Here's the realistic SMU approach to TCU's move

[CalallenStang]

Within a few months, the Big East will be ripped apart and TCU will be left out.

There is no way that Texas stands for TCU being in an AQ conference.

By who? Big Ten?

B10 and B12. WVU, Pitt, Louisville, and Cincy will all be approached by B12. B10 is looking at Rutgers and possibly UConn or Pitt.

[ponyboy]

Will this significantly change their strength of schedule?

Not really, but it doesn't matter. The Big East is an AQ conference, so all they need to do is be the best Big East team. This year, they would have EASILY been the Big East champ.

Why doesn't it matter? The BCS formula still uses SOS, does it not?

[SMU 86]

Defintely helps TCU in recruiting. Defintely hurts us when we recruit against them.

[Big Hoss]

Will this significantly change their strength of schedule?

Not really, but it doesn't matter. The Big East is an AQ conference, so all they need to do is be the best Big East team. This year, they would have EASILY been the Big East champ.

Why doesn't it matter? The BCS formula still uses SOS, does it not?

True, to be in the National Championship game. But think about this...TCU could be in a BCS game year-in and year-out by actually being worse than they are today. Just trying to let it soak in about how crappy the whole BCS system really is.

[ponyboy]

How many of those one on one battles with TCU are we currently winning? The answer to that is how much this could potentially hurt us.

[Big Hoss]

Oh, and because the Big East is an AQ conference, they will get the grade inflation on their SOS even if their future Big East conference foes are realistically no better than their Mtn West competition today.

[East Coast Mustang]

Within a few months, the Big East will be ripped apart and TCU will be left out.

There is no way that Texas stands for TCU being in an AQ conference.

By who? Big Ten?

B10 and B12. WVU, Pitt, Louisville, and Cincy will all be approached by B12. B10 is looking at Rutgers and possibly UConn or Pitt.

What indications are there that the B12 is considering WVU, Pitt, UL, Cincy? Not doubting you, I just hadn't seen that. It would make zero geographical sense, but of course that obviously doesn't mean anything anymore.

Personally, I think the B12 would have been better off approaching BYU with their national fanbase

[leopold]

B10 and B12. WVU, Pitt, Louisville, and Cincy will all be approached by B12. B10 is looking at Rutgers and possibly UConn or Pitt.

Oh my God......

(Shakes head)

[Pony_Law]

I think the Logical step is to put are head down and keep building. We need get to the point where 9+ wins are the norm for SMU, so when the Big East implodes we will be ready to be absorbed by one of the new super conferences

[CalallenStang]

What indications are there that the B12 is considering WVU, Pitt, UL, Cincy? Not doubting you, I just hadn't seen that. It would make zero geographical sense, but of course that obviously doesn't mean anything anymore.

Personally, I think the B12 would have been better off approaching BYU with their national fanbase

I saw some source that said that they were looking at UL and Cincy and have heard rumors that WVU and Pitt may also be considered (take those rumors for what they are, which are rumors from decent but not great sources, but they do make sense when you consider that B12 teams are losing competitive advantage over TCU in this deal). IMO Pitt has a better chance of going B10 than B12. The articles talking UL and Cincy to B12 are old, though.

B10 probably makes first move and if they manage to get Texas then B12 will not have a follow up move.

Make no mistake, Texas does not want TCU in an AQ and will not stand by while its competitive advantage is taken away.

[EastStang]

Luckily rationality is not a trait of University Presidents. If UT senses a threat, it tells its Big XII puppets that they need to add UL and another three BE teams (not at UT's cost of course). The puppets offer UL, Cincy and probably WVU or Pitt. First, reason, good for basketball. KU, UT, Baylor and MO get higher Bball RPI and keeps those schools from appearing at TCU. Second, reason, it decapitates the Big East and leaves the Big Ten looking at the likes of UConn, Syracuse and Rutgers for any further expansion to the East. Don't discount a Big XII invite to South Florida either. That opens up Florida to the Big XII and would give the Big East, ACC and SEC heartburn.
It will be interesting to see if and how the ACC responds to this.

[PK]

Should Big 10 decide to raid BE, why do you leave out the possibility of TCU being one of the schools they go after? Same door opening into Texas recruiting as adding UT without having to put up with UT's ego demands.

[NickSMU17]

You have to be a member of AAU for Big 10 to consider...TCU is not and never will be...

[CalallenStang]

Should Big 10 decide to raid BE, why do you leave out the possibility of TCU being one of the schools they go after? Same door opening into Texas recruiting as adding UT without having to put up with UT's ego demands.

http://www.aau.edu/about/article.aspx?id=5476
This is only excusable if you bring the NYC market.

EDIT: Or if you have the full support of the Vatican.

[PK]

You have to be a member of AAU for Big 10 to consider...TCU is not and never will be...

Ahh yes...forgot about that.