Boran: Big 12 expansion is "not a sure thing"

[Pony^]

Oklahoma president and Big 12 board chair David Boren said that Big 12 expansion is "not a sure thing" and that he is "not certain" there will be a decision on expansion at the league's scheduled board meeting in October, ESPN reported on Wednesday.

"I would just caution you and say, I would not take expansion as a given," Boren told ESPN. "I'm not saying there won't be expansion. But I'm not saying it can be automatically assumed that there will be expansion."

"The question at the end of the day is, can we say with certainty that expansion would add strength to the conference? I think there's a lot of discussion that will have to go on before we reach that decision."

http://www.nola.com/tulane/index.ssf/2016/09/oklahoma_president_says_big_12.html

[mtrout]

Well all the power players in their conference are going to have a loss come early October. Looks to me like they're weak af right now.

[ericdickerson4life]

Looks to me like Mr. Boren is trying to get out ahead of things to soften the blow of UH not getting an invite (or anyone for that matter). The media will start looking at this as less of a sure thing than they were previously.

Or maybe that's just me hoping no expansion happens as I see that as the best scenario for SMU football.

Probably the later.

[stc9]

I don't think the TV Partners not liking any of the candidates should be forgotten. I'm sure they have been in all of their ears saying this doesn't work for us.

[East Coast Mustang]

No one really wants UH, but they cant add anyone else and not add UH without looking silly

[docabel]

No one really wants UH, but they cant add anyone else and not add UH without looking silly

The most recent US News rankings certainly don't help uh.

With SMU and ut tied at #56 behind only Rice, houston wound up a amazing 194th (11 places behind academic powerhouse West Virginia) (coog high actually dropped 7 places since last year)..

[leopold]

Oklahoma president and Big 12 board chair David Boren said that Big 12 expansion is "not a sure thing" and that he is "not certain" there will be a decision on expansion at the league's scheduled board meeting in October, ESPN reported on Wednesday.

"I would just caution you and say, I would not take expansion as a given," Boren told ESPN. "I'm not saying there won't be expansion. But I'm not saying it can be automatically assumed that there will be expansion."

"The question at the end of the day is, can we say with certainty that expansion would add strength to the conference? I think there's a lot of discussion that will have to go on before we reach that decision."

Yeah, no [deleted]. Everybody seems to have known that but Boren. NOBODY in that conference wants to split one of the smallest pies in the P5 with schools the don't trust and don't share common interests with by bringing in more schools who don't bring enough to the table. Golly gee, why aren't they expanding?

[mtrout]

B12 may have 0 teams in the top 20 now. Houston is dominating right now and watch out for usf.

[Rebel10]

No one really wants UH, but they cant add anyone else and not add UH without looking silly

The most recent US News rankings certainly don't help uh.

With SMU and ut tied at #56 behind only Rice, houston wound up a amazing 194th (11 places behind academic powerhouse West Virginia) (coog high actually dropped 7 places since last year)..

Where did Tulane end up since they are in it as well?

[leopold]

They may need to rethink expansion considering where the Big XII is in terms of the CFP.

Right now only Baylor and WVU are undefeated with Baylor carrying the flag - that's not a good thing if you're Bob Bowlsby. Oklahoma has two losses and UT and TCU have one and they haven't even entered into conference play yet.

If expansion really is about getting a better shot at the CFP like they say it is then they are a step behind with having only 10 teams. Every conference who has 12 or 14 can afford to watch some of their early contenders drop a game - SEC can watch LSU lose, the ACC can see FSU humiliated, the Pac 12 USC - and they have the depth to rotate someone in. The Big XII doesn't, and it is going to hurt them.

[PonySnob]

They may need to rethink expansion considering where the Big XII is in terms of the CFP.

Right now only Baylor and WVU are undefeated with Baylor carrying the flag - that's not a good thing if you're Bob Bowlsby. Oklahoma has two losses and UT and TCU have one and they haven't even entered into conference play yet.

If expansion really is about getting a better shot at the CFP like they say it is then they are a step behind with having only 10 teams. Every conference who has 12 or 14 can afford to watch some of their early contenders drop a game - SEC can watch LSU lose, the ACC can see FSU humiliated, the Pac 12 USC - and they have the depth to rotate someone in. The Big XII doesn't, and it is going to hurt them.

Outside of this run that UofH seems to be on, I don't see any of the teams the B12 is looking at helping it as far as programs with sustained success. While these schools might "rise up" and have a good year or two, none of them ever had an extended period of 9+ win seasons have they?

[gostangs]

ESPN cant afford to pay for two extra mouths, much less four - they will strike a side deal with the conference to stay put.

[okcponyfan]

In the meetings it appears we went first on Tuesday

http://www.espn.com/college-football/st ... sion-talks

[Terry Webster]

I don't think mom and dad want any more kids at the dinner table. I don't think it is going to happen.

[Hoop Fan]

Speaking of ESPN. Since we are the home team, this game is under the American tv contract. Which means they effectively getting it for practically nothing. Just like when Memphis hosted ole miss last year and temple hosted notre dame. Guessing they got UH vs Houston for free too. Or the way they probably think about it, it helps them subsidize the giant payments they do have to make to b12 teams. Glad we in the G5 could help.