Expansion

[Charleston Mountie]

Th

Bowlsby is either a sheep or a dolt. Why would the Big 12 want to go to less games for the tv network? The flexibility he talks about gaining sounds a lot like a huge reduction in payout by Fox. Just add two Eastern schools and form two divisions and get it over with. All this dancing is just plain stupid. Add to inventory and plan for the future.

The "dancing" as you call it is likely a tactic to force the hands of those schools in the Big12 that want no part of expansion at any cost because they are already satisfied with the current arrangement. Obviously, I am talking about Texas. Bowlsby has to sway those others in the Big-12 because he is not going to sway Texas on this. If he can do so, he can bring pressure to bear and then he can stop "dancing" and get the Big 12 to 12.

 

[Buckaineer]

The ever evolving vote takes another turn:
excerpt:
Big 12 'likely' to be able to have championship game without expanding, per source
By Matt Brown

@MattSBN on Jan 11, 2016, 5:15p

A high-ranking official at a voting conference told SB Nation it is "likely" that the Big Ten proposal will be amended to allow for a conference with round-robin scheduling to hold a football championship of its own, so long as that conference's top two seeds compete in the game. That appears similar to what Dallas Morning News reporter Chuck Carlton floated last night as well.

http://www.sbnation.com/college-foo...byu-cincinnati-houston-deregulation-proposals

 

[steeleer]

The ever evolving vote takes another turn:
excerpt:
Big 12 'likely' to be able to have championship game without expanding, per source
By Matt Brown

@MattSBN on Jan 11, 2016, 5:15p

A high-ranking official at a voting conference told SB Nation it is "likely" that the Big Ten proposal will be amended to allow for a conference with round-robin scheduling to hold a football championship of its own, so long as that conference's top two seeds compete in the game. That appears similar to what Dallas Morning News reporter Chuck Carlton floated last night as well.

http://www.sbnation.com/college-foo...byu-cincinnati-houston-deregulation-proposals

Great. So it's a guarantee that the two best teams play twice, making a very real possibility of a split and neither team making the playoff. Other conferences without a RR can very easily avoid having their 2 best team play until a CCG (and maybe not even then).

Personally, I'd sit on this until it's shown that we are going to consistently miss the playoffs over this.

 

[Rootmaster]

So here's the scenario under that dumb idea....say Oklahoma loses to Baylor and goes 11-1 which includes travelling to Texas and beating the 'horns 55-10 who finish 10-2 and finish second. Championship game pits and 11-1 Oklahoma against a 10-2 Texas at a neutral site. Texas wins rematch 24-23 and finishes 11-2 winning the championship. Once again no Big 12 team in the playoffs...top two teams are out in the cold. Simply.....dumb. Clemson is 13-0 because of divisions. Florida State's record last year was because of divisions. Seems like a trend. WVU will never get to the playoffs under this dumb, dumb idea.

 

[Buckaineer]

Agree it makes no sense to have a guaranteed rematch when no one else does. You are still at a disadvantage and seriously increase chances for getting knocked out of the playoffs and knocking a team out of a NY6 bowl also.

Leaders at WVU and other schools need to be extremely concerned at this point. OUs president wants expansion and so do others. Gordon Gee has commented publicly that the 10 team CCG makes no sense and even Bowlsby has said they may not do it because of a guaranteed rematch. Yet despite all evidence, those in power refuse to change---Oklahoma States coach is still whining about having to play someone out of conference for crying out loud. At this point why must be asked and explained, because finances are not the reason to not expand.

Pitting your two best teams in a guaranteed rematch does not put your conference teams on an even field with everyone else and certainly doesn't give you an advantage over anyone as some still seem to think.

 

[skygusty]

So here's the scenario under that dumb idea....say Oklahoma loses to Baylor and goes 11-1 which includes travelling to Texas and beating the 'horns 55-10 who finish 10-2 and finish second. Championship game pits and 11-1 Oklahoma against a 10-2 Texas at a neutral site. Texas wins rematch 24-23 and finishes 11-2 winning the championship. Once again no Big 12 team in the playoffs...top two teams are out in the cold. Simply.....dumb. Clemson is 13-0 because of divisions. Florida State's record last year was because of divisions. Seems like a trend. WVU will never get to the playoffs under this dumb, dumb idea.

Or Oklahoma also wins the rematch and is 12-1. Hopefully the other 4 conferences don't all finish undefeated and you still lose out. I think the 10 team CCG gets them an extra data point for a couple of years, if they elect to play it. They may still take their chances without one simply because they still have a chance to be in the playoffs by doing nothing. Nobody really knows what they will do. Obviously some schools don't want to expand. Among those who do want to expand there may be (so far) irreconcilable differences as to who they want to add. There may be some element that thinks an 8 team playoff is inevitable. If there is a chance of this happening over the next 6-10 years they may want to stand pat. There is probably some element that is convinced, or at least hopes that there is going to be some shift by Notre Dame, or the BIG10 or the SEC. Maybe Texas and Oklahoma will leave the conference. If they do, the BIG12 is probably out of the conversation for the playoffs anyway. Maybe one of them threatens to leave if the conference doesn't expand. Maybe the other threatens to leave if it does. You can call them dumb all you want but at the end of the day they have to accept compromise and take the route that the conference members can agree on, not the one that a handful of WVU fans think is a no-brainer.

 

[Buckaineer]

Of all the realignment b.s. out in message board land --the most poorly thought out is the "Texas or OU want to leave" myth.

Many cling to this mantra and push it daily ---"if the BIG 12 does anything then UT and OU are gone!"

OU has strongly advocated and pushed for expansion while UTs current leadership hasn't said much at all if at all.
Beyond that though are 8 universities that have invested hundreds of millions into their athletic programs and still have fans, boosters and alumni to satisfy. The leaders of these major institutions are NOT basing their futures on UT or OU leaving at any whim, any change of anything. If it is in their best interest to add schools thats what they'll do. They aren't going to sit back and do nothing hoping to coddle someone that doesn't want to be a part of them anyway and will simply leave at any moment as some misguided individuals still believe.

UT or OU leaving has nothing to do with the reality of the situation--neither is interested in or trying to do this.

 

[Mountaineer Steve]

Agree it makes no sense to have a guaranteed rematch when no one else does. You are still at a disadvantage and seriously increase chances for getting knocked out of the playoffs and knocking a team out of a NY6 bowl also.

Leaders at WVU and other schools need to be extremely concerned at this point. OUs president wants expansion and so do others. Gordon Gee has commented publicly that the 10 team CCG makes no sense and even Bowlsby has said they may not do it because of a guaranteed rematch. Yet despite all evidence, those in power refuse to change---Oklahoma States coach is still whining about having to play someone out of conference for crying out loud. At this point why must be asked and explained, because finances are not the reason to not expand.

Pitting your two best teams in a guaranteed rematch does not put your conference teams on an even field with everyone else and certainly doesn't give you an advantage over anyone as some still seem to think.

Each year is different & brings a new set of circumstances why one team or another makes the playoff or not. Had the BIG12 had CCG last year with Baylor (1) vs TCU (2), the BIG12 probably would not have been left out of the 4.
While the PAC does not have an automatic rematch, by the numbers 12 team, 2 division 9 game schedule, they are more likely 66% to have a rematch in CCG then not.

 

[Mountaineer Steve]

So here's the scenario under that dumb idea....say Oklahoma loses to Baylor and goes 11-1 which includes travelling to Texas and beating the 'horns 55-10 who finish 10-2 and finish second. Championship game pits and 11-1 Oklahoma against a 10-2 Texas at a neutral site. Texas wins rematch 24-23 and finishes 11-2 winning the championship. Once again no Big 12 team in the playoffs...top two teams are out in the cold. Simply.....dumb. Clemson is 13-0 because of divisions. Florida State's record last year was because of divisions. Seems like a trend. WVU will never get to the playoffs under this dumb, dumb idea.

Clemson was clearly one of the best teams in the country. They beat a fairly good ND team destroyed, OU, and played toe to toe with Alabama.

However, UNC's weak division play, hurt them a great deal. Even with just 1 loss had UNC beaten Clemson in the ACC CCG their weak conference scheudle would have kept them out of final 4, and the ACC would have been the conference without a team in the playoff

 

[Buckaineer]

Each year is different & brings a new set of circumstances why one team or another makes the playoff or not. Had the BIG12 had CCG last year with Baylor (1) vs TCU (2), the BIG12 probably would not have been left out of the 4.
While the PAC does not have an automatic rematch, by the numbers 12 team, 2 division 9 game schedule, they are more likely 66% to have a rematch in CCG then not.

The Pac 12 doesn't have an automatic rematch--they may have a rematch but don't have to. If the BIG 12 has a 10 team CCG, they'll have a 100% chance of a rematch--guaranteed. That is 34% more likely than the Pac 12. But unfortunately, the BIG 12 isn't just in competition for one of the four spots with the Pac 12. They are also in competition with the ACC, Big Ten, SEC and Notre Dame.

Each year is different. But what will NEVER be different is that the BIG 12 will be at a disadvantage by not playing a 13th game. That's not going away. Last year, it kept TCU and Baylor out of the playoffs. This season just completed, it dropped Oklahoma behind Michigan State (which couldn't muster one pt. in their playoff game) from 3 to 4. Its going to mean a drop every year for the BIG 12 until they also have that "data point" unless other conferences lose more games.

 

[Buckaineer]

Clemson was clearly one of the best teams in the country. They beat a fairly good ND team destroyed, OU, and played toe to toe with Alabama.

However, UNC's weak division play, hurt them a great deal. Even with just 1 loss had UNC beaten Clemson in the ACC CCG their weak conference scheudle would have kept them out of final 4, and the ACC would have been the conference without a team in the playoff

Oklahoma was injured at the RB spot going into the Clemson game and that made them 1 dimensional. Baylor destroyed the UNC team that took Clemson to the wire--and WITHOUT A QB.

It doesn't matter though--2 out of the last three years the ACC was in the CCG and won one, and the other year they were in the playoffs. The idea that they'll be shut out of the playoffs anymore than the BIG 12 is just fantasy. They are having more success than the BIG 12 in the championships and its largely because they have a bigger conference and teams skip playing one another. In the BIG 12 you had Baylor injured, OU injured, TCU injured during the regular season and it affected results. A couple of games in conference against less challenging opponents would have helped undoubtedly in many ways.

 

[Mountaineer Steve]

The Pac 12 doesn't have an automatic rematch--they may have a rematch but don't have to. If the BIG 12 has a 10 team CCG, they'll have a 100% chance of a rematch--guaranteed. That is 34% more likely than the Pac 12. But unfortunately, the BIG 12 isn't just in competition for one of the four spots with the Pac 12. They are also in competition with the ACC, Big Ten, SEC and Notre Dame.

Each year is different. But what will NEVER be different is that the BIG 12 will be at a disadvantage by not playing a 13th game. That's not going away. Last year, it kept TCU and Baylor out of the playoffs. This season just completed, it dropped Oklahoma behind Michigan State (which couldn't muster one pt. in their playoff game) from 3 to 4. Its going to mean a drop every year for the BIG 12 until they also have that "data point" unless other conferences lose more games.

All things being equal the past two years, have proven that BIG12 is at a disadvantage without 13th point. All I said is last year (even with a rematch) had BIG12 had a CCG of 1 vs 2 it would have made the final 4.

 

[Buckaineer]

All things being equal the past two years, have proven that BIG12 is at a disadvantage without 13th point. All I said is last year (even with a rematch) had BIG12 had a CCG of 1 vs 2 it would have made the final 4.

All we know for sure is that every year without a CCG the BIG 12 will drop and every year they play a 10 team CCG, they are making two teams that already played play a rematch--something no other conference faces.

It might work out--but its a 50-50 chance it will both knock out a playoff contender and an additional NY6 bowl participant. No one else faces that in their model guaranteed. The BIG 12 doesn't need band aids, they need to end the bleeding.

 

[Buckaineer]

Either way--expansion or not, the "round-robin" is going the way of the dinosaur most likely:

This from a San Antonio paper today:

The conference’s current television contracts with ESPN/ABC and Fox require it to play a round-robin schedule. If the Big Ten’s amendment was approved, it likely would mean the Big 12 would move to an eight-game conference schedule to accommodate two divisions.


“The question for us going forward is if we’re willing to live with that,” Bowlsby said.
http://www.expressnews.com/sports/c...ence-title-football-game-critical-6754249.php

That's going to eliminate the rematch guarantee if it happens.

 

[Buckaineer]

Here's what Texas' athletic director thinks:

New Texas athletic director Mike Perrin said he's intrigued by the possibility of a Big 12 title game, but wouldn't take a position on potential expansion. He noted two things he likes about the league — its geography and schedule.

"I like that we're a heartland conference with a great member in West Virginia ... and maybe I'm just old school, but I like the round-robin schedule. I like that everybody plays each other every year," he said.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsext...cle_47cf6a0a-1182-5be3-8da8-91cce20acff6.html

 

[Mountaineer Steve]

Either way--expansion or not, the "round-robin" is going the way of the dinosaur most likely:

This from a San Antonio paper today:

The conference’s current television contracts with ESPN/ABC and Fox require it to play a round-robin schedule. If the Big Ten’s amendment was approved, it likely would mean the Big 12 would move to an eight-game conference schedule to accommodate two divisions.


“The question for us going forward is if we’re willing to live with that,” Bowlsby said.
http://www.expressnews.com/sports/c...ence-title-football-game-critical-6754249.php

That's going to eliminate the rematch guarantee if it happens.

Even with an 8 games schedule, you are still likely, (not guaranteed) to have a rematch. Also dropping to 8 games, means the networks would have to give permissions to to drop 9 conference games from the schedule. Would they do that without removing revenue?

 

[Rootmaster]

There is no way that the networks pay the Big 12 the same amount of money for reduced inventory. The networks would renegotiate with a smile on their face...and reduce the payout per school (which would help the money bleeding going on in sports television at the moment.) Those wanting the Big 12 to stay at ten and divide into divisions while reducing the number of conference games might not like it if that comes to pass. The Big 12, without at least a two team expansion east, is putting its future in danger...one defection away from the fate of the old Big East. This whole feet dragging by the Big 12 is just dumb.

 

[Buckaineer]

The inventory could be an issue--guess it would depend on how many OOC matchups can be added (one for each school) that will fall under the BIG 12 contract to replace the lost conference game for each BIG 12 school. Could be five or more games per year based on home games.

 

[Buckaineer]

New amendment from the Big Ten:

This week, the Big Ten submitted a second amendment. It would allow conferences with less than 12 teams and that play a round-robin schedule to pair their two best teams as opposed to division champions meeting. That obviously benefits the Big 12, which is the smallest FBS conference (10 members). Bowlsby said the second amendment was crafted after consultation with the Big Ten. "It gets us most of the way we need to go," Bowlsby told CBS Sports' Dennis Dodd. "I'd prefer total deregulation but we can live with it."
http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball...heir-names

 

[skygusty]

I'm shooting for 8 pages. I've heard that Tulsa is almost certain to be invited along with Louisiana-Monroe. Texas is all for it. Drawing a line in the sand. Who could have seen that coming?

 

[Buckaineer]

I'm shooting for 8 pages. I've heard that Tulsa is almost certain to be invited along with Louisiana-Monroe. Texas is all for it. Drawing a line in the sand. Who could have seen that coming?

Just curious as to who you root for. I ask because what is being brought up and discussed in these threads while you play your internet games, has a direct impact on West Virginia Universities athletic future. The NCAA vote today will directly impact WVU and the conference WVU is in. Its quite possible that people who follow WVU athletics might actually care about that more than your jokes. I know that's tough for your ego to swallow, but true.

 

[ColoradoMountaineer]

Man you have such great devotion to keep this thread alive. might as well start a new thread when you get to 7 pages of this it would be easier to follow on a new thread. you could probably find a new article every day concerning the big 12 and expansion. I bet at this rate this thread will resemble a novel at this time next year

 

[Mountaineer Steve]

New amendment from the Big Ten:

This week, the Big Ten submitted a second amendment. It would allow conferences with less than 12 teams and that play a round-robin schedule to pair their two best teams as opposed to division champions meeting. That obviously benefits the Big 12, which is the smallest FBS conference (10 members). Bowlsby said the second amendment was crafted after consultation with the Big Ten. "It gets us most of the way we need to go," Bowlsby told CBS Sports' Dennis Dodd. "I'd prefer total deregulation but we can live with it."
http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball...heir-names

I love it and thought this might be compromise Bowlsby was speaking of earlier. This is exactly what the BIG12 wanted in the 1st place and gives the conference all the flexibility in the world.

1. Stay at 10 play a round robin no CCG - Not likely, the entire reason for working so hard for the amendment is to have a CCG with 10 teams.
2. Expand - Dead until at least the 2020, to allow option 3 to play out, or new TV contracts.
3. Stay at 10 play a round robin have CCG starting 2017 - Option the BIG12 will take for the foreseeable future. I wonder if the there is a possibility for 2016 CCG

ACC is not happy.

 

[Mountaineer Steve]

Man you have such great devotion to keep this thread alive. might as well start a new thread when you get to 7 pages of this it would be easier to follow on a new thread. you could probably find a new article every day concerning the big 12 and expansion. I bet at this rate this thread will resemble a novel at this time next year

It is a very relevant topic, especially as the new regulation vote this Friday. It will dictate the direction of the BIG12 conference for the foreseeable future.

 

[ColoradoMountaineer]

It is a very relevant topic, especially as the new regulation vote this Friday. It will dictate the direction of the BIG12 conference for the foreseeable future.

Yes it will but it would be more readable if you just start a new thread. when you get to page 7 its kinda ridiculous. Someone new to the thread is not gonna want to sift through 7 pages of this

 

[Buckaineer]

Yes it will but it would be more readable if you just start a new thread. when you get to page 7 its kinda ridiculous. Someone new to the thread is not gonna want to sift through 7 pages of this

Yet you and a couple of others are the only ones constantly complaining while thousands read the thread. Hmmmm.

 

[Mountaineer Steve]

Yes it will but it would be more readable if you just start a new thread. when you get to page 7 its kinda ridiculous. Someone new to the thread is not gonna want to sift through 7 pages of this

O please gawd no, there used to be a new thread on TOS everyday. It was awful and made the board itself unreadable.

 

[Buckaineer]

I love it and thought this might be compromise Bowlsby was speaking of earlier. This is exactly what the BIG12 wanted in the 1st place and gives the conference all the flexibility in the world.

1. Stay at 10 play a round robin no CCG - Not likely, the entire reason for working so hard for the amendment is to have a CCG with 10 teams.
2. Expand - Dead until at least the 2020, to allow option 3 to play out, or new TV contracts.
3. Stay at 10 play a round robin have CCG starting 2017 - Option the BIG12 will take for the foreseeable future. I wonder if the there is a possibility for 2016 CCG

ACC is not happy.

What does 2020 have to do with anything-just curious.

The conference might be able to enact a CCG for 2016-they've set aside the schedules for this--whether they could negotiate a contract to play one that would be significant in that short time remains to be seen.

If the conference doesn't expand in the near term, they aren't going to be expanding at all. There aren't going to be expansion candidates any different in 2020 or 2024 than there are now, when they must try to negotiate a new tv contract. If the belief is no one is worth it now, they won't be worth it then for certain because those schools will have been a decade out of competitive revenues. Harder to build facilities, harder to gain recruits and harder to compete. No P5 schools will be "available" until the Pac 12s contract is up in 2024 (same year the BIG 12 must begin renegotiating tv contracts). At that point the BIG 12's negotiations will be based on what they've done in ratings and on field success up to then and what the climate for rights fees are at that time. At the present time there is not much outlook for optimism in regard to those issues.

 

[xgunnx]

If the Big XII stays at 10 teams then 2 divisions with a CCG. That would be the best option. I don't believe the round robin schedule with a CCG would help as much as it would hurt the Big XII teams chances of being in the playoff(s).

If the Big XII decides that it needs to get back to a 12 team conference. The choice of available teams is less then stellar IMO. For me at least i would prefer the 10 team 2 division with CCG unless the two teams ask to join are on par with the majority of the teams currently in the Big XII.

 

[ColoradoMountaineer]

Yet you and a couple of others are the only ones constantly complaining while thousands read the thread. Hmmmm.

well since this thread seems to be your lifes work I would think by the time got to page 4 you think maybe its time to give it a rest. FYI this is the 1st time in a week I've even looked at this and this will be the last.

Yawn

 

[Buckaineer]

well since this thread seems to be your lifes work I would think by the time got to page 4 you think maybe its time to give it a rest. FYI this is the 1st time in a week I've even looked at this and this will be the last.

Yawn

Good riddance, not that the thousands reading this will miss your trolling derailing posts-LOL!!

 

[Buckaineer]

If the Big XII stays at 10 teams then 2 divisions with a CCG. That would be the best option. I don't believe the round robin schedule with a CCG would help as much as it would hurt the Big XII teams chances of being in the playoff(s).

If the Big XII decides that it needs to get back to a 12 team conference. The choice of available teams is less then stellar IMO. For me at least i would prefer the 10 team 2 division with CCG unless the two teams ask to join are on par with the majority of the teams currently in the Big XII.

They'd have to go to an eight game schedule to make it work out. But if the new amendment goes rather than full deregulation they'll still play a 10 team round robin and rematch for a CCG -putting the two top teams in jeopardy every year. We'll see how that works out--If I'm leading WVU I'm preparing my school for the fallout of these decisions in 2025.

 

[skygusty]

Just curious as to who you root for. I ask because what is being brought up and discussed in these threads while you play your internet games, has a direct impact on West Virginia Universities athletic future. The NCAA vote today will directly impact WVU and the conference WVU is in. Its quite possible that people who follow WVU athletics might actually care about that more than your jokes. I know that's tough for your ego to swallow, but true.

So you are saying that this thread has a direct impact on what is going to happen, the audience here is huge and influential, that the situation is far too serious for humor. Mountaineer nation is hanging on every word. The stakes are huge and we have a grave responsibility to inform and bring light where there was only darkness. I had no idea. Maybe if you explain the options facing us in a little more detail, the enormity of the situation will be clear and disaster can still be averted. Thank you for all you do. Please continue to keep us informed.

 

[xgunnx]

They'd have to go to an eight game schedule to make it work out. But if the new amendment goes rather than full deregulation they'll still play a 10 team round robin and rematch for a CCG -putting the two top teams in jeopardy every year. We'll see how that works out--If I'm leading WVU I'm preparing my school for the fallout of these decisions in 2025.

I have to agree with you about the 10 team round robin with a rematch CCG. Maybe we are wrong, but i also think it will indeed jeopardize the rematched teams playoff chance(s).

The best choice is to expand to 12 teams. I am definitely curious about how the vote will go.

 

[Buckaineer]

So you are saying that this thread has a direct impact on what is going to happen, the audience here is huge and influential, that the situation is far too serious for humor. Mountaineer nation is hanging on every word. The stakes are huge and we have a grave responsibility to inform and bring light where there was only darkness. I had no idea. Maybe if you explain the options facing us in a little more detail, the enormity of the situation will be clear and disaster can still be averted. Thank you for all you do. Please continue to keep us informed.

I haven't stated anything remotely close to your babbling above. What I tried to explain to you is that there are actually people that are fans of WVU that come to message boards to discuss things related to WVU athletics and the conference WVU is in, rather than to feed your obviously enormously overinflated ego. I know its difficult for you to grasp.

 

[skygusty]

I haven't stated anything remotely close to your babbling above. What I tried to explain to you is that there are actually people that are fans of WVU that come to message boards to discuss things related to WVU athletics and the conference WVU is in, rather than to feed your obviously enormously overinflated ego. I know its difficult for you to grasp.

This is very difficult to grasp. Not sure how my ego or it's size has anything to do with WVU sports. Maybe my ego is suffering from expansion rather than overinflation. Now you have me worried.

 

[ColoradoMountaineer]

I haven't stated anything remotely close to your babbling above. What I tried to explain to you is that there are actually people that are fans of WVU that come to message boards to discuss things related to WVU athletics and the conference WVU is in, rather than to feed your obviously enormously overinflated ego. I know its difficult for you to grasp.

Only a troll would have a 7 page thread

 

[Buckaineer]

I have to agree with you about the 10 team round robin with a rematch CCG. Maybe we are wrong, but i also think it will indeed jeopardize the rematched teams playoff chance(s).

The best choice is to expand to 12 teams. I am definitely curious about how the vote will go.

If the league becomes two five team divisions, wonder which teams WVU would like to be associated with?
Also, will be curious to see reactions if the conference goes to five teams and eliminates the round robin scheduling anyway via an eight game conference schedule--something those against expansion have trumpeted as a reason why.

Agree expansion is the better way to go, but based on the amendments and updates it looks like the most likely outcome will be--no expansion, no divisions and a rematch of the two best teams--however that is decided.

At that point its going to be interesting to see the reactions from Oklahoma--which made a pretty compelling case for expansion and clearly sees that as the best way to have a viable conference in the future.

 

[Mountaineer Steve]

What does 2020 have to do with anything-just curious.

The conference might be able to enact a CCG for 2016-they've set aside the schedules for this--whether they could negotiate a contract to play one that would be significant in that short time remains to be seen.

If the conference doesn't expand in the near term, they aren't going to be expanding at all. There aren't going to be expansion candidates any different in 2020 or 2024 than there are now, when they must try to negotiate a new tv contract. If the belief is no one is worth it now, they won't be worth it then for certain because those schools will have been a decade out of competitive revenues. Harder to build facilities, harder to gain recruits and harder to compete. No P5 schools will be "available" until the Pac 12s contract is up in 2024 (same year the BIG 12 must begin renegotiating tv contracts). At that point the BIG 12's negotiations will be based on what they've done in ratings and on field success up to then and what the climate for rights fees are at that time. At the present time there is not much outlook for optimism in regard to those issues.

2020 is Just a guess on my part. Once you make the move to expand there is no going back.

The BIG12 did not spend all this time and effort getting this amendment changed if they planed to expand all along. If the 10 team 1 vs 2 CCG dereg amendment passes , expansion is dead for the time being to allow CCG to play out several years and determine if conference is still at a disadvantage. If there is a perceived disadvantage the the possibility of expansion is back on the table.

I agree it is not likely the BIG12 will expand during TV contract negotiations assuming the conference is NOT at a disadvantage. However it is the next logical time if anything is to take place. I also agree, current ratings and on field (bowl) success has not been great. If TV per team payout does not keep up with the PAC and ACC, the only other option is creating a real BIG12 network. For this to happen the BIG12 has to expand it's footprint

 

[Mountaineer Steve]

Only a troll would have a 7 page thread

opcorn: