Only semi-joking. Someone send this to The B1G, ACC, and SEC commissioners and lets make it happen. It will make a lot of people moderately happy, and a select few furious. I'll try and explain the moves as they make sense.

Move #1

kansas and Mizzou to the B1G. B1G gets to the magic 16. Midwestern folks should be relatively happy, and they lock down both KC and St. Louis completely. Both have AAU status, despite being only above Nebraska in most academic rankings. Quite a few value added games with this move. MU-KU, MU-NU, MU-IL, KU-NU....and those are only the established rivalries. MU and Iowa, or maybe kansas and Indiana with basketball. Lots of great games for both football and basketball. Mizzou also brings a solid wrestling program to the monster B1G. Not to mention, it allows Purdue to move to the East. 7 in division games, and 2 cross division games (Play cross division teams once every four years). Delany gets to brag about all this...plus the ego booster of "stealing" a SEC school. 16 teams and set.

Move #2

Oklahoma, Oklahoma St. to the SEC. No academic worries. 2 solid football programs. No more worries about splitting up the schools. All this is assuming that the SEC gets to keep the Missouri TV sets (which is something I'm sure they could accommodate). Alabama and Auburn move to the East as both the OK schools come into the West. I understand this may be a bit troublesome having most of the "Big 6" in one division, but there is also kentucky and vandy (easy wins) as a consolation. I believe most rivalries are now annual, and you can get rid of cross division permanent games. Move to 9 game schedule. 7-2 format (cross division once every 4 years). I realize this only gets you to 15 teams, more on the 16th later.

Move #3

Texas to the ACC with ND style deal. Get all the same bells and whistles about if they join a conference, it must be the ACC. This move ensures the the ACC will survive as a power conference, even if a few teams get picked off. Longhorn Network can morph into ACC network, at little cost to ESPN...instead of launching an entire new network. Puts ACC at 14+2...but more movement is possible.

Move #4

SEC gets their pick of VaTech, NCState (if willing), and the rest of the big12 (baylor, TCU, KState, IA State, WV, Texas Tech).
Move #4a.
Take one of the ACC schools...probably VaTech. SEC gets their extended footprint,, yadayadayada. Get to 16 and the team goes into the East.
Move #4b.
Less preferable, since it COULD mess up my division set up, but take another B12 school. WV would still work just fine in my division set up. Same story with 16.

Move #5
Couple of scenarios, all dependent on who the SEC took as #16.
#5a.
SEC took VaTech or NCState. ACC, looking for a 16th. I would suggest either Ia State, WV, or UConn. IA State you get an extended footprint, good basketball, decent academics (AAU). WV you get national brand, and relatively good proximity, and old rivalries. UConn you get basketball, more of the NYC area. B12 backfills.
#5b.
SEC takes B12 school (Ia State, or WV). B12 backfills.

Move #6
Big 12 backfills. Just my opinion on options. Memphis, Cincy, UCF (or USF), BYU, New Mexico, Colorado St.

Seems to make a lot of sense to me.

Call me crazy, but why would Missouri want to leave the SEC - where it has two first place finishes in the SEC-East in three seasons?

A lot of people like pushing Missouri into the B1G, but they really are a good fit (academically, culturally, athletically) for the SEC.

Nope

(08-05-2015 09:04 AM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote:  Call me crazy, but why would Missouri want to leave the SEC - where it has two first place finishes in the SEC-East in three seasons?

A lot of people like pushing Missouri into the B1G, but they really are a good fit (academically, culturally, athletically) for the SEC.

Personally, I have always wanted the B1G. On an administrative side, plenty agree. The fans might not like it at first, but from an academic perspective, it is too good to pass on (assuming athletic money is close to the same or better).

Okahoma and KU would be a lateral move for rights ownership purposes if FOX and ESPN going to get some Tier1 rights under the new B1G TV deal that is coming.

Oklahoma to SEC would not be a lateral move for FOX. Thus, FOX would not sign off on it.

You lost me at New Mexico to the B12.........

If Missouri wanted to accept a B1G offer after all of these years, we would take you guys and then bring in VA Tech.

Ideally I want to the conference to get Georgia Tech. They are a good fit. Just going to be really hard to get that done.

Mizzou to the B1G is dead for the time being....

The key to all expansion is the state of Texas....EVERYONE wants Texas in their league. Markets, Recruiting, some of the schools bring Content

Every P5 conference should be looking at Texas Schools

(08-05-2015 09:32 AM)Nebraskafan Wrote:  If Missouri wanted to accept a B1G offer after all of these years, we would take you guys and then bring in VA Tech.

Ideally I want to the conference to get Georgia Tech. They are a good fit. Just going to be really hard to get that done.

Even if Virginia Tech somehow managed to get past the AAU hurdle, the B1G has yet to acquire a new member that wasn't the top draw in said state (Penn State, Nebraska, Maryland, Rutgers). Virginia Tech is behind Virginia.

(08-05-2015 09:32 AM)Nebraskafan Wrote:  If Missouri wanted to accept a B1G offer after all of these years, we would take you guys and then bring in VA Tech.

Ideally I want to the conference to get Georgia Tech. They are a good fit. Just going to be really hard to get that done.

I agree on the Georgia Tech point...but I just don't think it is possible. Va Tech on the other hand...I just don't see either party interested in each other, neither the B1G or Va tech.

My scenario is relatively realistic and possible. A few stretches here and there, but nothing that is really unrealistic

"You lost me at New Mexico to the B12." That was just a spitball. The rest seem reasonable.

(08-05-2015 09:01 AM)5thTiger Wrote:  Only semi-joking. Someone send this to The B1G, ACC, and SEC commissioners and lets make it happen. It will make a lot of people moderately happy, and a select few furious. I'll try and explain the moves as they make sense.

Move #1

kansas and Mizzou to the B1G. B1G gets to the magic 16. Midwestern folks should be relatively happy, and they lock down both KC and St. Louis completely. Both have AAU status, despite being only above Nebraska in most academic rankings. Quite a few value added games with this move. MU-KU, MU-NU, MU-IL, KU-NU....and those are only the established rivalries. MU and Iowa, or maybe kansas and Indiana with basketball. Lots of great games for both football and basketball. Mizzou also brings a solid wrestling program to the monster B1G. Not to mention, it allows Purdue to move to the East. 7 in division games, and 2 cross division games (Play cross division teams once every four years). Delany gets to brag about all this...plus the ego booster of "stealing" a SEC school. 16 teams and set.

Move #2

Oklahoma, Oklahoma St. to the SEC. No academic worries. 2 solid football programs. No more worries about splitting up the schools. All this is assuming that the SEC gets to keep the Missouri TV sets (which is something I'm sure they could accommodate). Alabama and Auburn move to the East as both the OK schools come into the West. I understand this may be a bit troublesome having most of the "Big 6" in one division, but there is also kentucky and vandy (easy wins) as a consolation. I believe most rivalries are now annual, and you can get rid of cross division permanent games. Move to 9 game schedule. 7-2 format (cross division once every 4 years). I realize this only gets you to 15 teams, more on the 16th later.

Move #3

Texas to the ACC with ND style deal. Get all the same bells and whistles about if they join a conference, it must be the ACC. This move ensures the the ACC will survive as a power conference, even if a few teams get picked off. Longhorn Network can morph into ACC network, at little cost to ESPN...instead of launching an entire new network. Puts ACC at 14+2...but more movement is possible.

Move #4

SEC gets their pick of VaTech, NCState (if willing), and the rest of the big12 (baylor, TCU, KState, IA State, WV, Texas Tech).
Move #4a.
Take one of the ACC schools...probably VaTech. SEC gets their extended footprint,, yadayadayada. Get to 16 and the team goes into the East.
Move #4b.
Less preferable, since it COULD mess up my division set up, but take another B12 school. WV would still work just fine in my division set up. Same story with 16.

Move #5
Couple of scenarios, all dependent on who the SEC took as #16.
#5a.
SEC took VaTech or NCState. ACC, looking for a 16th. I would suggest either Ia State, WV, or UConn. IA State you get an extended footprint, good basketball, decent academics (AAU). WV you get national brand, and relatively good proximity, and old rivalries. UConn you get basketball, more of the NYC area. B12 backfills.
#5b.
SEC takes B12 school (Ia State, or WV). B12 backfills.

Move #6
Big 12 backfills. Just my opinion on options. Memphis, Cincy, UCF (or USF), BYU, New Mexico, Colorado St.

Seems to make a lot of sense to me.

Or...
Big 10 kicks out Maryland and Rutgers getting back to 12.
ACC takes WVU but kicks out BC, Pitt and Syracuse getting back to 12
SEC kicks out Arkansas and South Carolina getting back to 12
Big 12 picks up Arkansas, BYU and Houston getting back to 12
Big East two resurrects itself with Maryland, Rutgers, BC, Pitt, Syracuse, South Carolina, Notre Dame, UConn, UCF, USF, Cincinnati, Temple.

16-18 team conferences don't make much sense to me.

(08-05-2015 09:01 AM)5thTiger Wrote:  Only semi-joking. Someone send this to The B1G, ACC, and SEC commissioners and lets make it happen. It will make a lot of people moderately happy, and a select few furious. I'll try and explain the moves as they make sense.

Move #1

kansas and Mizzou to the B1G. B1G gets to the magic 16. Midwestern folks should be relatively happy, and they lock down both KC and St. Louis completely. Both have AAU status, despite being only above Nebraska in most academic rankings. Quite a few value added games with this move. MU-KU, MU-NU, MU-IL, KU-NU....and those are only the established rivalries. MU and Iowa, or maybe kansas and Indiana with basketball. Lots of great games for both football and basketball. Mizzou also brings a solid wrestling program to the monster B1G. Not to mention, it allows Purdue to move to the East. 7 in division games, and 2 cross division games (Play cross division teams once every four years). Delany gets to brag about all this...plus the ego booster of "stealing" a SEC school. 16 teams and set.

Move #2

Oklahoma, Oklahoma St. to the SEC. No academic worries. 2 solid football programs. No more worries about splitting up the schools. All this is assuming that the SEC gets to keep the Missouri TV sets (which is something I'm sure they could accommodate). Alabama and Auburn move to the East as both the OK schools come into the West. I understand this may be a bit troublesome having most of the "Big 6" in one division, but there is also kentucky and vandy (easy wins) as a consolation. I believe most rivalries are now annual, and you can get rid of cross division permanent games. Move to 9 game schedule. 7-2 format (cross division once every 4 years). I realize this only gets you to 15 teams, more on the 16th later.

Move #3

Texas to the ACC with ND style deal. Get all the same bells and whistles about if they join a conference, it must be the ACC. This move ensures the the ACC will survive as a power conference, even if a few teams get picked off. Longhorn Network can morph into ACC network, at little cost to ESPN...instead of launching an entire new network. Puts ACC at 14+2...but more movement is possible.

Move #4

SEC gets their pick of VaTech, NCState (if willing), and the rest of the big12 (baylor, TCU, KState, IA State, WV, Texas Tech).
Move #4a.
Take one of the ACC schools...probably VaTech. SEC gets their extended footprint,, yadayadayada. Get to 16 and the team goes into the East.
Move #4b.
Less preferable, since it COULD mess up my division set up, but take another B12 school. WV would still work just fine in my division set up. Same story with 16.

Move #5
Couple of scenarios, all dependent on who the SEC took as #16.
#5a.
SEC took VaTech or NCState. ACC, looking for a 16th. I would suggest either Ia State, WV, or UConn. IA State you get an extended footprint, good basketball, decent academics (AAU). WV you get national brand, and relatively good proximity, and old rivalries. UConn you get basketball, more of the NYC area. B12 backfills.
#5b.
SEC takes B12 school (Ia State, or WV). B12 backfills.

Move #6
Big 12 backfills. Just my opinion on options. Memphis, Cincy, UCF (or USF), BYU, New Mexico, Colorado St.

Seems to make a lot of sense to me.

How sad that the college "sport" which appears to draw the most interest nowadays is that of envisioning and engineering swaps from one privileged conference to another. The pastime is analogous to a giant game of institutional chess where, to the detriment of many, no pieces are allowed on the board except those perceived to be kings and queens.

Quote: kansas and Mizzou to the B1G. B1G gets to the magic 16.

16 is not magic ... other things equal, 12 is better than 14, and 14 better than 16. The Big Ten did not expand "toward" 16 using Maryland ... they expanded "above" 12 because from the wants and needs of the Big Ten schools, Maryland is a compelling add.

While both Kansas and Mizzou are acceptable schools, neither Kansas nor Mizzou are compelling adds ... even supposing Mizzou was not in the SEC and therefore potentially available to move, both Kansas and Mizzou would be "#16" schools to take to even up the conference after a compelling "#15" school became available.

And of course, Mizzou is not about to give up the equity they have already built up in the SECN in order to start over from scratch building up equity in the BTN.

(08-05-2015 10:48 AM)colohank Wrote:  How sad that the college "sport" which appears to draw the most interest nowadays is that of envisioning and engineering swaps from one privileged conference to another.

That could well be an optical illusion ... if you checked with 100 random college sports fans, its quite possible that 0 would be as interested in that as in whether, say, Braxton Miller is going to work out as a wide receiver and who is going to be the starting quarterback for their favorite Big12 school (noting that some speculate that only three of the ten have really rock-solid number one QB's in place). But this is the internet, and of the few in a thousand interested in conference realignment, a substantial share of them are likely to find themselves to this board.

And since there is no ongoing college sports competition, it is the silly season in college sports media, which increases the number of stories available to fuel speculations like the one in this OP, which is never going to happen.

(08-05-2015 10:48 AM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

Quote: kansas and Mizzou to the B1G. B1G gets to the magic 16.

16 is not magic ... other things equal, 12 is better than 14, and 14 better than 16. The Big Ten did not expand "toward" 16 using Maryland ... they expanded "above" 12 because from the wants and needs of the Big Ten schools, Maryland is a compelling add.

While both Kansas and Mizzou are acceptable schools, neither Kansas nor Mizzou are compelling adds ... even supposing Mizzou was not in the SEC and therefore potentially available to move, both Kansas and Mizzou would be "#16" schools to take to even up the conference after a compelling "#15" school became available.

And of course, Mizzou is not about to give up the equity they have already built up in the SECN in order to start over from scratch building up equity in the BTN.

while I agree somewhat...I think 16 is at this point, an inevitability. 12 was great...but those days are done. I don't see anyone pulling the UVA/UNC/Duke/etc. combo away from the ACC, and certainly not individually.

In my scenario, Mizzou and kansas would be given full membership/equity. That is what Mizzou got right off the bat in the SEC. Even so, I think these things could be worked out, especially if the partial equity in the B1G (with the new TV deal) is equal or close to the full member equity in the SEC. Also, no worries about GOR in the SEC.

I just think we are going to see at least 16 (if not more) within the decade.

(08-05-2015 11:00 AM)5thTiger Wrote:  

(08-05-2015 10:48 AM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

Quote: kansas and Mizzou to the B1G. B1G gets to the magic 16.

16 is not magic ... other things equal, 12 is better than 14, and 14 better than 16. The Big Ten did not expand "toward" 16 using Maryland ... they expanded "above" 12 because from the wants and needs of the Big Ten schools, Maryland is a compelling add.

While both Kansas and Mizzou are acceptable schools, neither Kansas nor Mizzou are compelling adds ... even supposing Mizzou was not in the SEC and therefore potentially available to move, both Kansas and Mizzou would be "#16" schools to take to even up the conference after a compelling "#15" school became available.

And of course, Mizzou is not about to give up the equity they have already built up in the SECN in order to start over from scratch building up equity in the BTN.

while I agree somewhat...I think 16 is at this point, an inevitability. 12 was great...but those days are done. I don't see anyone pulling the UVA/UNC/Duke/etc. combo away from the ACC, and certainly not individually.

In my scenario, Mizzou and kansas would be given full membership/equity. That is what Mizzou got right off the bat in the SEC. Even so, I think these things could be worked out, especially if the partial equity in the B1G (with the new TV deal) is equal or close to the full member equity in the SEC. Also, no worries about GOR in the SEC.

I just think we are going to see at least 16 (if not more) within the decade.

Maybe. And as I have pointed out before, every single conference 16 or over has eventually split. When you get bigger, you get more diverse. Diverse in college sports makes it harder to agree on how to do things and how to split the pie.

The Pac 12, Big 12, SEC, ACC, MWC, CUSA (technically-the old Metro with the VCU and ODU kicked out) and AAC (practically-most of the CUSA schools moved and reformed with 2 former members and UConn) were all formed from conferences splitting and leaving schools behind (Big 8 schools did it as well splitting from MVC before later forming the Big 12). That's 7 of the 10 FBS conferences and the history of the Sun Belt kind of fits in that mold as well (leaving Southland, American South and Big West). Only the Midwest conferences-the MAC and Big 10-have grown from smaller to larger without a split.

(08-05-2015 11:24 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(08-05-2015 11:00 AM)5thTiger Wrote:  

(08-05-2015 10:48 AM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

Quote: kansas and Mizzou to the B1G. B1G gets to the magic 16.

16 is not magic ... other things equal, 12 is better than 14, and 14 better than 16. The Big Ten did not expand "toward" 16 using Maryland ... they expanded "above" 12 because from the wants and needs of the Big Ten schools, Maryland is a compelling add.

While both Kansas and Mizzou are acceptable schools, neither Kansas nor Mizzou are compelling adds ... even supposing Mizzou was not in the SEC and therefore potentially available to move, both Kansas and Mizzou would be "#16" schools to take to even up the conference after a compelling "#15" school became available.

And of course, Mizzou is not about to give up the equity they have already built up in the SECN in order to start over from scratch building up equity in the BTN.

while I agree somewhat...I think 16 is at this point, an inevitability. 12 was great...but those days are done. I don't see anyone pulling the UVA/UNC/Duke/etc. combo away from the ACC, and certainly not individually.

In my scenario, Mizzou and kansas would be given full membership/equity. That is what Mizzou got right off the bat in the SEC. Even so, I think these things could be worked out, especially if the partial equity in the B1G (with the new TV deal) is equal or close to the full member equity in the SEC. Also, no worries about GOR in the SEC.

I just think we are going to see at least 16 (if not more) within the decade.

Maybe. And as I have pointed out before, every single conference 16 or over has eventually split. When you get bigger, you get more diverse. Diverse in college sports makes it harder to agree on how to do things and how to split the pie.

The Pac 12, Big 12, SEC, ACC, MWC, CUSA (technically-the old Metro with the VCU and ODU kicked out) and AAC (practically-most of the CUSA schools moved and reformed with 2 former members and UConn) were all formed from conferences splitting and leaving schools behind (Big 8 schools did it as well splitting from MVC before later forming the Big 12). That's 7 of the 10 FBS conferences and the history of the Sun Belt kind of fits in that mold as well (leaving Southland, American South and Big West). Only the Midwest conferences-the MAC and Big 10-have grown from smaller to larger without a split.

The Big 8 schools were never part of the MVC. The Big 8 was originally the Big 6 (going way back to the 20's), and later added two schools to become the Big 8 (not exactly sure when these were added, but it goes back to the 50's I'm pretty sure.

The Big XII was formed when 4 texas schools left the SouthWest Conference, to join the existing Big 8 in creating the Big XII.


The WAC grew to 16 members, and later split to form the Mountain West Conference. That's the most recent example of a conference of 16 splitting due to size. But the WAC didn't enjoy the financial stability that these power 5 conferences have established. So I don't know if that's truly an apples-to-apples comparison.

I do tend to agree with you though -- that 16 members in a conference is pretty tough to manage. It has to be financially worth it, and I think in this day and age, that will be part of the formula.

Pass

(08-05-2015 11:56 AM)Pervis_Griffith Wrote:  

(08-05-2015 11:24 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(08-05-2015 11:00 AM)5thTiger Wrote:  

(08-05-2015 10:48 AM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

Quote: kansas and Mizzou to the B1G. B1G gets to the magic 16.

16 is not magic ... other things equal, 12 is better than 14, and 14 better than 16. The Big Ten did not expand "toward" 16 using Maryland ... they expanded "above" 12 because from the wants and needs of the Big Ten schools, Maryland is a compelling add.

While both Kansas and Mizzou are acceptable schools, neither Kansas nor Mizzou are compelling adds ... even supposing Mizzou was not in the SEC and therefore potentially available to move, both Kansas and Mizzou would be "#16" schools to take to even up the conference after a compelling "#15" school became available.

And of course, Mizzou is not about to give up the equity they have already built up in the SECN in order to start over from scratch building up equity in the BTN.

while I agree somewhat...I think 16 is at this point, an inevitability. 12 was great...but those days are done. I don't see anyone pulling the UVA/UNC/Duke/etc. combo away from the ACC, and certainly not individually.

In my scenario, Mizzou and kansas would be given full membership/equity. That is what Mizzou got right off the bat in the SEC. Even so, I think these things could be worked out, especially if the partial equity in the B1G (with the new TV deal) is equal or close to the full member equity in the SEC. Also, no worries about GOR in the SEC.

I just think we are going to see at least 16 (if not more) within the decade.

Maybe. And as I have pointed out before, every single conference 16 or over has eventually split. When you get bigger, you get more diverse. Diverse in college sports makes it harder to agree on how to do things and how to split the pie.

The Pac 12, Big 12, SEC, ACC, MWC, CUSA (technically-the old Metro with the VCU and ODU kicked out) and AAC (practically-most of the CUSA schools moved and reformed with 2 former members and UConn) were all formed from conferences splitting and leaving schools behind (Big 8 schools did it as well splitting from MVC before later forming the Big 12). That's 7 of the 10 FBS conferences and the history of the Sun Belt kind of fits in that mold as well (leaving Southland, American South and Big West). Only the Midwest conferences-the MAC and Big 10-have grown from smaller to larger without a split.

The Big 8 schools were never part of the MVC. The Big 8 was originally the Big 6 (going way back to the 20's), and later added two schools to become the Big 8 (not exactly sure when these were added, but it goes back to the 50's I'm pretty sure.

The Big XII was formed when 4 texas schools left the SouthWest Conference, to join the existing Big 8 in creating the Big XII.


The WAC grew to 16 members, and later split to form the Mountain West Conference. That's the most recent example of a conference of 16 splitting due to size. But the WAC didn't enjoy the financial stability that these power 5 conferences have established. So I don't know if that's truly an apples-to-apples comparison.

I do tend to agree with you though -- that 16 members in a conference is pretty tough to manage. It has to be financially worth it, and I think in this day and age, that will be part of the formula.

The "Big 6" was what the schools called themselves after they left Oklahoma St., Drake, Ginnell and Washington U. behind. Both the MVC and Big 8 claimed their starting date was 1907 with the founding of the original MVC.

(08-05-2015 01:56 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(08-05-2015 11:56 AM)Pervis_Griffith Wrote:  

(08-05-2015 11:24 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(08-05-2015 11:00 AM)5thTiger Wrote:  

(08-05-2015 10:48 AM)BruceMcF Wrote:  16 is not magic ... other things equal, 12 is better than 14, and 14 better than 16. The Big Ten did not expand "toward" 16 using Maryland ... they expanded "above" 12 because from the wants and needs of the Big Ten schools, Maryland is a compelling add.

While both Kansas and Mizzou are acceptable schools, neither Kansas nor Mizzou are compelling adds ... even supposing Mizzou was not in the SEC and therefore potentially available to move, both Kansas and Mizzou would be "#16" schools to take to even up the conference after a compelling "#15" school became available.

And of course, Mizzou is not about to give up the equity they have already built up in the SECN in order to start over from scratch building up equity in the BTN.

while I agree somewhat...I think 16 is at this point, an inevitability. 12 was great...but those days are done. I don't see anyone pulling the UVA/UNC/Duke/etc. combo away from the ACC, and certainly not individually.

In my scenario, Mizzou and kansas would be given full membership/equity. That is what Mizzou got right off the bat in the SEC. Even so, I think these things could be worked out, especially if the partial equity in the B1G (with the new TV deal) is equal or close to the full member equity in the SEC. Also, no worries about GOR in the SEC.

I just think we are going to see at least 16 (if not more) within the decade.

Maybe. And as I have pointed out before, every single conference 16 or over has eventually split. When you get bigger, you get more diverse. Diverse in college sports makes it harder to agree on how to do things and how to split the pie.

The Pac 12, Big 12, SEC, ACC, MWC, CUSA (technically-the old Metro with the VCU and ODU kicked out) and AAC (practically-most of the CUSA schools moved and reformed with 2 former members and UConn) were all formed from conferences splitting and leaving schools behind (Big 8 schools did it as well splitting from MVC before later forming the Big 12). That's 7 of the 10 FBS conferences and the history of the Sun Belt kind of fits in that mold as well (leaving Southland, American South and Big West). Only the Midwest conferences-the MAC and Big 10-have grown from smaller to larger without a split.

The Big 8 schools were never part of the MVC. The Big 8 was originally the Big 6 (going way back to the 20's), and later added two schools to become the Big 8 (not exactly sure when these were added, but it goes back to the 50's I'm pretty sure.

The Big XII was formed when 4 texas schools left the SouthWest Conference, to join the existing Big 8 in creating the Big XII.


The WAC grew to 16 members, and later split to form the Mountain West Conference. That's the most recent example of a conference of 16 splitting due to size. But the WAC didn't enjoy the financial stability that these power 5 conferences have established. So I don't know if that's truly an apples-to-apples comparison.

I do tend to agree with you though -- that 16 members in a conference is pretty tough to manage. It has to be financially worth it, and I think in this day and age, that will be part of the formula.

The "Big 6" was what the schools called themselves after they left Oklahoma St., Drake, Ginnell and Washington U. behind. Both the MVC and Big 8 claimed their starting date was 1907 with the founding of the original MVC.

My "Big 6" was referring to the SEC schools who call themselves that. Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, etc.....Not the actual conference.