(07-28-2019 09:50 PM)JRsec Wrote:  I have a different way of looking at this. I believe that if Texas moves, and I do believe an Oklahoma exit would likely lead to their movement, Texas will make the move that best preserve their business model. That model is predicated on playing at least 7 games inside the state of Texas annually, and preferably 8 games.

They can't get that in the Big 10 because there is no acceptable Texas tag along that meets Big 10 muster. You could say Rice but it won't happen. They are too small to make a splash in any substantial way. If Texas goes to the ACC as an independent and got the ACC to take T.C.U. they would have T.C.U. likely as a required in conference game, they would have 4 more ACC games and they would have 7 games left with which to schedule Tech/Baylor probably alternating home and away and they would get 2 ACC home games a year. They could work it out. But their minor sports would have issues and minor sports at Texas count.

They may not love the SEC but it provides them 4 home conference games and if Tech came with them it preserves the third large state school. Tech's bid would likely be both their price for coming to the SEC and their excuse for doing so. They would immediately have 7 games in Texas if Tech and A&M are rotated home & away. And if they keep the RRR in Dallas that's 8. If not Arkansas would probably gladly take OU's place as a Dallas annual. It gives their minor sports a division to play in that would not vary much farther than Mississippi and Louisiana. It reunites the 3 Texas state schools which satisfies the requests of the Texas legislature, And it gives them Arkansas and L.S.U. back as key regional games in addition to Tech and A&M games. And in a 16 team SEC they would likely have 2 OOC games left to schedule other Texas schools if they desired.

I find that to be a fairly compelling offer from the SEC who with their new T1 contract will be earning somewhere between 57 to 61 million per school payout which would more than cover the 51 million they are making with the LHN and Big 12 payouts. It would also garner ESPN approval.

If this happens I don't see the SEC pursuing Oklahoma and without an SEC invitation the Sooners have their cover to accept the Big 10 offer sans OSU and make that move with either Colorado or Kansas.

I think the ACC then ponders whether to add T.C.U. which is a transportation hub that fits with Georgia Tech and Miami, or West Virginia. I think T.C.U. might win that competition even as somewhat of an outlier if the ACC adds at all.

I think they are most likely to remain at 14.5.

Texas has long preached academics, but the SWC was hardly an academic conference, and the Old Big 12 was a much better one but 4 AAU schools left and 2 of them to the SEC. In the end Texas will move for what best preserves their most successful business model.

Interesting thoughts. What you are describing would actually include more of the key players of the old UT SWC days (Aggie, Tech, Arkansas) than their current gig (Tech, Baylor, TCU). It also reignites my favorite college football rivalry from my years growing up---Texas vs A&M.