I would like to see UT, TT, OU and OSU go west. It would be nice to see USC have to play some real teams.
I'd love to see a conference with Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Texas, and Notre Dame in it. Likely only one would be in contention come BCS game time to face the SEC champion. Welcome to our world, yankees.
Texas really can't claim academics... Its in the Big12 right now... They have lower academic standards than the SEC (see Phil Loaholdt, Dez Bryant). Another possibility for Texas that I've read is that maybe they go independent like Notre Dame.
Very interesting and worth the read. One thing the article doesn't mention as a plus if we are forced into expansion is that getting UT and A&M along with 2 of the 4 teams mentioned from the East would keep the current divisions intact. Also check out the link at the bottom of the article. They have a link to the SEC officials denying information from this article. Report: SEC Already Eyeing Six Teams For Possible Expansion MrSEC.com
Texas and Texas A&M in the West Division would not be good for any of the teams in the West, especially LSU, who will face greater recruiting competition from A&M.
There was a story on Rival's about this Wednesday. Sounds like it's all about the TV deals and Fox is supporting it. http://lsu.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1090740 .
From collegefootballnews.com, the possible ramifications Possible 2015 Realignment What if the Pac 10 gets its way? Pete Fiutak Let’s just say the Pac 10 actually has the minerals to be able to steal all 5/6th of the Big 12 South, including Texas and Oklahoma, and can make itself into a superpower with a few strokes of the pen. Let’s also say that Tom Osborne is playing coy and Nebraska is gone to the Big Ten, as is Missouri and Rutgers. What’s the college football landscape going to be like when the dust settles? I don’t believe that Texas will join the Pac 10; it doesn’t make sense. The Longhorns would likely go independent or join the Big Ten to gain a higher profile rather than line up with the Pacific Time Zone, but let’s say that they do make the jump. Here’s the best guess as to how the conferences will look by 2015 if the Pac 10 gets its way, along with what I think will actually end up happening. ACC The league loses a few of its top teams to the SEC, mostly because of geography, and it raids the Big East cupboard yet again while also bringing in some choice Conference USAers. In this case, what I think will happen matches up with what will probably end up happening. Add: Cincinnati, East Carolina, Pitt, Louisville, UCF, South Florida, Syracuse, West Virginia Lose: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Miami The 2015 ACC Will Probably Be … Atlantic: Boston College, Cincinnati, East Carolina, Maryland, Pitt, Louisville, Syracuse, West Virginia Coastal: Duke, North Carolina, NC State, South Florida, UCF, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest Big East It disbands as a major football conference and concentrates on basketball. Big Ten It all depends on Texas. If the Longhorns go to the Pac 10, then the Big Ten ends up raiding the Big East for more than just Rutgers (probably Connecticut). The league has its three teams set up in Nebraska, Missouri, and Rutgers (no matter what the Big 12 guys are saying), and it’ll do a dance with Notre Dame before finally reeling in the big prize five years from now. Personally, I think Texas ends up in the Big Ten, but let’s say that doesn’t happen … for now. Add: Connecticut, Missouri, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Rutgers Lose: No one The 2015 Big Ten Will Probably Be … East: Connecticut, Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Rutgers West: Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Wisconsin Big 12 The league will try to stop the bleeding by picking up all the top Mountain West and Conference USA teams, and while it won’t be anywhere near as good a conference, it’ll still be competitively interesting. Add: Boise State, BYU, Colorado State, Fresno State, Houston, Nevada, San Diego State, SMU, Southern Miss, TCU, UNLV, Utah Lose: Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech The 2015 Big 12 Will Probably Be … North: Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, Nevada, UNLV South: Baylor, BYU, Houston, San Diego State, SMU, Southern Miss, TCU, Utah Pac 10 The league isn’t thinking small as it realizes that raiding the Mountain West won’t do anything for the TV dollars. Again, let’s assume the Big 12 South (sans Baylor) is making the move. I don’t think the Pac 10 is getting Texas, and it might make a push then for Kansas for the basketball program. USC would end up being on the other side of Texas division-wise. Add: Colorado, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech Drop: No one The 2015 Pac 10 Will Probably Be … North: California, Colorado, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, USC, Washington, Washington State South: Arizona, Arizona State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, UCLA SEC The SEC will easily take over the programs that make geographic and regional sense, and all of a sudden, ESPN will have gotten a bargain for its billion-dollar TV deal. While the newly formed league wouldn’t have the reach of the Big Ten, it would take on a life unto its own and would be a cash cow for all the members and the networks. Add: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Miami Lose: No one The 2015 SEC Will Probably Be … East: Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt West: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida State, LSU, Miami, Mississippi, Mississippi State Conference USA, Mountain West, WAC Trying to piece something together, the three leagues form a new 16-team conference that could put together a nice, midrange TV package. The 2015 Mish Mosh League Will Probably Be … East: Air Force, Idaho, Louisiana Tech, Memphis, Rice, Tulane, Wyoming West: Hawaii, New Mexico, New Mexico State, San Jose State, Tulsa, Utah State, UTEP MAC The league stays the same but welcomes home Marshall while bringing aboard Army and Navy to create a 16-team league. The 2015 MAC Will Probably Be … East: Akron, Army, Buffalo, Marshall, Miami Univ., Navy, Ohio, Temple West: Ball State, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Northern Illinois, Toledo, Western Michigan Sun Belt The league adds UAB to form a natural geographic rivalry with several nearby programs. The 2015 Sun Belt Will Probably Be … Arkansas State, Florida Atlantic, FIU, Louisiana, Middle Tennessee, North Texas, Troy, UAB, ULM, Western Kentucky
Another ESPN link, if it hasn't been already posted: Pac-10, Big 12, Big Ten conference expansion speculation swirls - ESPN
