Big 12 is Expanding ...

It has been reported that The Big 12 is planning to expand and replace UT and OU with 4 schools: BYU, Cincinnati, UCF (University of Central Florida), and Houston.  This is an interesting wrinkle and some more crazy back office shenanigans.   

Before I get into the expansion discussion, I want to address something I heard on Saturday.   It was suggested that Iowa State needs to go to The Big Ten.  Nice theory, but there hasn't been an invitation.  Iowa State and the rest of the Irate 8 are sitting at home on Prom Night without a date.   No one is calling, and there isn't a life raft coming.   It is time to get over it and move on.  The other Power 5 conferences do not have interest as it stands today.   I will add one disclaimer: if Penn State, Ohio State, and Michigan leave The Big Ten that could change the interest in Iowa State and Kansas.  But, until then the best option is to control what you can control and go fill the wholes in your conference.   

First wrinkle: The Big 12 is targeting 3 teams from the AAC (American Athletic Conference).  The AAC currently has 11 teams and if The Big 12 takes Cincy, Houston, and UCF The AAC is down to 8 teams.   to be a legitimate conference you need to have 8 teams.   ESPN holds the TV contract for The AAC and it is rumored that ESPN was behind OU and UT leaving which threatened to blow up the AAC.  Could Bob Bowlsby be on a vengeance to blow up the AAC, intentionally or unintentionally spite ESPN?

Second wrinkle:  The Big 12 left the door open to additional expansion.   If the 4 proposed teams accept, and OU and UT leave, that would leave The Big 12 at 12 teams.   A nice number.   But, SEC = 16, ACC = 15, Big Ten = 14, Pac 12 = 12, Big 12 = 8 or 12 with 4 additions.   Yes the names of the conferences make no sense at all.  Additional expansion could mean The Big 12 lands on 14 or 16.   This definitely leaves the door open for more teams leaving the AAC.   

Third wrinkle: These teams could move quickly.   The AAC requires a 27 month notice from the Grant of Rights conference exit notice.   Which means if the 3 AAC teams give notice they need to do it soon so they are available for the 2024 football season.    Of course there will be negotiations and that timeframe could change, before exit. 

Fourth wrinkle: When we add these 4 teams it extends us from the Central Time zone to covering 3 times zones.    Eastern, Central, and Mountain time zone.  I think this helps The Big 12 and expands our national coverage. 

Jamie Pollard on ISU/Realignment

It was announced that The Big 12 President's are going to meet on Friday to vote on conference expansion.   This buggy is beginning to move downhill and picking up steam.