Big 12 Talking With Cinncinatti

[Iceland12]

The lack of a Conference Title Game hurt the Big 12 this year and they nay be trying to change that. Bowing down to Texas may not have been the best strategy in the past.

http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-ba...-champions-bob-bowlsby-cincinnati-memphis-byu

Big 12 officials recently met with administrators from the University of Cincinnati, a source close to the university told Sporting News. That is not an indication membership will be offered to the Bearcats in the immediate future — only that they would be a candidate were such an expansion to be undertaken.
It is not known how many other universities, if any, have had similar meetings. Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby was in New York and unavailable to speak Monday with Sporting News.
Expansion is a complicated matter for the Big 12 because its television contracts, signed with ESPN and Fox in 2012, are scheduled to run through the 2024-25 season. Such deals have been renegotiated in the past with other conferences; in some cases, it was believed the opportunity to reopen television contracts was a motivation for leagues to pursue expansion.
However, aside from Notre Dame – which already declined an opportunity to join the Big 12 and instead chose the ACC – there is no potential member outside of the current “Power 5” conferences whose appeal would lead either network to add substantially to the current Big 12 contracts..

 

[kellyleeks]

The lack of a Conference Title Game hurt the Big 12 this year and they nay be trying to change that. Bowing down to Texas may not have been the best strategy in the past.

http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-ba...-champions-bob-bowlsby-cincinnati-memphis-byu

Big 12 officials recently met with administrators from the University of Cincinnati, a source close to the university told Sporting News. That is not an indication membership will be offered to the Bearcats in the immediate future — only that they would be a candidate were such an expansion to be undertaken.
It is not known how many other universities, if any, have had similar meetings. Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby was in New York and unavailable to speak Monday with Sporting News.
Expansion is a complicated matter for the Big 12 because its television contracts, signed with ESPN and Fox in 2012, are scheduled to run through the 2024-25 season. Such deals have been renegotiated in the past with other conferences; in some cases, it was believed the opportunity to reopen television contracts was a motivation for leagues to pursue expansion.
However, aside from Notre Dame – which already declined an opportunity to join the Big 12 and instead chose the ACC – there is no potential member outside of the current “Power 5” conferences whose appeal would lead either network to add substantially to the current Big 12 contracts..

Slim pickings. And I'm not talking Slim Pickens, but that was a helluva good movie.

 

[maroonfive]

I bet the Longhorns wish they could bolt from this second rate conference.

 

[goldengophers]

I bet the Longhorns wish they could bolt from this second rate conference.

Does second rate mean second to the SEC?

 

[maroonfive]

Does second rate mean second to the SEC?

Second rate as these are smaller schools in the middle of the country in states with small populations. They should go after NDSU.

 

[goldengophers]

Second rate as these are smaller schools in the middle of the country in states with small populations. They should go after NDSU.

Apparently I am learning that Texas and Ohio are small states.

 

[MNGoldenGophers1]

With WVU the odd duck, Cincy makes some sense or at least is not unprecedented. I'm wondering if the Big 12 makes a run at either Boise, BYU, South Florida, or maybe Houston? There really is not a lot to choose from but I could be overlooking someone?

 

[goldengophers]

With WVU the odd duck, Cincy makes some sense or at least is not unprecedented. I'm wondering if the Big 12 makes a run at either Boise, BYU, South Florida, or maybe Houston? There really is not a lot to choose from but I could be overlooking someone?

BYU would bring the prestige, if not them UCF would make the most sense. The dark horse would be UConn.

 

[Sparlimb]

More likely regional teams would make more sense. Houston and SMU...

 

[MizzouBob]

I bet the Longhorns wish they could bolt from this second rate conference.

F Texas. Let them rot in that crap conference. They're the reason why it is the way it is. They invaded my old Big 8 and proceeded to ruin it -- just like they ruined the Southwest Conference. The Long(W)horns are nothing but locust. They eat and eat and eat and leave nothing for anyone else.

They refused to share revenue equally. They insisted on their own network, as opposed to a conference network. They're nothing but flaming orange bullies. Consequently, the drove Nebraska and Colorado off. Then, they drove A&M and Mizzou off. And all four universities are MUCH better off being in their respective new conferences...

At the same time, the Long(W)horen Network has been a colossal bust. They're hired another colossal idiot for a commissioner (make no mistake, it's always UT's call). And they've managed to screw two more member schools because of their idiotic rules about co-champions.

Yeah, F Texas.

Does second rate mean second to the SEC?

Hey, now. My SEC brethren may not be that smart, but they play some good ball.

BYU would bring the prestige, if not them UCF would make the most sense. The dark horse would be UConn.

More likely regional teams would make more sense. Houston and SMU...

Here's the problem with all of those schools: What do they bring in terms of TV sets? Nothing. As a result, they would be dividing up their same TV money with two more lesser schools (they now have equal revenue sharing... now... only happened after the four above schools left.).

The Big 12 is screwed. I really believe at some point Texas will latch onto the PAC and blow the whole thing up. They'll do it once they realize their Network won't make them as much money as a conference network... and once they realize they can make more as a member institution, instead of a bully.

 

[Sparlimb]

F Texas. Let them rot in that crap conference. They're the reason why it is the way it is. They invaded my old Big 8 and proceeded to ruin it -- just like they ruined the Southwest Conference. The Long(W)horns are nothing but locust. They eat and eat and eat and leave nothing for anyone else.

They refused to share revenue equally. They insisted on their own network, as opposed to a conference network. They're nothing but flaming orange bullies. Consequently, the drove Nebraska and Colorado off. Then, they drove A&M and Mizzou off. And all four universities are MUCH better off being in their respective new conferences...

At the same time, the Long(W)horen Network has been a colossal bust. They're hired another colossal idiot for a commissioner (make no mistake, it's always UT's call). And they've managed to screw two more member schools because of their idiotic rules about co-champions.

Yeah, F Texas.




Hey, now. My SEC brethren may not be that smart, but they play some good ball.






Here's the problem with all of those schools: What do they bring in terms of TV sets? Nothing. As a result, they would be dividing up their same TV money with two more lesser schools (they now have equal revenue sharing... now... only happened after the four above schools left.).

The Big 12 is screwed. I really believe at some point Texas will latch onto the PAC and blow the whole thing up. They'll do it once they realize their Network won't make them as much money as a conference network... and once they realize they can make more as a member institution, instead of a bully.

Well we still look headed for 4 conferences of 16 each which makes 64 schools in the big leagues. Big 12 may just be the conference to get disbanded in all this. There was some strong talk of Texas to the Big Ten at one point, and it would make sense for the Big Ten because you'd be adding another large television area to the conference network. Granted that would be because Texas finally would agree to revenue share evenly with all the teams as that's how the Big Ten has always done it and that isn't going to change.

 

[MizzouBob]

Texas may move that way, but there's a belief that if Texas moves, it must take it's little brother Texas Tech with it... the state government will require it, so Tech doesn't end up homeless and revenue-less. I can't see the B1G taking on TTech...

Oklahoma is stuck in the same situation. Wherever they go, little brother Okie Lite must follow, as well. I think that's why it's ultimately those four going in a package deal to the PAC... In fact, that almost happened, at least according to the rumor mill and "insiders."

God, with Mizzou being rumored to go to the B1G and then eventually to the SEC, I can't tell you how much I've read about conference realignment. It disgusts me, but it also is absolutely fascinating.

 

[station19]

Mizzou should be in the Big Ten. Texas is poison.

 

[WanderingGopher]

I always saw Texas as likely to move to the B1G if there was another wave of expansion. Texas, Notre Dame (ugh), Missouri and Kansas in a 16 team B1G would make a lot of sense from the standpoint of all sports, academic reputation, geography, and finances. The B1G would never allow Texas and Notre Dame special tv treatment, though. Also, I suppose now that Missouri's in the SEC, football likely will keep them there. I don't think that conference is a good fit for Missouri, but it's a good deal for their football fans and football program.

The "me too" syndrome is what's going to drive football to 4 major conferences of 16. As a fan of the conference that started the idea of having its own tv network, and probably started the expansion avalanche (twice), it's a little frustrating to see our advantages chipped away each time. I guess that's more proof that college sports is a business just like everything else.

 

[Goldmember]

Does second rate mean second to the SEC?

C'mon. The BigXII was not second to the SEC even before it was decimated by the SEC, BigTen and Pac12. You can't lose 4 or your 6 most valuable football programs and still be a true "Power 5".

Missouri won the SEC East again. We can't say the SEC is a great conference, and in the same breath claim that the BigXII teams still face a similarly competitive conference as they once did. It's either one way or the other.

The reality is the teams of the Big XII have a much easier road to win the conference championship than any other Power5, particularly when Texas and Oklahoma are as horrible as the are this year. It is an obvious truth, and selection committee knew it.

 

[MizzouBob]

C'mon. The BigXII was not second to the SEC even before it was decimated by the SEC, BigTen and Pac12. You can't lose 4 or your 6 most valuable football programs and still be a true "Power 5".

Missouri won the SEC East again. We can't say the SEC is a great conference, and in the same breath claim that the BigXII teams still face a similarly competitive conference as they once did. It's either one way or the other.

The reality is the teams of the Big XII have a much easier road to win the conference championship than any other Power5, particularly when Texas and Oklahoma are as horrible as the are this year. It is an obvious truth, and selection committee knew it.

To me, that's what's so damn funny about this whole thing. Texas and to some effect OU eliminated the conference championship game, so it would be easier for them to get to a NC game. And yet here they are... watching two small private schools dominate their conference. I really do love it.

 

[tjgopher]

I would think Cincinnati would be one to add.

Big XII is already heavy in Texas, so I can't think they'd add another school from there. I would guess they'd want to expand the footprint to help with television sets, etc.

BYU would make total sense if they would accept an invite (for reasons stated below by Sports Realist. The Big XII would be wise to compromise some on BYU demands, too).

Memphis would be a bigger market with a lot of basketball cache, but not much football rep (9-3 this year though), and would add the state of Tennessee.

Colorado State would get that state back in the footprint of the league.

New Mexico makes sense geographically with nearby Texas.

San Diego State gets the Big XII into California.

UConn makes no sense geographically, but they have to want into a bigger league.

The Big XII should have added Louisville and Cincinnati when they had a chance 5-7 years ago.

It will be Cincinnati and someone else.

 

[Sports_Realist]

If BYU and the Mormon Church could find a way around their issues with playing sports on Sunday, even perhaps via some compromise like after sundown on Sunday is okay, then the Big XII inviting BYU to join the conference ought to be an automatic. BYU quit the Mountain West out of a desire to not share TV revenue it deemed too small with other members and likely for pride and ego reasons concerning not wanting to get stuck in the MWC while rival Utah headed for the PAC-12. Longterm I don't think they can make it as an indy. Scheduling will be an issue, especially late in the season, and they have little chance to contend for a national title like Notre Dame occasionally. It leaves BYU chasing mid level bowls with 8-4 seasons. I'd bet money the fans miss looking at the standings and celebrating conference championships. The Cougars average about 61,000 in a 63,000 seat stadium as is. The basketball team averaged just under 16,000 per game in a building that holds about 22,000 in the WCC where it faces Gonzaga, a few other decent schools, and some tag-alongs that don't move the attendance needle. They have a big following in the Salt Lake City TV market which is effectively the entirety of Utah. BYU should be priority #1 for the Big XII.

 

[DarrenTheGreek]

Agree with many of the other posters. The likely candidates other than Cincy and BYU are from the American Athletic Conference: Memphis, UCF, South Florida, Houston, East Carolina, UCONN

Can't forget about Boise State either. If Tulane had a big benefactor I could see them as an option too.

 

[MizzouBob]

Boy, nothing says irrelevant conference like that list of schools your put out there.

Bottom line: The Big 12 really screwed up in listening to Texas. It's going to pay for a very long time.

I'm sorry, but I just don't see the long-term validity of the conference... It's going to lag BIG TIME behind the others in terms of dollars in the future... it already is losing out.

 

[IAGopherfan]

So is the end game really going to be 4- 16 team conferences? If so who would the B1G add now that we would only need 2? Notre Dame? Virginia? Georgia Tech? Trying to remember names thrown around last time. If I were gonna guess, Pac12 would end up with Texas, TTech, Oklahoma and Okie State.

 

[Sparlimb]

So is the end game really going to be 4- 16 team conferences? If so who would the B1G add now that we would only need 2? Notre Dame? Virginia? Georgia Tech? Trying to remember names thrown around last time. If I were gonna guess, Pac12 would end up with Texas, TTech, Oklahoma and Okie State.

Teams that bring tv dollars. I'd go with Florida St and USC

 

[MDGopherFan]

Well we still look headed for 4 conferences of 16 each which makes 64 schools in the big leagues. Big 12 may just be the conference to get disbanded in all this. There was some strong talk of Texas to the Big Ten at one point, and it would make sense for the Big Ten because you'd be adding another large television area to the conference network. Granted that would be because Texas finally would agree to revenue share evenly with all the teams as that's how the Big Ten has always done it and that isn't going to change.

I thought geographic continuity was a criteria that excluded and would exclude Texas from ever being considered for the Big Ten.

 

[gophmeister]

Cincinnati makes sense. It bridges the gap between WVU and the rest of the conference. The thing about BYU is it would be a logistical nightmare for the teams. They would have to travel 1000+ miles for every road game except KSU and Tech. In the old Big 8 you could pretty much go to every road game since no school was really more than a 6 hour drive apart. I'm sure BYU would be willing since I've read their fans do not like being independents because they can't get any real interesting opponents to come to Provo.

 

[Pewterschmidt]

Forget about SMU and Houston. I've been to both schools, attending a BB and Football game at the latter and they are so far removed from being a Power 5 team it's crazy. There might have been 1000 people at the BB game I attended vs UAB and their FB game might have had 15k.

BYU and Cincy make the most since. They have the facilities, markets, and fan bases to make money for the B12 conference. I really don't see any other schools that make sense. Possibly UCF but that just doesn't seem right.

 

[jovs]

BYU would bring the prestige, if not them UCF would make the most sense. The dark horse would be UConn.

I think expanding media outlets is going to be the #1 priority, I would add San Diego State to this list for that reason. Geography doesn't matter for the money producing sports but when you have to travel these types of distances for soccer or gymnastics it can turn out to be pretty expensive which might make somebody like Colorado State more attractive.