren't Nebraska, Missouri or Texas A&M. Knowing how fast the brass from this conference operates, they'll even let these schools slip through their hands and all they'll have left to choose form is the University of Phoenix. Personally, the way I feel right now, when OU's GOR are up I hope they get the hell out unless the Big 12 can come up with some miracle conference alignment with the ACC or Pac-12. If things don't change with the Big 12, I'm hoping for the SEC and Big to go to 16 teams. That should start the Big 12 implosion. And the SOONER it starts the better.
I saw it was pointed out he's the only one talking and that others aren't on board. It has to start somewhere though. At the moment they can afford to slow play it hoping to see if the BIG/SEC raid the ACC. Then they'd be able to upgrade better than what's currently suggested. They have a chance to be the 3rd best conference but the conference needs some mojo soon. I can't believe how slow recruiting is going for the OU and Texas.
The recruiting is shockingly bad for both schools right now. I think with most of these blue chip recruits, they are playing a wait and see on how OU and Texas performs this season. If OU has better than expected success with their offense, I believe it will open up the door for Stoops to get some last minute undecided. Same with Strong, although Strong has always been an 11th hour recruiter dating back to his Louisville days. But Texas will probably need to have a halfway decent season or look really good in their losses to move forward with their recruiting. Considering how tight a ship Strong runs and the house cleaning he did last year, some of these high profile players may be a little apprehensive about committing.
so Finebaum reported that OU to SEC is a very real possibility. From there one of the 4-letter's talking heads created this overview of what the then 4 power conferences would look like with 16 teams a piece. Interesting reading i guess...
| PAC 16 | SEC | ACC | BIG 16 | |||
| Southwest | East | North | East | |||
| Arizona | Alabama | Boston College | Illinois | |||
| Arizona State | Auburn | Miami | Indiana | |||
| Baylor | Florida | Notre Dame | Maryland | |||
| Colorado | Georgia | Pittsburgh | Michigan State | |||
| TCU | Kentucky | Syracuse | Ohio State | |||
| Texas | South Carolina | WVU | Penn State | |||
| Texas Tech | Tennessee | Virginia | Purdue | |||
| Utah | Vanderbilt | Virginia Tech | Rutgers | |||
| Pacific | West | South | West | |||
| California | Arkansas | Clemson | Iowa | |||
| Oregon | LSU | Duke | Kansas | |||
| Oregon State | Mississippi | Florida State | Kansas State | |||
| Stanford | Mississippi State | Georgia Tech | Michigan | |||
| UCLA | Missouri | Louisville | Minnesota | |||
| USC | Oklahoma | North Carolina | Nebraska | |||
| Washington | Oklahoma State | North Carolina State | Northwestern | |||
| Washington State | Texas A&M | Wake Forest | Wisconsin |
This is what I'm thinking, OU and VT. I don't see the SEC being interested at all in OSU. I've been hearing some local internet fodder that if Boren doesn't think the Big 12 expansion isn't meeting his standards, he may revisit joining the SEC. And i've heard that the SEC still has an open invitation to OU. I would be satisfied with either the Pac-12 or SEC. I don't want the BIG because I think it would hurt OU's recruiting. But despite what Finebaum and Herd are saying to boost their summer ratings, I'm not taking the chum just yet. I think a few things need to happen first before any of the dominoes start to fall.
I think when OU saw the almost instant success that both Mizzou and T A&M had when they switched to the SEC Boren et al were really surprised at the transition. Many thought the SEC would devour them but they held their own. When Texas started flexing their financial muscles it was an insult to OU and to the Big 12 in general. Now they are struggling and regrouping. Like GS says, I think once one domino falls the effect will begin.
If the Big 12 misses the playoff on a close call and the conference is still set on not taking in new members, Sooners go BOOM-er. But for me, there is also that looming Big Ten TV contract. There are two seasons left on the old deal, so basically by summer of 2016 if the B10 isn't expanding, then I don't think they will for at least for a while. In the mean time, there is kind of an arms race to be the Big 12's next thing. 12 might not be enough for the Big 12, they might have to use that Big 14 name they trademarked and rebrand, so to speak. But in the end, Boren knows the dysfunction starts with Texas on the inability to have a network and get that 3rd tier money. However that plays out, Texas will always get it's money and the rest a lot less. Plenty of programs will be fine with that, but Oklahoma would not when they are sitting on a golden ticket. There are a few different dominoes that that could be the trigger.
I could see Kansas as an plan B, for example, if it couldn't poach a second ACC team. First off, it's AAU and it has a national draw in basketball. Yes, football sucks, but it adds value to a conference that fancies itself a basketball conference, too. I agree that the eyes are eastward.
Maryland settled out of court for 31 million. I've read that it would likely take a 50 million dollar buy out, which is chump change when the BIG talking about making 40+ million per school by 2017.
I think which ever league strikes first stays alive...big12 or acc...with fsu upcoming schedule next few yrs , no way the acc gets in the playoffs..so they fall further behind the sec teams...maybe boren wants the big12 to be proactive this time around...the Lhn gets shifted to big12 network...
I kind of feel like Boren is positioning OU for something. Either the Big12 expands or OU looks elsewhere (PAC12 or SEC). From a legal aspect, it would give them grounds to leave and probably allow them to negotiate the rights fees. Smart move by him, pre-emptive strike. Whats sad is the other teams in the Big12 other than Texas are sisters of the poor. They are all puppets of Texas and continue to sit idly by gladly accepting the handouts that they are given.
I agree. It is totally up to Oklahoma now. They either carry the ball, or become another puppet for Texas. The thing to remember is that most people believe that OU is in the most powerful position it has EVER been in the current Big 12 (-2) alignment. Knowing their history, I sincerely doubt that they move to the SEC. They know that Championships would be few and very far between there. The Pac 12 is another matter all together. They can compete in the Pac 12 just about every season. Now Okie State's stadium currently seats enough fans (60,000) to support a move to the Pac 12 if OU wants a tag-along partner.
It may not be as powerful of a position as you think. Right now Boren is all talk and looking for a little leverage in case things go south. Making a power play against bully on the block and going through with it are two different things. The reality is if OU tries to bolt for the SEC under the current GOR, Texas and the other schools in the Big 12 will fight like hell in all forms. Both in negative PR and legal. I can almost guarantee you if OU threatened to leave the conference on their own, Texas would threaten the continuation of the RRR series, whether it be a bluff or legit. The other Texas schools would probably fall in line with UT and refuse to play OU to limit the Sooners presence in Texas which is a key recruiting ground. So OU's nearest rival would be Texas A&M if we were to move to the SEC. Would it make up for the loss of the RRR and other conference games in Texas? Maybe. The RRR is the biggest issue in all of this.The biggest question is if Boren would follow through with it, and I have my doubts. But I at least like the fact that he's bringing it up, even if he is out there on an island.
