Just kidding but what happens to Texas Olympic sports if the go independent in football.

Crazy scenario I know but could the Big East as a power basketball conference collect a couple power teams basketball programs.

maybe ND is pressured to go all in ACC when their contract is up.
Texas and ND join the Big East for basketball and play as football independents.
Texas could face pressure to join a Big 12 network around the same time.
The Big east schools don't fear these basketball programs so that isn't a problem.

Texas would either try for a Notre Dame-style deal with the ACC, or it would be driven by its own hubris to the degree that it'd try for independence across the board. The Big East might be willing to bend its philosophy on public schools, but Texas couldn't be any more of an institutional misfit if it tried, so I'm guessing no dice there.

The more probable outcome is UT leaving their olympic sports in the big12

The easiest thing for Texas would actually just be to take football independent and leave the rest in the XII, after OU and OK St leave for the SEC.

Will they be allowed to do that? Probably not.

The next best thing would be to work a deal with the ACC, which allows them to keep the LHN alive with perhaps say a limited number of away ACC games on the ACCN and then of course the rest of UT sports being on the ACCN, but perhaps old games and delayed broadcasts of the current season could be shown on the LHN.

The reason Texas couldn't go Big East is bowls. You say what bowl wouldn't want Texas? Of course bowls would want Texas- but even more so, they want certainty. The #1 reason why Notre Dame is in the ACC as much as they are right now are the ACC Bowls. Texas will need a similar type of arrangement. Big East of course can't offer that so therefore- no chance Texas goes to the big east.

I don't think anyone in power at Texas is crazy enough to do that. I don't think Dodds really was considering ND style ACC membership. I think that was a bluff.

Texas values the Olympic sports. That means they need to stay in the P5 and in a rational configuration, not stranded in the ACC.

(07-12-2015 12:01 PM)bullet Wrote:  I don't think anyone in power at Texas is crazy enough to do that. I don't think Dodds really was considering ND style ACC membership. I think that was a bluff.

Texas values the Olympic sports. That means they need to stay in the P5 and in a rational configuration, not stranded in the ACC.

The ACC is stronger than the XII in non-football sports.

JML will be here in a second to remind us that his school sells crap and will NOT be left out so if Texas goes to the BE then by God so will his school!

(07-12-2015 12:31 PM)MplsBison Wrote:  

(07-12-2015 12:01 PM)bullet Wrote:  I don't think anyone in power at Texas is crazy enough to do that. I don't think Dodds really was considering ND style ACC membership. I think that was a bluff.

Texas values the Olympic sports. That means they need to stay in the P5 and in a rational configuration, not stranded in the ACC.

The ACC is stronger than the XII in non-football sports.

Some it is, some it isn't. "Stranded" and "rational" are the key words, with 3 states between Texas and any ACC schools.

(07-12-2015 12:36 PM)10thMountain Wrote:  JML will be here in a second to remind us that his school sells crap and will NOT be left out so if Texas goes to the BE then by God so will his school!

The Big East is probably the one conference that would not take Texas. It would make it unstable and defeat many of the purposes of the split. Plus The Big east has nearly all of their basketball games televised which hurts the LHN compared to many others

(07-12-2015 12:36 PM)10thMountain Wrote:  JML will be here in a second to remind us that his school sells crap and will NOT be left out so if Texas goes to the BE then by God so will his school!

(07-12-2015 02:31 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(07-12-2015 12:31 PM)MplsBison Wrote:  

(07-12-2015 12:01 PM)bullet Wrote:  I don't think anyone in power at Texas is crazy enough to do that. I don't think Dodds really was considering ND style ACC membership. I think that was a bluff.

Texas values the Olympic sports. That means they need to stay in the P5 and in a rational configuration, not stranded in the ACC.

The ACC is stronger than the XII in non-football sports.

Some it is, some it isn't. "Stranded" and "rational" are the key words, with 3 states between Texas and any ACC schools.

West Virginia values its non-football sports a great deal, as far as I know. However, I think we both agree there is nothing rational about their very stranded configuration in the XII.

And other than Louisville, Notre Dame doesn't have a ton of close schools in the ACC.


I think Texas would be just fine with non-football in the ACC.

But they might also try to leave them in the XII after Oklahoma and OK St leave for the SEC.

(07-12-2015 11:26 AM)MplsBison Wrote:  The easiest thing for Texas would actually just be to take football independent and leave the rest in the XII, after OU and OK St leave for the SEC.

Will they be allowed to do that? Probably not.

The next best thing would be to work a deal with the ACC, which allows them to keep the LHN alive with perhaps say a limited number of away ACC games on the ACCN and then of course the rest of UT sports being on the ACCN, but perhaps old games and delayed broadcasts of the current season could be shown on the LHN.

Here's why the ACC and independence could make sense for Texas and the LHN (especially if Oklahoma bolts for the SEC):

1) More room for marquee football matchups. Notre Dame could be a regular opponent - annual game on NBC/ABC. Florida St. and Clemson, too. Virginia Tech, Miami, and others can likely deliver strong ratings. Texas could likely get just about any OOC matchup they want, especially with neutral-site games in DFW and Houston - which Texas probably wants anyway. Btw, if Oklahoma goes SEC, I'm certain there would still be plenty of room for the Red River Rivalry.

As an independent, Texas could sign a deal with ESPN (or NBC or CBS) similar to Notre Dame and BYU and likely command a P5-level contract payout (or better). Think of it - ESPN would pay plenty for the rights to Notre Dame-Texas, FSU-Texas, LSU-Texas, etc. And that's just Year 1. The next year could see Oklahoma-Texas, Clemson-Texas, and Ohio St.-Texas. Those are all broadcast TV-worthy matchups.

2) Pull the rug on Baylor and TCU. I doubt Texas wants to give TCU and Baylor the opportunity to continue to rise. There's no question that Baylor's and TCU's success has hurt Texas - market share and recruiting. If Texas (and Oklahoma) leave the Big 12, TCU and Baylor are again relegated to second-tier status - where Texas believes they belong.

3) Get Texas to the East Coast markets. The ACC has a MUCH bigger footprint than the Big 12 already. UT would bring the Texas market (the overwhelming benefit of the current Big 12 footprint), and immensely increase its market by entering the East Coast.

4) The ACC and Notre Dame currently have bowl games in El Paso, Shreveport, Nashville, plus three bowls in Florida - and New York and Maryland, if Texas is interested. They could likely add another game in Houston or San Antonio and perhaps eventually snag the Sugar Bowl from the Big 12.

5) Potential huge benefit for the LHN. Right now, the LHN gets Texas' lower-tier basketball inventory - mostly throw away Big 12 games and replays. I may be naive, but Texas might be able to swing a deal with ESPN and the ACC that gets live Texas home basketball games for the LHN - against the likes of Duke, UNC, Louisville, Syracuse, Pitt, Notre Dame, etc. ESPN and the ACC benefit by getting Texas' road matchups into the ACC TV lineup. Ultimately, the LHN could see a major upgrade by getting Texas' ACC and OOC home games.

In the end, if Oklahoma bolts from the Big 12, I would not be surprised at all to see Texas follow Notre Dame to the ACC.

(07-12-2015 10:18 AM)Cyniclone Wrote:  Texas would either try for a Notre Dame-style deal with the ACC, or it would be driven by its own hubris to the degree that it'd try for independence across the board. The Big East might be willing to bend its philosophy on public schools, but Texas couldn't be any more of an institutional misfit if it tried, so I'm guessing no dice there.

The Big East is not philosophically against public schools. They'd collectively give their left nuts to get UConn back.

(07-13-2015 01:04 PM)orangefan Wrote:  

(07-12-2015 10:18 AM)Cyniclone Wrote:  Texas would either try for a Notre Dame-style deal with the ACC, or it would be driven by its own hubris to the degree that it'd try for independence across the board. The Big East might be willing to bend its philosophy on public schools, but Texas couldn't be any more of an institutional misfit if it tried, so I'm guessing no dice there.

The Big East is not philosophically against public schools. They'd collectively give their left nuts to get UConn back.

UConn, by virtue of their relationship with the BE, is the one exception. Everyone else would get the high holy stiff arm. I know a number of VCU fans, for example, would love to get into the BE, but I think they'd take Duquesne and Holy Cross first, much less St. Louis and Dayton.

(07-13-2015 11:35 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  

(07-13-2015 01:04 PM)orangefan Wrote:  

(07-12-2015 10:18 AM)Cyniclone Wrote:  Texas would either try for a Notre Dame-style deal with the ACC, or it would be driven by its own hubris to the degree that it'd try for independence across the board. The Big East might be willing to bend its philosophy on public schools, but Texas couldn't be any more of an institutional misfit if it tried, so I'm guessing no dice there.

The Big East is not philosophically against public schools. They'd collectively give their left nuts to get UConn back.

UConn, by virtue of their relationship with the BE, is the one exception. Everyone else would get the high holy stiff arm. I know a number of VCU fans, for example, would love to get into the BE, but I think they'd take Duquesne and Holy Cross first, much less St. Louis and Dayton.

Only thing would be if UConn got in, the dynamics would change considerably. I think then, VCU would have a very decent shot.

(07-13-2015 12:17 PM)YNot Wrote:  

(07-12-2015 11:26 AM)MplsBison Wrote:  The easiest thing for Texas would actually just be to take football independent and leave the rest in the XII, after OU and OK St leave for the SEC.

Will they be allowed to do that? Probably not.

The next best thing would be to work a deal with the ACC, which allows them to keep the LHN alive with perhaps say a limited number of away ACC games on the ACCN and then of course the rest of UT sports being on the ACCN, but perhaps old games and delayed broadcasts of the current season could be shown on the LHN.

Here's why the ACC and independence could make sense for Texas and the LHN (especially if Oklahoma bolts for the SEC):

1) More room for marquee football matchups. Notre Dame could be a regular opponent - annual game on NBC/ABC. Florida St. and Clemson, too. Virginia Tech, Miami, and others can likely deliver strong ratings. Texas could likely get just about any OOC matchup they want, especially with neutral-site games in DFW and Houston - which Texas probably wants anyway. Btw, if Oklahoma goes SEC, I'm certain there would still be plenty of room for the Red River Rivalry.

As an independent, Texas could sign a deal with ESPN (or NBC or CBS) similar to Notre Dame and BYU and likely command a P5-level contract payout (or better). Think of it - ESPN would pay plenty for the rights to Notre Dame-Texas, FSU-Texas, LSU-Texas, etc. And that's just Year 1. The next year could see Oklahoma-Texas, Clemson-Texas, and Ohio St.-Texas. Those are all broadcast TV-worthy matchups.

2) Pull the rug on Baylor and TCU. I doubt Texas wants to give TCU and Baylor the opportunity to continue to rise. There's no question that Baylor's and TCU's success has hurt Texas - market share and recruiting. If Texas (and Oklahoma) leave the Big 12, TCU and Baylor are again relegated to second-tier status - where Texas believes they belong.

3) Get Texas to the East Coast markets. The ACC has a MUCH bigger footprint than the Big 12 already. UT would bring the Texas market (the overwhelming benefit of the current Big 12 footprint), and immensely increase its market by entering the East Coast.

4) The ACC and Notre Dame currently have bowl games in El Paso, Shreveport, Nashville, plus three bowls in Florida - and New York and Maryland, if Texas is interested. They could likely add another game in Houston or San Antonio and perhaps eventually snag the Sugar Bowl from the Big 12.

5) Potential huge benefit for the LHN. Right now, the LHN gets Texas' lower-tier basketball inventory - mostly throw away Big 12 games and replays. I may be naive, but Texas might be able to swing a deal with ESPN and the ACC that gets live Texas home basketball games for the LHN - against the likes of Duke, UNC, Louisville, Syracuse, Pitt, Notre Dame, etc. ESPN and the ACC benefit by getting Texas' road matchups into the ACC TV lineup. Ultimately, the LHN could see a major upgrade by getting Texas' ACC and OOC home games.

In the end, if Oklahoma bolts from the Big 12, I would not be surprised at all to see Texas follow Notre Dame to the ACC.