This time a Nashville host says Memphis and Cincinnati to Big XII.

http://www.espn929.com/pages/20457311.php

to me, this would be an extremely realistic scenario. I think it happens within weeks if TCU and Baylor don't make the playoff this year because of no CCG.

I could see the big 12 expand to 12 but not without one from the following: UCF, USF, or BYU.

There was an editorial in Lubbock last week which stated the Big Twelve should expand to 12 by adding Cincinnati and Memphis (wonder if this was the hosts "source").

The author explains why he would add these two in favor of UCF, UCF, BYU and other candidates.

http://www.google.com/url?url=http://www...wkSPhjVBjg

A Nashville guy likes Memphis... what a shock.

Hope it happens though, the lack of a CCG is creating a lot of imbalance ranking the teams.

I admire that the writer has the integrity to point out almost from the start of his article...

"This, of course, isn’t Pat Forde or Pete Thamel reporting here. But it’s certainly fun to think about, isn’t it?"

Enough said.

the thing that makes it seem viable is the fedex $$$. well that and the fact that big 12 could be knocked out of the playoff in large part because no CCG. I don't see the other conferences willing to allow Big 12 a CCG with 10 teams.

Also look at a map and see how Memphis in particular would fit the footprint like a glove. Memphis would actually be closer to Oklahoma, Oklahoma St, Kansas, and Kansas St than they would West Virginia.

(12-05-2014 11:07 AM)bluesox Wrote:  I could see the big 12 expand to 12 but not without one from the following: UCF, USF, or BYU.

Regionally that makes sense. As much as the B12 wants the Florida Market, it would surprise me to pick Memphis over UCF. Still, it would be two very solid teams. I think Foxsports is going to help the B12 as much as possible with TV contract and CCG.

Unfortunately, BYU constitutes another "island" unless BSU or CSU is included.

Baylor/TCU has to be feeling lucky that OSU's QB broke his ankle last week.

think what may happen is Big 12 makes 1 final push to get CCG game with only 10, and then when rebuffed, they add 2. Cincy seems a lock now. #12 Memphis with their football makes a lot of sense(my God did you think 5 years ago we'd ever be saying that).

Cincy and Memphis make sense and B12 basketball would be outstanding

Does this guy call himself The Dude of Nashville?

(12-05-2014 11:12 AM)RUScarlets Wrote:  A Nashville guy likes Memphis... what a shock.

Hope it happens though, the lack of a CCG is creating a lot of imbalance ranking the teams.

Actually it is a shock. Tennessee is historically divided into three divisions, East, Middle, West, and not tons of love across the lines except for the Vols.

Now one thing I know to be a fact.

Around this time last year, Big XII did ask Cincinnati, Memphis, Tulane, Houston and Rice to provide them with a great deal of detailed information about their schools and athletic departments.

However, it does not mean Big XII was doing anything more than getting a snapshot if the expansion conversation takes place

I place zero credibility in "sources" at any level. They are all just speculating. That being said, this particular speculation is pretty much the same as my own. As much as some might feel that the Florida teams should be added, they really don't add nearly enough to offset the fact that they create even more travel issues.

I would hope that the NCAA will allow conferences to opt out of a division based scheduling model. This would help the Big 12, which would often have a competitive imbalance if they try to organize divisions along geographical lines. A much better arrangement for them would be four pods of three teams where everybody plays two teams from each pod each year:

Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma St
Texas Tech, TCU, Baylor
Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State
West Virginia, Cincinnati, Memphis

For those unable to listen, this a partial transcript:

Darren McFarland:

"I'm being told this morning that, indeed, the Big 12 is going to add two more teams in the offseason, and I'm being told that it is going to be Cincinatti and Memphis...

I'm being told that [FedEx CEO] Fred Smith has obviously opened up the checkbook and is helping ease this process along."

McFarland is a heavy hitter in sports radio in Tennesee. He does Titan work, Predators.

His linkedin profile: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/darren-mcfarland/7/311/813
Twitter:https://mobile.twitter.com/dmac_1025

First Cinci and Memphis seem like good fits for the Big 12, but is this rumor anymore realistic than the UConn to the BIG in 30 days?

(12-05-2014 11:50 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  Now one thing I know to be a fact.

Around this time last year, Big XII did ask Cincinnati, Memphis, Tulane, Houston and Rice to provide them with a great deal of detailed information about their schools and athletic departments.

However, it does not mean Big XII was doing anything more than getting a snapshot if the expansion conversation takes place

I know Houston provided the information. That said, we also did the same thing for the Pac-12 back in 2011---I would assume this to be just basic due diligence.

(12-05-2014 12:03 PM)Minutemen429 Wrote:  First Cinci and Memphis seem like good fits for the Big 12, but is this rumor anymore realistic than the UConn to the BIG in 30 days?

BE4evah posting on this topic just made it a whole lot less realistic.