Big 12 talk is back thanks to Texas.

[red_n_black_attack]

Combine your performance drop off info with the fact we would have NO rivals and ridiculous travel expense, I don't see this as a good option in any way shape or form. Plus as I have said many times before, the good teams in this conference will leave shortly after we were to join and we will be stuck. This is a bad move. Wait for the ACC or stay with the AAC and dominate.

I guess the meat of this path is can we make as much or more money dominating the AAC and continually going to NCAA and peridoically going to a BCS type playoff Bowl? I don't think the revenue will add-up. Even when we went to a BCS game, the ticket allottment, travel, and other expenses chewed up the pay-out. Going to a major Bowl will not replace the added tv revenue.

The next question is will the added tv revenue offset increased travel for all sports and band travel? Maybe? The big impact of the Bowl game was buying 17-20,000 tickets at face value. This will not be case for typical travel. Most current trips are a flight and I would expect that to be the same. It could be a major driving force to schedule local teams in non-conference schedules for ease of travel. Conference games/meets will be a little more, but it would take someone a lot more well versed in accounting (and the actual current vs predicted money spent). I cannot answer this one, only suppose that additional revenue should just about offset increased travel cost.

A more challenging conference will at minimum pay-off for better seeding in the NCAA - not that it helps. I do agree with Coach K's comments that so called second tier teams in ACC or Big 12 are as good as lesser conferences - I interpret this to be the 5th, 6th, and 7th teams in ACC are as good as the 3rd or 4th teams in Big East, A-10, and the American. If we were in a more challenging top to bottom conference, we could go farther in the NCAA tourney, but the reality is there isn't a guarantee.

Will home attendance go up if we are playing Texas, Baylor, Ok State, etc. and KU, OU, K State, Iowa state the other years? Probably a big yes in football and in basketball. I'd expect season tickets to go up in both value and total numbers with sellouts for most of the conference games. The only ACC games I could see selling out would be Louisville and Fl State in football, with several basketball games getting to 13,176.

I'm not saying the Big 12 is a better or best fit for UC. I'm saying I would not turn it down to wait for the ACC. Can you agree with that?

[coach]

The fans who want to jump conference ships so bad are usually the first ones to quite buying tickets as well. If teams isn't winning(for whatever reason), not a good thing in cincy.

[RedDog]

Combine your performance drop off info with the fact we would have NO rivals and ridiculous travel expense, I don't see this as a good option in any way shape or form. Plus as I have said many times before, the good teams in this conference will leave shortly after we were to join and we will be stuck. This is a bad move. Wait for the ACC or stay with the AAC and dominate.

[vince8290]

If I'm not mistaken, Tom Jurich is a Vice President at Louisville, not just athletic director. Secondly, has anyone given much thought to the teams that moved to the power conferences such as TCU, Utah, WVU and where are they now? TCU 0-18 in the Big 12 in basketball, no bowl bid this year in football, WVU no bowl bid in football and no NCAA appearance in basketball, Utah, (might have bowl bid in football), no NCAA in basketball. Can't help but think, is the grass really greener on the other side? Is all that money producing anything but sub par finishes and disgruntled fans? What does UL have to look forward to in the ACC next year and Rutgers in the Big Ten? Anyone?

[red_n_black_attack]

Can Bohn moving CU out of the Big 12 hurt the Bearcats chances of getting into the Big 12?

[vince8290]

Your right it's unlikely that anyone would give up those rights. However, if what they add with the BTN is significantly better, it may be an option. I agree, adding schools is most likely the only hope.

[CincyBearcat95]

Is Texas and Oklahoma to the PAC 12 dead? Does anyone know that? If those two move, obviously, it opens the door for us to the Big 12. I'm hoping for this scenario. Or if the Big 10 wants to expand at Florida State or Clemson or both. Then we have options with the ACC. Despite the 50 million buyout, I still think that this can happen. IF FSU and Clemson decide that the 50 million buyout is negated by a large TV contract and revenue with the Big 10 Network over time, then it's all possible. If that network can bring FSU and Clemson dollars to off set 50 million, it could work out. I know the Big 10 is not done. I'm not sure they are all thrilled with the Maryland/Rutgers group either. Both are floundering in all sports except women's basketball. It gives them TV revenue or positioning, but that's it. Neither school is breaking ground anywhere. Also, none of us should discount the impact Mick Cronin is having here. He may very well be vaulting UC into the big time with his dynamic ranked team. This could pay dividends for UC. This UC basketball team is only going to get better. Look at the incoming and add Deshayn Moorman.

There is no $50m buyout going forward. It's grant of rights now. Meaning anyone leaving the league would have to sign over their tv rights to the league until 2026-2027. I don't see anyone leaving the ACC for any reason until close to the end of the contract. They are each getting $20m a year as well.

Our only chance is for the ACC or Big 12 to add schools or for SEC, Pac12 and Big 10 to steal from a conference not named ACC.

[Joco45215]

Is Texas and Oklahoma to the PAC 12 dead? Does anyone know that? If those two move, obviously, it opens the door for us to the Big 12. I'm hoping for this scenario. Or if the Big 10 wants to expand at Florida State or Clemson or both. Then we have options with the ACC. Despite the 50 million buyout, I still think that this can happen. IF FSU and Clemson decide that the 50 million buyout is negated by a large TV contract and revenue with the Big 10 Network over time, then it's all possible. If that network can bring FSU and Clemson dollars to off set 50 million, it could work out. I know the Big 10 is not done. I'm not sure they are all thrilled with the Maryland/Rutgers group either. Both are floundering in all sports except women's basketball. It gives them TV revenue or positioning, but that's it. Neither school is breaking ground anywhere. Also, none of us should discount the impact Mick Cronin is having here. He may very well be vaulting UC into the big time with his dynamic ranked team. This could pay dividends for UC. This UC basketball team is only going to get better. Look at the incoming and add Deshayn Moorman.

Don't forget Strickland, Mick believes he's a scoring big man

[vince8290]

Is Texas and Oklahoma to the PAC 12 dead? Does anyone know that? If those two move, obviously, it opens the door for us to the Big 12. I'm hoping for this scenario. Or if the Big 10 wants to expand at Florida State or Clemson or both. Then we have options with the ACC. Despite the 50 million buyout, I still think that this can happen. IF FSU and Clemson decide that the 50 million buyout is negated by a large TV contract and revenue with the Big 10 Network over time, then it's all possible. If that network can bring FSU and Clemson dollars to off set 50 million, it could work out. I know the Big 10 is not done. I'm not sure they are all thrilled with the Maryland/Rutgers group either. Both are floundering in all sports except women's basketball. It gives them TV revenue or positioning, but that's it. Neither school is breaking ground anywhere. Also, none of us should discount the impact Mick Cronin is having here. He may very well be vaulting UC into the big time with his dynamic ranked team. This could pay dividends for UC. This UC basketball team is only going to get better. Look at the incoming and add Deshayn Moorman.

[longtimefan]

ESPN reporting that Charlie Strong is the new coach at Texas.

[red_n_black_attack]

If the only way Texas has a shot at a playoff spot is to win a conference championship game, and the NCAA says the only way to have a conference championship game is to have twelve teams then I'm darn sure Cincinnati will look mighty pretty to Texas in that scenario because the money will dry up if there is nothing to play for.

I hope you didn't mean Cincinnati looks good to add because we won't beat Texas or stand in their way at a shot for that Championship money -

The Big 12 has the least history as a conference than any of the Power Five conferences; however, it has some of the best and longest history in terms of programs. By combining the Southwest Conference and the Big 8, you had both a top-5 program in football (Oklahoma) and top-5 program in basketball (Kansas) even though both were originally in the Big 8, adding the Texas schools made the conference highly competitive and, more importantly, a sought after tv commodity. The defections of Nebraska and Missouri go to show that this was a lower tier conference in terms of money to the Top Two (the B1G and SEC). The failed attempts of the PAC-10/12 to lure Texas and Oklahoma away is what will keep this conference alive. Other than the SEC, the top of the Big 12 compares favorably with the B1G and beats out ACC or PAC-10/12.

I see one of two scenarios playing out, both favorably for UC.

1. The NCAA caves on student stipends and doesn't dissolve or get broken up by the Power Five. In this scenario, the Big 12 needs teams to have a conference championship. UC is easily in the top two to be added to the Big 12 and there will be stability in this format for all teams get same or more money in the Big 12 with added revenue from new tv territory and championship game.

2. The NCAA doesn't cave on the stipends. Schools start departing and there isn't honor among thieves as the conferences break-up (sorta). Many old alliances remain intact, but the Power Five will become a Power Four, each with 16 teams. There will be some surprises in this scenario and the four will essentially be a West, Midwest, Southeast, and East with more than likely 40-45 teams east of the Mississippi. Cincinnati will be a target for both the East (old ACC) and Southeast (old SEC) as both try to get in the backyard of O$U and fertile recruiting.


I don't believe this scenario ever plays out after the stipend issue is decided. If the NCAA caves, then the Power Five will make nearly any change they want and run roughshod over the rest will be brow-beaten. This gives long-term stability to UC in a Power Five. If the NCAA break over stipends comes about, conferences will dissolve and reform, thus penalty payouts for leaving a conference will be null and void. In this case I can see teams like Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Duke sitting on the edge of their seats as football will be king in deciding the future wealth.

[cmm27]

If the only way Texas has a shot at a playoff spot is to win a conference championship game, and the NCAA says the only way to have a conference championship game is to have twelve teams then I'm darn sure Cincinnati will look mighty pretty to Texas in that scenario because the money will dry up if there is nothing to play for.

[vince8290]

Good points Bearcattitude92. I could not say it any better. Texas is in it all for herself period. They will do what best helps Texas. They will not allow Cincinnati in the Big 12 if it affects their take home dollars from the TV deal. So UC would have to add to that ESPN amount.

[cmm27]

More than an AAC championship game.

[longtimefan]

Here is another interesting take. I certainly don't agree with the all the scenarios listed here, but it does appear that if any more expansion takes place, we are first in line. Just how much would a Big 12 championship game be worth?

http://conferenceexpansion.com/author/kclifton/