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That there are so few Big 12 votes is very telling. It's boring football in boring locations.

Which is why this consolidation will eventually fail.

College football fans want to watch their team, and will watch, and follow their team over all of
the "big games" that might be created

Also scheduling problems with long term rivalries will be a big problem which destroyed our 16
team WAC.

Texas and OU wanting to control everything will eventually wear out their welcome,and rear it's
ugly head in the SEC.

If SMU and San Diego State are both invited, I'll make that trip!

Even if Washington and Oregon jump ship, if still want the Pac12 of the others stay put. Colorado in early October or Arizona in early November would be awesome.

(Not so sure if those get flipped...)

Big 12 and it isn’t close. Why the heck do I want to watch us play PAC and ACC teams I have zero connection to? Best teams are gone from the PAC, just as they are gone from the Big 12, so who cares if Ut and OU are gone.

College football should always be as regional as possible.

It would be great to be in a conference with 5 teams an easy car trip from Dallas. But those 5 teams will fight to keep us out. The ACC, even if raided for 3 or 4 schools, would still have some attractive matches. The Big 12 wants to add the 4 corner schools and would go for Memphis and Boise before us. We aren't getting in there unless the PAC holds together and I don't see it.

PonyGirl wrote:If SMU and San Diego State are both invited, I'll make that trip!

Ditto!

Same here

I think many of us would prefer the B12 but that isn't going to happen as tcwho, baylor, and possibly the tortilla throwers would black ball us. PAC10 would not be exciting plus the time difference. ACC at least has some schools that we could develop a rivalry with but I don't see them doing anything unless they lose a few schools and with the GOR that probably won't happen anytime soon. Sadly, beggars can't be choosers.

Fox and ESPN are driving the ship in the rush to expand. The Big Ten potentially now will exceed the SEC in payout money when the next deal is negotiated.
I don't believe for a moment that it is over for the Big Ten or the SEC. Raiding the existing ACC (even with GOR terms) by the SEC and the Big Ten taking four more of the Pac 12 remainders leaves very little meat on the bone for the Big 12, or for us to move to the "Remainder Conference" (ACC rejects, et al). . The SEC will not hesitate to add Clemson, but Florida State and Miami will get a big "no go" from UF. North Carolina would be the natural remaining fit.The decision by ND is the wild card in this scenario
Slim hopes, but a move OUT of the AAC is essential.

SoCal_Pony wrote:Best case scenario is SMU to the PAC-12

Best case scenario is the SEC deciding to use SMU and Houston or Rice to permanently lock down DFW and Houston.

Obviously not the most realistic but the SEC is the best math for SMU long term.

Pac is a dead man walking and in the long run so are the ACC and Big 12.

Best case scenarios typically involve elements of reality.

ponyboy wrote:Best case scenarios typically involve elements of reality.

So why have I been a fan for all these years?

Long time reader, first time poster.

Based on everything I read (understanding that much is speculation for speculation's sake), it seems like the PAC and ACC are still likely to be poached. I'm not sure why we would want to be joining the remains of those poached conferences.

At the same time, it seems that the Big12 might be one of the poachers. And it could be that once things shake out, the Big12 will be the number 3 conference behind the SEC and Big10.

And, our most natural rivalries are and will continue to be the Big12. If we care about Ford stadium attendance, I think we're better off with Baylor, TCU, TTech, Houston, and OkState coming to Dallas than we are South Carolina, Boston College, North Carolina, Oregon State, Washington State, etc...

Regardless, I'll take any conference that elevates us above where we're at now.

Go Ponies!

Steven

Steven,

Welcome to the Board. I suspect most Ponyfans agree with you that the BigXII is most appropriate, perhaps desirable. However, the reality is that Baylor, Texas Tech, and most notably, TCU will not support our invitation. Our potential and key location in the heart of Dallas is a threat to them and doesn't add as much with respect to new markets. Simple reality check.

As a result, ACC or PAC12 are our most likely destination, if either expand.