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It appears that Texas and OU have been working behind the scenes for some time to bolt to the SEC.  The story is picking up steam and the speculation is rampant about where the remaining 8 schools in the conference might land if this happens.  Of course the focus of all of the speculation is around football but obviously there would be big ramifications for baseball as well.  

https://www.cbssports.com/coll...ahoma-leave-for-sec/



It is hard to imagine Texas Tech Baseball not in a Power conference. Or OSU fitting in with the PAC12 schools culturally.  

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Texas and Oklahoma came close to bolting for the PAC 12 conference several years ago. From what I’ve read over the past few years is the Big 12 is the least stable conference. Texas and Oklahoma leaving would likely be the beginning of the end.

Football rules the roost. The ideal scenario would be four major conferences comprised of sixteen teams. With two divisions in each conference the conference championship could be billed as the first round of the playoffs.

The University of Texas is responsible for the downfall of the Southwest Conference. They also are responsible for Missouri, Arkansas, Colorado, and Texas A&M leaving the Big 12. Now they are bringing about the end of the Big 12. Anybody see a pattern here? A&M and Missouri will vote against allowing Texas & Oklahoma to join. Arkansas is a wild card but I suspect they will vote against as well. All of them have experienced what is like to have they University of Texas as a partner - it’s like being married to a narcissist. Anyone that knows what that is like can understand and would never do it again.  Anyone that hasn’t can’t understand at all. But the SEC better be careful with this one. History has a way of repeating itself.

@adbono posted:

The University of Texas is responsible for the downfall of the Southwest Conference. They also are responsible for Missouri, Arkansas, Colorado, and Texas A&M leaving the Big 12. Now they are bringing about the end of the Big 12. Anybody see a pattern here? A&M and Missouri will vote against allowing Texas & Oklahoma to join. Arkansas is a wild card but I suspect they will vote against as well. All of them have experienced what is like to have they University of Texas as a partner - it’s like being married to a narcissist. Anyone that knows what that is like can understand and would never do it again.  Anyone that hasn’t can’t understand at all. But the SEC better be careful with this one. History has a way of repeating itself.

Texas is the beautiful girl you should never ask out.

Add in Clemson and Florida State.  SEC wants to be mega conference and do away with NCAA as we know it.  They could declare their winner the National Champion at least in football and maybe in other sports.  This would be very interesting.  What they have now plus Texas, Oklahoma, Michigan, Ohio State, Clemson, and Florida State.  Some conversations of dropping a couple of teams which I would think might be Missouri and who knows, maybe Vanderbilt because they are only successful in baseball.  Adding 2 more powerhouse teams to replace them.

@fenwaysouth posted:

SEC Presidents and ADs -- Be careful what you wish for, you may just get Texas and Oklahoma.

I just don't see Ohio State or Michigan bolting the Big 10 as well as Clemson leaving the ACC.   They've got it pretty good where they are.   The ACC should be trying to get Notre Dame on board.   That makes sense to me.

With my football plan of four conference of two divisions with the conference championships as first round of the playoffs Notre Dame would have to join a conference or be left out.

The ACC and all conference participants granted their media rights to ESPN through the 2035-36 season to form the conference's network. In contrast, it's the Big 12's upcoming conclusion of its current TV deal in 4 years that prompts OU and Texas to consider bolting. Those are two very different sets of  circumstances and financial consequences.

Last edited by Prepster

So, if I'm reading this correctly, Disney (ABC/ESPN/etc..) will have SEC broadcast rights in the low $300M/year (10 years for $3B)  starting in 2024 versus the previous $55M/year contract with CBS that runs through the end of 2023.   If this is the case, how does that work if TX and OK join the SEC?   Is that $300M/year further divided among all (current & future) teams (thereby each school gets less) or is the more likely scenario that the SEC contract get renegotiated adding in the broadcast value of TX and OK?  I know TX has their own network...of course they do.   Wouldn't TX and OK have to pay an opt-out of the current Big 12 contract and current broadcasting arrangement?   

Can anyone clarify and untangle how this works?  There are two things in play here....conference alignment and broadcast rights.   Thanks.

Last edited by fenwaysouth

I can’t clarify anything so instead I will add to the confusion. The University of Texas’ greed regarding television revenue is what led to the formation of the Longhorn Network - at the exclusion of their partner schools in the Big12. That is what led to Colorado, Arkansas, Missouri, and Texas A&M leaving the Big 12. In operation the Longhorn Network has been an abject failure and has cost ESPN a pretty penny (and it couldn’t happen to 2 more deserving organizations). The content of the Longhorn Network is terrible and the on air “talent” is pathetic. Has the University of Texas learned their lesson? History would say they have not. Arrogance runs deep among the alumni and administration of that school and it’s not likely to change IMO. They consistently overvalue their worth and it breeds contempt in all that are forced to do business with them. That’s why the SEC schools that came from the Big 12 want no part of this conference expansion - as the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior.

@adbono posted:

I can’t clarify anything so instead I will add to the confusion. The University of Texas’ greed regarding television revenue is what led to the formation of the Longhorn Network - at the exclusion of their partner schools in the Big12. That is what led to Colorado, Arkansas, Missouri, and Texas A&M leaving the Big 12. In operation the Longhorn Network has been an abject failure and has cost ESPN a pretty penny (and it couldn’t happen to 2 more deserving organizations). The content of the Longhorn Network is terrible and the on air “talent” is pathetic. Has the University of Texas learned their lesson? History would say they have not. Arrogance runs deep among the alumni and administration of that school and it’s not likely to change IMO. They consistently overvalue their worth and it breeds contempt in all that are forced to do business with them. That’s why the SEC schools that came from the Big 12 want no part of this conference expansion - as the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior.

Great background info. Thanks for sharing.

This just in.   https://www.cbssports.com/coll...?ftag=SPM-16-10abi8e

Posturing, and some clues how this would work.  This is like telling your spouse you want to be married until 2024, but you've got a better offer on the horizon.   

Honestly, I think the SEC is fine just the way it is.   They don't need Texas or Oklahoma.  It seems to me that Texas and Oklahoma need the SEC.   

JMO.

Last edited by fenwaysouth

Since some of you liked my last post for context, here is some more history for you to chew on.
Texas & Texas A&M are both land grant universities that were provided for by The Republic of Texas in the early 1800s. In 1876 the Constitution for the State of Texas chartered the beginning of UT and further state legislation in 1871 resulted in what would eventually become Texas A&M. UT was established as a “first class” university and A&M was initially a Agricultural & Mechanical extension of UT. A two million acre land endowment of barren wasteland was established in 19 counties in west Texas to support UT. And guess what….around 1900 oil and gas production began on this land. Initially the interest earned by the investments of the oil money all went to UT but in 1931 the Texas State Legislature split the income 2/3 to UT and 1/3 to A&M - and it has remained that way ever since.
  Point being that UT has received preferential treatment since its initial formation. Since UT is located in Austin they have been able to influence lawmakers to enable them to keep their stranglehold on state funds - and he who controls the gold makes the rules. That somewhat explains the arrogance around all that is the University of Texas. As times have changed the attitude of superiority at UT has not changed. They actually believe they are better and deserve more than their fellow institutions and conference partners. Hence the downfall of a couple of premier conferences.
  I may have not explained everything correctly to the letter of the law. If that’s the case maybe there is a Texasmom23 that would delight in correcting me. But I think you get the gist of it.

@fenwaysouth posted:

Edited*****On the advice of counsel, I have removed my previous post...it may have crossed a line or two.  I recognize everybody's humor threshold is different, and this probably was not the place to post that content.  Keep calm and chive on.****Edited

Keep Calm & Chive On Shirt | Keep Calm T-Shirt | KCCO | The Chivery

Didn’t cross any lines with me. The hot/crazy matrix is hilarious. It was first shown to me by my last girlfriend who also thought it was hilarious.

Since I’m on a roll with UT, I will add something on a more positive note - since it’s likely this expansion will take place. The athletic rivalry between Texas A&M and the University of Texas is one of the very best in college sports - and IMO is fiercer than Texas/OU by a long shot. I was fortunate to be a part of some of those rivalry games in baseball and I remember a couple of them like they happened yesterday. I was never a part of any other game that was like those. So I would very much like to see that rivalry played out on athletic fields again.

Arkansas bolted from the SWC because of Texas.  We hate them and look forward to being able to hate them once again on a yearly basis.  Pretty much agree with all of Adbono's thoughts on the Texas program and their mentality as a fan base and their administration.  I am glad they are joining and bringing OU with them.  I live on the border so I hate OU too.  I think Texas is going to be in for a rude awakening in this conference, especially behind the scenes.   

@fenwaysouth posted:

Edited*****On the advice of counsel, I have removed my previous post...it may have crossed a line or two.  I recognize everybody's humor threshold is different, and this probably was not the place to post that content.  Keep calm and chive on.****Edited

Keep Calm & Chive On Shirt | Keep Calm T-Shirt | KCCO | The Chivery

Thank you. You are correct, not the place to post that content.

@22and25 posted:

I could see KU and Iowa State moving to the Big10 and the remaining 6 folding into the PAC 12.

Big10 requires AAU membership to be in their conference.  All have it, although Nebraska's was temporarily suspended because their teaching hospital was in a different city than the main campus.  They are making changes and re-applying.  Kansas is an AAU member, but not Iowa State.

Pac12 does not take schools with a religious affiliation, so no Baylor or TCU, (or BYU).

Fun Fact: Notre Dame does not qualify for either conference.

@Go44dad posted:

Big10 requires AAU membership to be in their conference.  All have it, although Nebraska's was temporarily suspended because their teaching hospital was in a different city than the main campus.  They are making changes and re-applying.  Kansas is an AAU member, but not Iowa State.

Pac12 does not take schools with a religious affiliation, so no Baylor or TCU, (or BYU).

Fun Fact: Notre Dame does not qualify for either conference.

The PAC 12 tried very hard to get BYU to join with Utah over Colorado. Every PAC 10 had a major, natural rival. Utah-Colorado is not a natural rivalry. They’re not in the same state. They’re 500 miles apart on opposite sides of the Rockies. They weren’t from the same conference. When AZ and ASU joined they were already a rivalry.

Last edited by RJM

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