Big XII Football--Offseason News & Notes

[NThomas]

Texas got everything they wanted out of this.

1. No more power struggle with Nebraska
2. No more conference championship game
3. Their own TV network (Pac-10 and Big Ten both told UT no)
4. More money from a TV package
5. An easier road to the BCS (only OU, Tech and A&M will give the horns real game)
6. More control over the conference

Texas Tech and Oklahoma State got screwed in this deal and if the withdrawal penalties are so stiff, no team can afford to leave now even if a better offer came along.

[AeroD]

Texas got everything they wanted out of this.

1. No more power struggle with Nebraska
2. No more conference championship game
3. Their own TV network (Pac-10 and Big Ten both told UT no)
4. More money from a TV package
5. An easier road to the BCS (only OU, Tech and A&M will give the horns real game)
6. More control over the conference

Texas Tech and Oklahoma State got screwed in this deal and if the withdrawal penalties are so stiff, no team can afford to leave now even if a better offer came along.

As a Longhorn, I am all for Texas Uber Alles. But it's tin-foil hat time. Texas probably did not want to leave the Big XII. Had it left, it would have been on the road to "super conferences" and the ultimate death of the BCS. Texas benefits more from the BCS than it would from a playoff system.

Texas only has OK to really worry about. Texas maintains it position by slaughtering Baylor, Iowa State, OSU, etc. In the SEC, Pac-10 or Big Ten, Texas has to worry about everybody else.

[NThomas]

As a Longhorn, I am all for Texas Uber Alles. But it's tin-foil hat time. Texas probably did not want to leave the Big XII. Had it left, it would have been on the road to "super conferences" and the ultimate death of the BCS. Texas benefits more from the BCS than it would from a playoff system.

Texas only has OK to really worry about. Texas maintains it position by slaughtering Baylor, Iowa State, OSU, etc. In the SEC, Pac-10 or Big Ten, Texas has to worry about everybody else.

That's why I didn't think any of this would ever happen to begin with. Colorado was smart and got out while they could, unfortunately for the Pac-10, I think they jumped the gun on the Colorado invite as a way to force Baylor out of the picture in what they believed was a sure thing going for a 16 team Pac-10. Now the the publicly presented plan B, expand to 12 with Colorado and Utah, will have to suffice for now.

The Big Ten (who ironicly now has twelve members while the Big 12 now has ten...) got probably their third or forth choice with snagging Nebraska who has no ties with the Big 12 to hold them back. If the Big 12 had adopted a permanent cross-division rivalry for interdivision games, the old marquee OU-Nebraska game might have given the Huskers just enough of a tie to the conference to keep them from jumping ship with out any qualms.

But Nebraska has been royally screw since the formation of the Big 12, has lost more and more influence over the conference while UT has had no where to go but up. This debacle over the last few weeks goes to show just how much power UT has over the conference, its commissioner, News Corp (via Fox Sports), Disney (via ESPN), the Texas Governor (for those of you living under a rock Perry is an Aggie), and the rest of the universities in the Big 12-2=10. They walked away as "saviors" of all of college sports by not starting the super-conference era and "saving" the Big 12-2=10.

Unfortunately for UT, the same thing that happened towards the end of the SWC, will happen again in the Big 12-2=10. Recruits are going to want to play at a school where they play marquee games all but one week (think any team in the SEC West, their only in-conference body bag game is against Mississippi State) as opposed to playing in the for either UT of OU where you only have one week that will matter now, the game against each other (barring any years where the stars align for A&M, Tech, or Mizzou). Now UT can just roll into a BCS game annually after only one tough conference game...

Although I do believe UT and OU won't be playing in the final Big 12 Conference championship game this season. The morning of September 19th is going to be a surprise for anyone not watching ABC the night before...

[Trae]

Texas got everything they wanted out of this.

1. No more power struggle with Nebraska
2. No more conference championship game
3. Their own TV network (Pac-10 and Big Ten both told UT no)
4. More money from a TV package
5. An easier road to the BCS (only OU, Tech and A&M will give the horns real game)
6. More control over the conference

Texas Tech and Oklahoma State got screwed in this deal and if the withdrawal penalties are so stiff, no team can afford to leave now even if a better offer came along.

Well, this also means Texas plays weaker competition, so their chance at getting into the national championship game becomes harder. I think both Houston and Arkansas will make it into the Big 12 soon. Then, you can have: Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, and Missouri in the Big 12 North. Then, you have Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Houston, Arkansas, and Baylor in the Big 12 South. Then, you can bring back the national championship game and move it from Cowboys Stadium, to Reliant Stadium (and maybe the Alamaodome) every other year. Can you imagine a Oklahoma vs. Texas rematch, where the winner is gets to go to the national championship game, along with the Big 12 championship?

This works best also because it's basically the old SWC division + some of the old Big 8, so teams get to play their old rivals again. It also makes it easier for DFW and Houston to serve as "neutral" site games. Plus, if Arkansas and Houston join the Big 12, it would make it less likely that the conference breaks up, in my opinion. If it sits the way it is, and Texas starts getting a ton of money, while the other schools sit and watch, then I can easily see A&M bolting to the SEC, and Houston teaming up with Texas Tech to both go join another conference (instead of Houston trying to join the Big 12). Then, Texas will be screwed...especially if their goal is the national championship. The BCS will laugh at the competition they play.

[AeroD]

think both Houston and Arkansas will make it into the Big 12 soon.

Arkansas is not going to leave the best conference in football: http://collegesportsblog.dallasnews....ng-in-the.html.

The Big XII gets nothing by adding U of H. The Houston market is already covered.

[Trae]

Arkansas is not going to leave the best conference in football: [url]

The Big XII gets nothing by adding U of H. The Houston market is already covered.

Arkansas is the "whipping" boy of that best conference in football. They went to the SEC expecting Texas to follow. They come to the Big 12 and they can recruit from the heavily talented Texas market. And the Big 1r can gain by letting in UH. For one, UH is building a new football stadium and renovating their arena. Second, it makes the conference appear more stable with twelve teams and makes it less likely that A&M would leave.

If not, then Houston should team up with Tech and join another conference. Tech, and other Big 12 schools, are going to want to once they start seeing the money UT will bring in from their new TV network in a few years. The Big 12-2 right now is the Texas + OU conference. It won't last very long the way it is.

[tamtagon]

I still want Arkansas and LSU in the Big 12.

[AeroD]

If not, then Houston should team up with Tech and join another conference. Tech, and other Big 12 schools, are going to want to once they start seeing the money UT will bring in from their new TV network in a few years. The Big 12-2 right now is the Texas + OU conference. It won't last very long the way it is.

Which is the reason why Arkansas will stay put, even being a "whipping boy" they are getting a good deal out of the SEC. Again, nothing to gain from adding U of H. U of H like UTA, UTD or UTSA, are commuter schools with small alumni bases.

[mjblazin]

I think UT-Austin got the same consultants that advised Greece on the Olympics benefits to calculate the potential revenue from that network
- it may only show one extra game and it'll be a lousy one
- most of the product will be interviews, behind the scenes, and possible non-football events.
- Is it that much different than what you can already get on the Web? Won't that channel get even more comprehensive?

It's a given the money will just roll in. I believe they'll find the subscriber market is much smaller than they now think.

[AeroD]

I think UT-Austin got the same consultants that advised Greece on the Olympics benefits to calculate the potential revenue from that network
- it may only show one extra game and it'll be a lousy one
- most of the product will be interviews, behind the scenes, and possible non-football events.
- Is it that much different than what you can already get on the Web? Won't that channel get even more comprehensive?

It's a given the money will just roll in. I believe they'll find the subscriber market is much smaller than they now think.

On the other hand, keeping the Big XII on life support is buying time from the inevitable super-conferences, and playoff system. Texas is not exactly itching for a playoff system.