(11-02-2013 10:51 AM)USAFMEDIC Wrote: How about marquee schools in each conference. Add those up and see what you get, and, in the Big XII, please stop right after UT and OU...
The list for the other conferences is too long for this thread.
It is? Let's see how many blue-chip, big brand name football schools each conference has. And by blue-chip I mean of course traditional powers of longstanding brand-name value, not a school that has been hot the last five or so years:
ACC ..... FSU, Miami
Big 12 ... Oklahoma, Texas
B1G .... Nebraska, Penn State, Michigan, Ohio State
PAC .... USC
SEC ..... LSU, Auburn, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia
So the SEC has six and the B1G has four, which explains why these are the two most valuable and powerful conferences. But after that, the Big 12 fits in just fine. In fact, it is in better position than the PAC, which only has USC, and also the ACC, because FSU and Miami are more nouveaux-riche programs, relatively new entrants to the blue-chip club, whereas Texas and Oklahoma are original members of that club.
In short, the Big 12 is just fine in the marquee category, which is why the SEC chose them over the ACC as their Sugar partner, why TV networks have showered them with money, why bowls have signed them to good tie-ins, etc.