Texas, Oklahoma reach out to SEC about joining conference

[red_n_black_attack]

Could I be way off base here in thinking that Cunningham caught wind of this and decided that J. Brannen was not the right fit in getting UC off of the kiddies table and was the prime reason into bringing in an up and comer coach from one of the bluest of bloodlines in basketball coaching trees?

Unlikely JC knew anything about this since it shocked everyone in their own conference and some in SEC. JC simply did what he thought to be best for UC.

[swilsonsp4]

Here's another perspective that promotes the idea that the AAC should poach some of the remaining B12 schools. The argument is that the current B12 media payouts will end and end up less than the AAC's within a few years. Just as with all of the other speculation regarding this development, who knows?

https://www.underdogdynasty.com/amer...-west-virginia

[UC4me]

I want no part of the Big 12. I don't see that league surviving, at least not in its current form while adding two members. There would only be one natural rival (WVU) and everyone else would be too far for a meaningful road trip for fans. I think the conference was walking along thinking their health was pretty darn good then had a sudden, massive life-threatening health issue leaving everyone standing around saying, "What happened? They seemed so good and then BAM." No, I think our one shot to end up in the inevitable 64 team system is the ACC. I think our full court press should be to them. We will add to their football reputation and won't detract from their basketball reputation.

[Rufus]

Could I be way off base here in thinking that Cunningham caught wind of this and decided that J. Brannen was not the right fit in getting UC off of the kiddies table and was the prime reason into bringing in an up and comer coach from one of the bluest of bloodlines in basketball coaching trees?

[longtimefan]

Looks like ESPN is behind this or helping orchestrate it. We should not be surprised. Tbh they do t like us or do it seems so prepare yourself

No. They don’t like us. Right now they’re in the driver’s seat, but who knows 10 years from now in the post cable world.

[Lobot]

Looks like ESPN is behind this or helping orchestrate it. We should not be surprised. Tbh they do t like us or do it seems so prepare yourself

[red_n_black_attack]

Lobot can you explain what the aau membership part of schools mean?

Academic snobbery.

https://www.aau.edu/who-we-are/our-members

[CincyBearcats2]

Lobot can you explain what the aau membership part of schools mean?

[Bearcats1232002]

That needs a sad button. AAC teams don't bring enough eyeballs to keep current TV revenue. I sorta get that, but also think Bearcat Nation is bigger than what most think. But a wise man once said, conferences aren't going to 20 teams...

I have been saying all along that we will be left at the altar again. We have a good enough program to be thought of as being at the top of the list of programs that aren't quite good enough to get an invite to the big boy party. We move the needle a little but just not enough. Brady Quinn on the Dan Patrick show was saying this morning that everything has changed in the college football landscape so much that you can't assume that realignment will work the way it did ten years ago. Meaning that when a conference loses teams they have to keep their conference together and go out and add teams.

[Lobot]

Seth Greenberg from the basketball end of things tweets this:

The @Big12Conference will now become the old @ConferenceUSA @Memphis_MBB @GoBearcatsMBB @USFMBB @UCF

Unless Seth has been talking to higher ups at ESPN, He likely is on the wrong end of the bus

[GoBearcats31]

Seth Greenberg from the basketball end of things tweets this:

The @Big12Conference will now become the old @ConferenceUSA @Memphis_MBB @GoBearcatsMBB @USFMBB @UCF

[red_n_black_attack]

Well Bruce Feldman at the Athletic is reporting that the BIg 12 office has reached out to the Pac 12 about a 20 team merger instead of adding new members. That's not good for us at all. ($)

https://theathletic.com/2725688/2021...-bolt-for-sec/

That needs a sad button. AAC teams don't bring enough eyeballs to keep current TV revenue. I sorta get that, but also think Bearcat Nation is bigger than what most think. But a wise man once said, conferences aren't going to 20 teams...

[Lobot]

Well Bruce Feldman at the Athletic is reporting that the BIg 12 office has reached out to the Pac 12 about a 20 team merger instead of adding new members. That's not good for us at all. ($)

https://theathletic.com/2725688/2021...-bolt-for-sec/

[Lobot]

Big fat article from ESPN. Autoplay video warning.

https://www.espn.com/college-footbal...fects-know-far

[Lobot]

The merry-go-round is spinning too fast to accurately predict. If OU, Kansas, UT-Austin leve the Big 12, is there even a TV contract in tact or does Grant-of-Rights end with conference ending?

I am still hopeful that UC gets an invite from somewhere, ACC most likely, Big 10 least likely. Merging with the likes of ISU, TCU, OSU, and Baylor are still feasible, but hopefully with a new contract not under Big 12 brand. I envision the SEC could move to 20 teams, adding a team or two from AAC and Big 12 remnants. Two 10 team divisions could be better football scheduling and basketball scheduling. The ACC could do same. We would get Pac - 12 invite before the Big 10.

Of those possibilities, pray that one happens,, but don't hold our breath that it happens in days/weeks. ESPN wants all of the prime matches

Outside the box possibility. Could a 20 team conference have a four team playoff for conference championship? As NW coach Pat Fitzgerald said, one thing for sure is it will be different from today. This could really crumble the NCAA. I really do have a problem with players getting paid to be play in college. My only request, make the scholarship a 3 year contract and negotiate with pro leagues draft eligibility 3 years after high school or directly to draft. For BB, many will try draft, but over time college may become better development league. Yes Football as king is driving the conversations, but this could be time to reshuffle the whole kit and kaboodle with NIL allowed.

I don't think conferences will go above 16 teams. Just a hunch on my part.

What ever is left of the Big 12 and AAC will probably form a 5th conference together and discard the bottom of the league which CUSA will probably gladly take back.