Hypothetical and fallout: OU and KU to B1G, Texas to ACC
Just kind of expanding on what's being "thrown against the wall" as possibilities.
Here's the scenario: Oklahoma and Kansas jump to the B1G. Texas gets the same Notre Dame deal with the ACC. We'll say it happens for the 2017 season.
Left in the Big12 are: WVU, TTU, Baylor, TCU, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, and Iowa State. There are no initial offers for any of them for 2017, so they have to invite new schools to stay viable (8 is the NCAA minimum) and secure NCAA credits and fees paid by the leaving 3 for doing so. 2018 is the quickest any of them can jump ship.
Politics: Despite OSU's bigger budget, WVU suddenly becomes the biggest national "name-brand" of the 7. They're also on a geographic island, east of everyone.
Is expansion steered towards favoring WVU, who could potentially be an expansion target of the SEC eventually? Or do the other 6 steer it towards existing geography and maybe older alliances? Or just grab TV markets?
If towards appeasing WVU, Cincy, UConn, ECU, Temple, and maybe UMass, NIU, Army, and Navy become candidates.
If towards geography, Houston, SMU, Tulane, Memphis, and maybe USM and La Tech.
If towards TV markets, UCF, USF, and maybe ODU, Charlotte, and UTSA.
Do you expand by 1, 3, 5, 7, or even 9?
Call in whatever you like, the Big12 would be vastly weakened, but would be set to survive. Fallout would rumble into the G5 and possibly kill a conference like the Sunbelt.
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