Miz, Neb, Cuse, Pitt, Rutgers to Big 10 (Article inside)

[Stallion]

Next question while waiting on whether PAC 10 can get Colorado and Utah to start forming the Western Half-can the Big 12 be saved and still have an economically viable conference? I have my doubts. I guess they could add Utah and BYU and hold onto Colrado before PAC 10 acts. Not sure numbers add up in the long run. PAC 10 will have to act ASAP if this report is true.

[Water Pony]

Stallion makes a good point.

Interesting, there is one faction that is "cheer, cheer for old Notre Dame" to join the Big Ten. The premise: If you want to avoid the Armageddon of Realignment, it can be only be avoided if ND relents and joins the Big Ten as Number 12, permitting the Big 10 to stop there. More moves become unnecessary.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/w ... expansion/

So, the question for Ponyfans: Does SMU root for massive realignment with four or five new mega-conferences? Or, the more modest ND move to the Big 10 with the PAC 10 "perhaps" picking up two? Can a major reshuffling be avoided? Or is it desired?

[Stallion]

Here's an interesting thought:

PREMISE: A&M has and always will be Texas's [deleted] in Texas. Texas decides to go West. A&M sees opportunity to differentiate its product on a quality basis from UT

POSSIBLE RESULT: A&M decides to go East with SEC and now gives players in Texas the only opportunity to play in what is considered the most rabid, big-time atmosphere in College Football. Texas A&M might indeed have somewhat of a recruiting advantage on that factor over Texas. Pray like hell it doesn't happen-then all the SEC AND PAC teams will sworm Texas recruiting just like Big 12 North did

[Mexmustang]

I still feel Arkansas is the "loose cannon", for all the money of the SEC they have lost their recruiting base here. I could see Arkansas returning before A&M goes it alone. We need to remember with these big state universities it is the politicians, not the fans or athletic directors that have the final say in these matters--in Arkansas it means three families.

[HB Pony Dad]

This is so much ND FUD I am in amazement anyone would buy a word of it.

ND blowing their horn about remaining independent because they are so important (in their own minds) when the reality is that they are becoming increasingly irrelevant.

Who wants to go to ND and not get drafted, when a star recruit can play for UT, OU, Florida, Alabama, etc.

BTW My Trojans are in deep DOO (as told to me by friends close to Mike Garrett) as we wait for the BIG HAMMER to fall!

Going to the USC Spring game tomorrow and watch what the Lane-ster has in store for the upcoming season!

Fight On!
Pony Up!

[Topper]

If this article proves to be true, it will leave the Big 12 adding two teams. BYU and CSU are the most likely candidates.

It has been reported elsewhere that the Pac-10 looks to expand by two schools, those being Utah and Colorado. With the lack of acceptable programs in the North, TCU and Air Force are the most likely candidates. TCU has a strong program, but is in a market that the Big 12 already believes it owns. Air Force would help to reclaim the Colorado market, while also drawing on a national fan base of military veterans.

SMU and Houston will likely be left courting the Big East without TCU.

I agree that BYU and CSU are likely candidates for the Big 12 if Mizzou and Nebraska leave, but I look for UT and A&M to bail in that circumstance, especially if Colorado goes to the PAC 10. CSU and Air Force combined don't provide enough of a TV market to replace Denver, St. Louis, Kansas City and Omaha. I think the people who should be really nervous here are OU, OSU, Kansas, Kansas State, Texas Tech and Baylor. OU draws a nice tv audience for football and Kansas the same for basketball, but I don't see them fitting into 16 team SEC or Big Ten realigns.

[Water Pony]

One writer suggests than a 4 team/4 division Big 10/16, would be good and begin the move toward FB playoffs:

http://collegefootball.about.com/b/2010 ... layoff.htm

[Samurai Stang]

I think the people who should be really nervous here are OU, OSU, Kansas, Kansas State, Texas Tech and Baylor. OU draws a nice tv audience for football and Kansas the same for basketball, but I don't see them fitting into 16 team SEC or Big Ten realigns.

As long as the Big 12 maintains Oklahoma it will be viable and will be capable of poaching schools from other conferences, such as BYU, CSU, TCU, and potentially even SMU.

There is a plausible scenario, however, in which the Big 12 is truly decimated. With the massive Big 10 expansion taking Nebraska and Missouri, the Big 12 will remain strong. Factor in the loss of Colorado, however, and the more powerful schools might consider leaving. If the SEC expands by four schools, they could easily attract Texas, A&M, Oklahoma, and OSU. This new Big 12 would only consist of Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Texas Tech, and Baylor. Truly, a weak conference, In fact, it would at this point be weaker than an eight team Mountain West (based upon the assumption that Utah will be invited to the Pac-10). The Mountain West Conference may be able to sit back and take the strongest schools that remain from the Big 12. Kansas, Kansas State, Texas Tech, and Houston (from CUSA), would be excellent additions for the MWC. Expansion beyond 12 cannot be assured, which would leave SMU's fate very uncertain.

For SMU, it would seem that the ideal scenario regarding a potential expansion by the SEC to 16 teams would be for two schools in the east to be added, such as Miami and Florida State. This is very possible, as current divisions in the conference could be maintained, and the state of Florida brings in a greater number of television viewers than does Oklahoma. True, the SEC already has the University of Florida, but with the addition of Miami and Florida State it would enjoy the complete dominance of the state.

[Samurai Stang]

One writer suggests than a 4 team/4 division Big 10/16, would be good and begin the move toward FB playoffs:

http://collegefootball.about.com/b/2010 ... layoff.htm

Except for the fact that the BCS system discourages a playoff. As long as the BCS is in place, the powerful take the most money and never have to fear an embarrassing upset that would inevitably occur in a playoff system.

This author can dream all he wishes, but simply because one desires a particular outcome does not make it a reasonable expectation.

[huskerpony]

OK. This whole story was just discussed on the radio up here. Apparently what happened is Tom Dienhart wrote something only saying these were the latest rumors. Then this Jeff Jeffers cat (yes, that is his name!) runs out and reports it as fact and gets an interview with the Notre Dame AD. So the only real news is that ND value its football independence and probably isn't going anywhere--shocker!

[Topper]

One writer suggests than a 4 team/4 division Big 10/16, would be good and begin the move toward FB playoffs:

http://collegefootball.about.com/b/2010 ... layoff.htm

Except for the fact that the BCS system discourages a playoff. As long as the BCS is in place, the powerful take the most money and never have to fear an embarrassing upset that would inevitably occur in a playoff system.

This author can dream all he wishes, but simply because one desires a particular outcome does not make it a reasonable expectation.

The suggestion in Water Pony's post makes sense if a consequence of 16 team conferences is a toughter regular season because teams are forced to play more BCS teams and fewer home-only series with the New Mexico States and Sam Houstons of the world. Tougher schedules mean fewer undefeateds and fewer one loss teams to participate in the BCS beauty pageant and would probably resultm in greater sentiment for a playoff among the perennial big powers.
Then again, if it makes sense, it probably won't happen in college football.

[Nacho]

i just want to be in any conference where texas isn't. they are pure evil and will destroy anything in their path. i hope i have made myself clear. no ut. not now. not ever. out.

[ALEX LIFESON]

i just want to be in any conference where texas isn't. they are pure evil and will destroy anything in their path. i hope i have made myself clear. no ut. not now. not ever. out.

There will always be satan's followers that love evil, and they show that dark, gloomy side every day.

[Water Pony]

i just want to be in any conference where texas isn't. they are pure evil and will destroy anything in their path. i hope i have made myself clear. no ut. not now. not ever. out.

We have no worries, the Horns would never be in a conference that would accept us as members.

Groucho Marx

[Water Pony]

Monday morning ESPN recap of Big Ten Expansion and various points of views around the country. The link to Sports Illustrated's Austin Murphy article is a longer, but reasoned discussion of the major moves:

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/i ... on-roundup