(09-22-2017 12:35 PM)JRsec Wrote: (09-22-2017 11:33 AM)murrdcu Wrote: (09-22-2017 11:12 AM)AllTideUp Wrote: (09-22-2017 09:44 AM)murrdcu Wrote: With Boren stepping down next year, I'm kind of liking the idea of adding Oklahoma and Kansas as the #15 and 16th members of the SEC. that would regionalize Arkansas and Missouri nicely. Add blue bloods in both football and basketball.
That would be nice.
If we don't have to worry about the little brothers then this is what I'd like to see...
Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Iowa State
West: Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa State
Central: Texas A&M, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Alabama, Auburn
East: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Kentucky
I'd be fine with West Virginia too, but the ACC probably needs them.
The votes might not be there for WVU without some TV contract increases and conference infighting like how FSU pushed for Louisville to replace Maryland as it was the best football product available.
I wouldn't mind seeing WVU paired with Virginia Tech if possible. WVU is located way up there geographically. They would fit in nicely in SEC culturally and they've had time to improve facilities and runways and other travel infrastructure should a spot come open again.
If the ACC is truly secure, then Texa-homa is all we need. Kansas is a fine school, but an average attendance of 25,700 for home football games just doesn't fit, period.
18 gives us a very nice way to divide in house and Texas and Oklahoma make 18 profitable. Kansas and West Virginia can only subtract from the profits the first four would give us. Now if #19 & 20 were Clemson/Florida State as brands, or Virginia Tech/& a North Carolina school as market, then moving to 20 makes some sense.
Not that Texahoma bothers me, but I think Kansas would be more valuable than Texas Tech.
The basketball brand is part of the equation as well as the AAU status, but KU is a major revenue producer and that could increase if they start to take football seriously. Especially if Kansas State is relegated then KU will be one of the few options in the region. Mostly, I think ESPN will be interested in keeping their brand in the fold.
If ESPN gets to add any schools that they want to the SEC then I've always thought it would be Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Kansas. No one else really generates big revenue in that part of the country and very few have any brand power. KU is one of them though. Of course, Tech may be required by the politicians in TX.
In part, I think ESPN would love to add value to the American so they could keep the content and make it more relevant without having to shell out a fortune for schools in the Big 12.
If I'm ESPN then I'm thinking along these lines...
SEC adds Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Kansas
West: Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri
Central: Texas A&M, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Alabama, Auburn
East: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Kentucky
ACC adds West Virginia and UConn while Notre Dame remains a partial
North: Miami, Virginia Tech, Louisville, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, UConn, Boston College
South: Florida State, Georgia Tech, Clemson, North Carolina, NC State, Duke, Wake Forest, Virginia
American adds Texas Tech, TCU, Baylor, Kansas State, Iowa State, BYU, Air Force, Colorado State, BYU, Boise State, San Diego State
American:
East: Temple, Cincinnati, East Carolina, UCF, USF
Central: Navy, Memphis, Houston, SMU, Tulsa
South: Texas Tech, Baylor, TCU, Kansas State, Iowa State
West: San Diego State, Boise State, BYU, Air Force, Colorado State