Big 12 in 2016

[red_n_black_attack]

I don't believe in frogs.

[bearcatbret]

Just interesting the questions USF asks of "Down the Drive". http://www.thedailystampede.com/2016...ne-chili-sucks

[Lobot]

Flugaur tweetstorm this morning. Seems that the dialogue has shifted away from expansion to not imploding in 2024 when the GoR expires.

[bearcat428]

Don't they go together? no expansion = imploding

​What a joke.

[Lobot]

Don't they go together? no expansion = imploding

​What a joke.

In my opinion yes, they go together. I have every reason to believe the conference will effectively disband if there's no expansion when the current Grant of Rights expires.

[98bearcat]

To Summarize what Flugaur was saying today... OU / UT / KU and an unknown fourth school will move to one of the other existing P5 conferences and the remaining schools (6 or less?) will negotiate a new GOR and new deal with Fox/ESPN and one would have to assume add replacement schools, how many was never mentioned and would depend on who all gets out. He felt this would happen in 2 years and it would be agreed by the schools leaving, and those left behind, to end the current GOR so the remaining schools can negotiate a new deal and hopefully keep P5 status, but officially the lowest of the P5s..... trully becoming the new BigEast of the Power conferences. That was my interpretation...... Of course the Dude of WV has already tweeted out that it is all fiction and that this could never happen. At this point, how many of us in the AAC care. The AAC as it consists right now is turning into a very descent football conference, easily the strongest outside P5 and if Big12 loses OU / UT would rival the left overs.

[blackattack]

To Summarize what Flugaur was saying today... OU / UT / KU and an unknown fourth school will move to one of the other existing P5 conferences and the remaining schools (6 or less?) will negotiate a new GOR and new deal with Fox/ESPN and one would have to assume add replacement schools, how many was never mentioned and would depend on who all gets out. He felt this would happen in 2 years and it would be agreed by the schools leaving, and those left behind, to end the current GOR so the remaining schools can negotiate a new deal and hopefully keep P5 status, but officially the lowest of the P5s..... trully becoming the new BigEast of the Power conferences. That was my interpretation...... Of course the Dude of WV has already tweeted out that it is all fiction and that this could never happen. At this point, how many of us in the AAC care. The AAC as it consists right now is turning into a very descent football conference, easily the strongest outside P5 and if Big12 loses OU / UT would rival the left overs.

Obviously my preference is for the Big12 to expand and for UC to be included in that expansion. But I'm not gonna lie, I would love to see the day come when Texas is a member of a different P5 conference (say the B1G or ACC) and they're forced to get out of their comfort zone and leave the friendly confines of the state of Texas (& Oklahoma), and have to fly all over the country into freezing cold weather venues in November and December. I would get great satisfaction out of watching that happen to a school that has always had the added benefit of being able to take a 3-4 hour bus ride to most of their conference venues. And in addition to that, having to live within the same rules as everyone else in the conference. Now that would be fun to watch.........but I don't think it will ever happen. Texas is arrogant for sure, but they're not that stupid to let that happen.

[bearcated]

At this point I think this is nothing more than expansion theater. If B12 really wanted to expand they would have done it by now.

My suspicion is they are dragging it out to get a few more $$ out of the TV networks. In other words, if they add 2 teams the league gets a set amount, so instead use the threat (without actually doing it) of expansion to weedle some more money out of the TV networks and call it a day.

I do think there is a good chance the whole league folds. Its' not out of the realm that UT and OU bolt, and the whole house of cards collapses.

[coach]

It's really kind of hard to say as if you look at all the critical info. it's really not from anyone other than third parties. It's highly, highly unlikely texas and ok could bolt early for anything other than an astronomical cost. Those grant of rights are way to difficult to break, and the left behind teams would not let them walk as the alternatives are not likely to be as rich. However, i still have a hard time seeing either of these two leaving their domains if they have been damaged. It will be interesting to see who wins the game this week. Probably be more talk about the conference and Charlie Strong's future than the game. Sad state of affairs in college sports anymore.

[longtimefan]

I'll say again Flugaur likes to pat himself on the back and tell everybody he was right about such and such. The truth is he has been wrong on just about everything he has predicted for the last year or so. With the amount of stuff he throws out there he has to hit something once in a while. I still think he is just making educated guesses just like the rest of us, and whatever sources he claims to have are not much better than that. The only ones who know for sure aren't saying anything.

[Illuminerdski]

Is it happening!?! No... Bummer. 2017 then? 2018?

[blackattack]

at this point i think this is nothing more than expansion theater. If b12 really wanted to expand they would have done it by now.
my suspicion is they are dragging it out to get a few more $$ out of the tv networks. In other words, if they add 2 teams the league gets a set amount, so instead use the threat (without actually doing it) of expansion to weedle some more money out of the tv networks and call it a day.
^^^^Agree with you on this. That's been my contention from the beginning.

i do think there is a good chance the whole league folds. Its' not out of the realm that ut and ou bolt, and the whole house of cards collapses.
^^^^ i don't know what to think about this. The football programs at both UT and OU have been on a downward trend in recent years. They've lost some of the national respect they once had both on the field and in recruiting circles. The rise of programs like TCU and Baylor, and Texas A&M leaving for the SEC has hurt UT far more than they'll ever admit. Texas A&M especially is able now to get involved with the same kids that UT does. That has to be a real punch in the gut for UT. So if UT and OU abandon the Big12 they will essentially be leaving the frying pan for the fire........no matter which P5 they go to they're going to take their lumps from schools like ohio state, mich, wisconsin, alabama, lsu, florida, etc, etc. And if they leave before the GOR is up they take a big hit financially.

[red_n_black_attack]

I followed the Flugaur tweets yesterday and am not buying it. Considering the source is an "OU contact", this only benefits the 3-4 schools moving on. The conference bylaws require 8 votes (80%) to disband conference and void GOR. There is no incentive for ISU, KSU, WVU, and the others that won't get a soft landing. This is the UT/OU dream!

The only way this works is if a new media deal is signed, the conference expands and the money is there. Sorry, I don't see the money being there. The networks have every bit of better programs in higher media areas than the bottom of the Big 12 isn't going to draw that kind of money to leave what they have. The AAC is making around 10% of current Big 12. Why would the networks pay them OU/UT money for 10-15 years beyond current deal without OU/UT? The only way this works is some sort of marriage between AAC and Big 12 leftovers where the networks say they were under paying for AAC all the time any way...not happening.

I truly believe the OU sources gave this info to Greg and the OU sources want this outcome. It is good reporting by Greg. I can see why he sat on this for two weeks. On the other hand, the make believe OU sources could be providing the info he wants to see the Big Ten gain KU and OU.

[bearcatbret]

Well, whatever ESPN wants, they will get. They will broker a deal to get what they want. If they want UT and OK to leave prior to the GOR, they will find a way to make it happen. History is repeating itself here from what we learned with the Big East. Would ESPN allow Texas to form a 20- team league? http://www.metro.us/sports/big-12-ex...NStsobQvwnWQ2/

[Lobot]

FOX doesn't think expansion is the best option for the Big 12. (very last line) http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/D.../Horowitz.aspx