The latest word in the conference expansion chaos is that Texas is making a commitment to the Big 12 effectively shutting down the Pac 10s dreams of a 16 school expansion. Chris Brown of Orangebloods.com, who seems to be the most accurate voice of late, is reporting that Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe has come up with an offer that might put a cork in the re-expansion floodgates.
According to Brown, Beebe has secured a television deal that could nearly double current revenues for the Big 12 schools. The 10 schools of the Big 12 will also divvy approximately $20 million in penalties paid by Nebraska and Colorado for flying the coop. Finally, and this might be the clincher for Texas, individual schools will be free to pursue their own television networks. According to Brown, this could amount to another $3-$5 million for Texas–not an option of Texas joins the Pac 10.
With Texas back at the Big 12 table, that leaves Texas A&M. Apparently Texas A&M does have an invite from the SEC and did have enough votes to make the move. However, according to Brown, the dissenting voices were loud. No question Texas A&M was worried about losing their long-time rival to the Pac 10. However, if Texas stays put, the Big 12 offer may be too much to turn down.
Collective Sigh
I’m not counting on anything until the dust settles but I surely hope that this puts an end to expansion talks — at least for now. Conference realignment is something that can affect college football for years and this was all happening way to fast. Beebe may have just taken the gun off the table and given everyone a chance to breath. At the very least, Notre Dame owes him big.
Other than Notre Dame, I don’t see much advantage in the Big 10 going to 16 –at least not with the names getting batted around. (Rutgers, Maryland, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Boston…did I miss any?)
Name Game
Not that it needs to be said but if all goes through, the Big 12 will have 10 schools and the Big 10 will have 12. Do we just swap names and call it even Oh, and it looks like Utah will join Colorado and head for the Pac 10, another aptly named 12 team division.
Finally, I hope Colorado’s travel budget is in order. With the Big 12 staying in tact, they’ll only need to travel half-way across the country to play in their division.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
My thought from the beginning was why should the Big ? all run because two schools wanted to jump the gun. They still have a quality conference with the 10 teams the have. They can pick up schools later to make twelve again. Smart move by Beebe.
Screw the PAC 10, I quess with USC going on probation there is no #1 just a bunch of so so schools.
The big question on my mind is who does the Big Ten align the scools into divisions?
All of this hoopla and the Pac10 only gets COL and UT ….. uggghhh …… I need a 12pac of beer. I feel that we (pac10) just took the ugliest girl to the dance in order to pick up the home coming queen. The queen turned us down and now we are stuck with not only the ugly girl ….. but somehow we have her twin sister too. What the hell do we want with COL and UT for??….. these teams do NOTHING to bolster the Pac10. Congrats to the Big10 for getting NEB ….. I would gladly trade my ugly twins for your girl any day.
Not Alan ……. hope you survived the triathelon.
Carl,
I see you continue to show how much ignoranance you have. USC isn’t #1 to begin with …. Oregon is. Granted the Ducks have had their issues off the field this offseason and we kicked Masoli off the team ….. I still have hope in our new (young) quarterback to continue dominating the Pac10.
TIB
You hit it on the nose Tony and I feel for you. Looks like the Pac 10′s greed got the best of them although this may not be over yet. I have a feeling the Big 10 may go fishing in the East next. Problem for the Pac 10, if the Big 12 doesn’t want to go, where do they turn for teams? Mountain West? Sort of like the Big 10 picking up Rutgers I guess.
I think the Big 10 is still looking for ways to force Notre Dame’s hand.
How about Bebe though. What a move. If he’d gotten his shit together a little sooner, Colorado and Nebraska may still be in the Big 12. How much of their decision was motivated by fear of collapse. My guess…about 100%.