(08-17-2017 09:19 AM)Gamecock Wrote:  

(08-17-2017 07:07 AM)Soobahk40050 Wrote:  One option not mentioned so far: Texas as a true independent.

If their T1 and 2 games are worth $35-40 mil, then this is a legitimate option.

Would mean a very direct bidding war between ESPN/Fox for those rights. Would also still in some ways come down to if Texas wanted more ACC/SEC (ESPN) schools on it's schedule or Big 10 (Fox). Independence could be a way to play Big 10 schools, keep some local rivalries and appease a fan base that wouldn't care about games against Minnesota every year.

Then SEC if they really wanted to expand would be free to take OK/St, OK/Kansas, OK/TCU, or OK/WVU.

The ACC could grab say Cincy and ND all in. Or ND/WVU, or even Houston (a good fit with their basketball pedigree too).

The PAC would still have tough decisions to make about who is worthwhile to them, but would have options.

I'd love to see Texas as an independent. They could easily fill a schedule with big time P5 teams in the early part of the schedule, Texas teams in the middle, and Army/BYU/ND in November.

I think more independents is a good thing honestly.

I know the Big 12 as a whole is overpaid, but I wonder if they could go in-mass to independence. No one would have trouble scheduling, as they could basically keep a conference schedule intact but function as independents. Would help teams like Texas, OK get more money, and would probably mean teams like Kansas State/Baylor get more than they would in the AAC/MWC.