Why we must be headed to PAC

[ponyinNC]

If our home schedule looked like this:

UNT
TCU
UCLA
Arizona
Colorado
Oregon
USC

You would see nearly every game a sellout and the amount of interest from the casual sports fan in Dallas would certainly come to SMU and watch a game.

And if I hit the megamillions jackpot, you would see me dating Kate Upton.

[StallionsModelT]

So if the PAC is forced to get to 16 b/c the Big 10 raids the ACC, where will they go to get four schools before they wind up w/ SMU and Houston?

[ponyinNC]

So if the PAC is forced to get to 16 b/c the Big 10 raids the ACC, where will they go to get four schools before they wind up w/ SMU and Houston?

Like I said, that would be a long way away. Many ifs, and many moves would have to be made before this would become an option. I guess anything is possible in the Conference Realignment thermonuclear meltdown scenario.

But nothing would happen with Pac until they are positive that they cannot get UT/TT/OU/OSU.

It is a positive that we seem to have tied ourselves to UH. between the two schools, I think we can offer a lot.

[LA_Mustang]

You can say this about SMU and Houston joining the Big East. And Rutgers does not deliver the NYC market as well but the Big 10 alums living in NYC do.

This is the key point. SMU vs. Tulsa/UCF/So Miss/enter any school in our conference won't attract an audience in DFW but if we are playing schools in the PAC-12 with a strong presence in the market (USC, Arizona, ASU, Oregon) it is going to get ratings and appeal to advertisers. The same can be said for Houston.

[East Coast Mustang]

I'm sorry guys, I don't see how we go to PAC. Just makes no sense. I get the TV market argument, but that is not enough to move the needle for me. Down the line, it may become a possibility...but we have a lot of work to do.

Yep, this. If we have a decade like TCU just had, then maybe. But we'll have to fill Ford, beat marquee opponents, and show a real commitment (IPF, athlete friendly majors) to major college football before we can be seriously considered.

[LA_Mustang]

The key for us is that the Big XII stays together. It appears the ACC is the one of the big five that is going to get picked apart. To get the 16 the PAC would need to add 4. I can see them going after SDSU, BYU and SMU, Houston could be a viable options due to our markets. It's all about the money.

[ponyinNC]

I'm sorry guys, I don't see how we go to PAC. Just makes no sense. I get the TV market argument, but that is not enough to move the needle for me. Down the line, it may become a possibility...but we have a lot of work to do.

Yep, this. If we have a decade like TCU just had, then maybe. But we'll have to fill Ford, beat marquee opponents, and show a real commitment (IPF, athlete friendly majors) to major college football before we can be seriously considered.

The only way I can even remotely see this happening is in the conference meltdown scenario -

Some combo of GT/UVA/UNC to B1G
NCSt and VT to SEC
FSU/Clemson to B12
BE leftovers to ACC (Cincy, UL, Uconn, USF, UCF)
New Big East either folds up shop or backfills with most of CUSA (ECU, USM, Tulsa, Tulane)

At that point, perhaps Pac 12 feels obligated to go to 14 or 16, and with Big12 on solid footing, cannot lure away Texoma 4. Pac12 decides that market penetration into Texas is necessary and takes SMU/UH.

That is a lot of "ifs"

[StallionsModelT]

I think Texas poisoned the well w/ the PAC and that relationship is totally shattered. Combine that w/ UT and the Longhorn Network headache I think its safe to say that the Big 12 offers Texas what they want. Oklahoma and OK State will not break away from Texas and the same goes for Texas Tech.

I think its a pretty common belief that the endgame here is 4X16. If that is true, and the Big 12 is safe as currrently constituted, then the PAC will have very few options (if any) that they would turn to before they turn to SMU/Houston.

That said, currently we offer little if any value other than location to a major conference. If we can string together a couple of Top 25 seasons in the Big East and a few wins over serious programs then we will have a fighting chance. Also, if Larry Brown can bring the basketball program up to a Top 50 caliber program that will only help us.

[StallionsModelT]

PAC is not going to add BYU or SDSU.

Boise State would be a very tough sell.


Most likely:

SMU
Houston
Colorado State
Boise State
UNLV

[ponyinNC]

We either need for the entire sh&% to hit the fan, or we need time to establish ourselves in a Big East that isn't completely decimated.

If the BE becomes CUSA 3.0, we are in big trouble IMHO. If it is just Uconn to the ACC and we get a few years in the Big East with Cincy, Lou, BSU et al...I will feel much better.

[East Coast Mustang]

I think Texas poisoned the well w/ the PAC and that relationship is totally shattered. Combine that w/ UT and the Longhorn Network headache I think its safe to say that the Big 12 offers Texas what they want. Oklahoma and OK State will not break away from Texas and the same goes for Texas Tech.

Texas may have poisoned the well, but they're still the Homecoming Queen here- everybody wants to dance with Texas and will take on the Longhorn Network and its troubles in order to do it. Question is, will they cede power to the CA schools in order to increase their revenues? I think if the B12 can pull off FSU, Clemson, and maybe GT/VT/ whomever else, Texas might decide to stay put. But I'd have to think if 16 team superconferences appear more likely in the landscape, then the Pac-12 will make one more serious run for Texas, OU, Tech, and OSU

[LHS81]

PAC-12 expands with Hawaii, New Mexico, SMU, Houston. . .

"Oldies Division"(SC,UCLA,Stanford,Cal,Oregon,Oregon St,Washington,Washington ST).

"Newbies Division"(SMU,Houston,Arizona St,Arizona,Hawaii,New Mexico,Utah,Colorado).

Hawaii s**tcans their coach after they join Pac 12. Junifer returns to Hawaii as their coach.

SMU administration finally decides to get serious, and hires a coach who wants to win at "all cost." SMU lays the smack down on every team in their divison, including Junifers Hawaii team. SMU plays the winner of the "oldies division" for the PAC-12 Championship, and an opportunity to play in the Rose Bowl.

BAM! THERE IT IS.

[StallionsModelT]

ponyinNC,

In a perfect world the Big East survives for the next 3-4 years and in that time frame SMU is consistently winning the conference, winning high profile non-conference match-ups, and winning bowl games. While this is happening Larry Brown gets us in a few NCAA's and we make some noise on the hardwood.

I don't know what the future will hold but the reality that almost everyone agrees is on the horizon is 4X16. IMO, the Big East and the ACC will be the two left standing when the music stops. Everything that is happening now is no longer about "PRESTIGE" or adding "BCS VALUE" to conferences. Everything that is being done now is to increase financial value and exposure. You are correct. Currently the only advantages in our corner are location, academics, and deep pockets. We have enjoyed a little success in football and have made the financial commitment to win in basketball as well. We have the next few years to prove we belong.

This is, IMO, why it is so important to say goodbye to June NOW. We can't afford for the talent level to fall off the cliff and to go 3-9 every year. If we win and move up the relevancy ladder then we will be in the conversation when the PAC decides it wants to get to 16.

I just look at it this way. If the PAC is getting to 16 and the Big 12 survives, we are clearly the best option given the criteria for conference expansion.

[lwjr]

If our home schedule looked like this:

UNT
TCU
UCLA
Arizona
Colorado
Oregon
USC

You would see nearly every game a sellout and the amount of interest from the casual sports fan in Dallas would certainly come to SMU and watch a game.

And if I hit the megamillions jackpot, you would see me dating Kate Upton.

At least you aim high.

[DiamondM]

While this is certainly pie in the sky stuff and I definitely won't be holding my breath, any argument that begins "It won't happen because it doesn't make sense for the [INSERT] conference to do [X]" is invalid, since 90% of the conference shuffle lately doesn't make any logical sense for the conference, let alone the institutions involved.