If Big 12 expansion happens (and that's a BIG if), I'd bet a donut the invitations go to Cincinnati and Memphis.

Houston has a lot going for it but I just don't see adding a fifth conference member in Texas.

In 20 years, Texas State could be ready but they're way too close to Texas imo. They'd literally have to be threatening to win the national title every year in football and basketball to get an override.

Don't You Guys realize that Texas is just a short flight across the Gulf of Mexico from Florida ? It's not land locked like BYU, BSU are. UCF, USF can both fly out of an International Airport and be in Texas quickly. They do it now anyway with Houston, SMU, Tulsa. But then I guess the Commuting fans in Texas Big 12 schools are used to drives of no more than a few hours to most Big 12 schools. Even if say the Big 12 has an East wing with WVU, Memphis, Cincinnati, Houston, UCF, Kansas state, Iowa State, The Current Texas, Oklahoma fans would still be able to commute by car to most games. Texas, Texas Tech,Baylor, TCU, Oklahoma,Oklahoma state, Kansas .

(10-29-2015 06:56 AM)CardFan1 Wrote:  Don't You Guys realize that Texas is just a short flight across the Gulf of Mexico from Florida ? It's not land locked like BYU, BSU are. UCF, USF can both fly out of an International Airport and be in Texas quickly. They do it now anyway with Houston, SMU, Tulsa. But then I guess the Commuting fans in Texas Big 12 schools are used to drives of no more than a few hours to most Big 12 schools. Even if say the Big 12 has an East wing with WVU, Memphis, Cincinnati, Houston, UCF, Kansas state, Iowa State, The Current Texas, Oklahoma fans would still be able to commute by car to most games. Texas, Texas Tech,Baylor, TCU, Oklahoma,Oklahoma state, Kansas .

Bolded above; I believe this is a reason that Houston has gained traction with the B12 of late; 12 teams means divisions and if the old power base of the conference can reduce their travel to the eastern schools they likely see that as an added benefit. So that might suggest Houston, and Cincy, the travel partner for WVU "way out east" from the rest.

UCF is not going to the Big 12.
Long line in front of them.

This things changes year to year. Next year Memphis may be down and, who knows, USF has a big year and all of a sudden we are talking about them again.

I don't think any of these schools are the answer, but the one somewhat sure thing is that UC appears to have the inside track in the Big 12. The ACC was very impressed with them before settling for the obvious choice. You have to start there if you are the Big 12. Memphis needs a couple more big years and they can get in there as well. Florida isn't a realistic possibility financially and that hasn't changed for some time, same reasons why Boise and BYU are never coming either. It's between Houston and Memphis. Let's play the ball games on the field and see who comes out on top. I can't imagine the pressure these programs are under to get the heck outta there and into greener pastures. Rutgers got lucky to get the invite before the scandals started hitting us hard, thanks to former AD Tim Pernetti and our academic status.

(10-29-2015 07:49 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  Bolded above; I believe this is a reason that Houston has gained traction with the B12 of late; 12 teams means divisions and if the old power base of the conference can reduce their travel to the eastern schools they likely see that as an added benefit. So that might suggest Houston, and Cincy, the travel partner for WVU "way out east" from the rest.

I wonder how much the Big 12 leaders are threatened that the Houston metro area is becoming SEC country. Snagging UH would let the other Texas and Oklahoma schools get right into the center of town, bypassing College Station.

I wonder if the big 12 becomes the big east. Lot of school's were thrilled to join the big east, usf, cincy, tulane (ha) etc only to watch the prime school's leave and the big east morph really into cusa although its called AAC.

(10-29-2015 08:52 AM)CenterSquarEd Wrote:  

(10-29-2015 07:49 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  Bolded above; I believe this is a reason that Houston has gained traction with the B12 of late; 12 teams means divisions and if the old power base of the conference can reduce their travel to the eastern schools they likely see that as an added benefit. So that might suggest Houston, and Cincy, the travel partner for WVU "way out east" from the rest.

I wonder how much the Big 12 leaders are threatened that the Houston metro area is becoming SEC country. Snagging UH would let the other Texas and Oklahoma schools get right into the center of town, bypassing College Station.

Not at all.

But there's opportunity there. Houston college football TV ratings (not just Big 12) have declined and are well below DFW. They really should be similar to DFW.

(10-29-2015 10:13 AM)bluesox Wrote:  I wonder if the big 12 becomes the big east. Lot of school's were thrilled to join the big east, usf, cincy, tulane (ha) etc only to watch the prime school's leave and the big east morph really into cusa although its called AAC.

You still have to join otherwise you're in the CUSA even though now its mostly the Sunbelt.

(10-28-2015 04:15 PM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  

(10-28-2015 03:16 PM)jskwrite Wrote:  https://twitter.com/LostLettermen/status...8239079426

Not endorsing this, just posting it!

Cincinnati, Memphis and/or Houston could eventually very well end up in the Big 12. However, the underlying Twitter account in that Reddit thread has proven to be utterly and completely useless. (Realignment watchers will likely recognize it immediately as The Dude's West Virginia devil's advocate.)

MHver3 ‏@MHver3 · 2h2 hours ago
Just the fact that some idiots get so enraged and make it their life to discredit me is simply hilarious

<dig at the Dude>

MHver3 ‏@MHver3 · 2h2 hours ago
Listen, I don't pretend to be a journalist. I have lots of connections and share the rumors I hear. I do it for fun and conversation



So anything you hear coming ultimately from MHVer3-remember what he says himself.