(07-18-2019 05:23 PM)bigblueblindness Wrote:  

(07-13-2019 10:14 PM)NJ2MDTerp Wrote:  I no longer have any interest in adding UConn, to give B1G a New England presence. UConn will eventually downgrade football to the FCS level.

Since there are no other east coast schools available, I'll throw my support behind Missouri and Oklahoma.

We have talked about this ad nauseam on the SEC board, but I still cannot understand the BIG's long term strategy of passing over Missouri when they had the chance. I understand the focus on the east coast for the last round of BIG Network negotiations, but Missouri combined with Nebraska was a natural bridge to Oklahoma, which would give a much better chance of leading into Texas. Kansas would be a shoe-in at that point if you wanted them. Sure, Mizzou would have been a negligible financial addition for the BIG this past decade, but there are not many contiguous AAU flagship schools with two major sport loving cities (Kansas City and St. Louis) going around.

Though I certainly have no "inside info", my guess is simply that the B1G felt that Missouri (and probably Kansas) would be available anytime the B1G wanted them (assuming they did). I don't think anyone thought of Missouri as a possible SEC team given their relative sports position vis-a-vie the SEC. It appears that when OU wouldn't commit without OSU, Missouri became the "default" (closest to what the SEC could use) team to pair with TA&M.
As to an OU/Missouri pairing, I can't see that in the B1G future. Given SEC payouts I can't see enough benefits to cause Missouri to leave the SEC, even for the B1G. If the B1G decides to expand to the west, think there is really only an OU and/or KU possibility, unless the B1G decides to "double up" with Iowa State. Some people think that Colorado is a possibility but given that their alumni seem concentrated in the P12 footprint that would be a longshot. Even with the problems the P12 has I don't hear any discontent with CU fans. Texas....just can't see them in the B1G. They have no "friends" (other teams with which they have a meaningful history), the distances for Olympic sports are significant, their sports lineup emphasis is different than most B1G lineups other than football and basketball, they aren't going to be able to "control" the B1G like they did the SWC or B12, they would have few games with other Texas schools, and they would lose the LHN. Additionally, with the Texas-ESPN ties, I think ESPN might do whatever they need to not to lose Texas to Fox (push them toward to ACC or SEC, or even facilitate them as an independent (at least for football).
But, these are just my "thoughts"...no special knowledge claimed!