Arkansas discussion about joining Big 12. Hypothetically, Would you be okay with being in the Big 12?

[Rsbrsb1010]

I live in Arkansas and am friends with a lot of reasonably well connected alumni, not like megadonors but donors. Multiple people over the past several months have told me that the higher ups at Arkansas are considering moving to the Big 12. There’s also a lot of chatter on their board about it, and that Calipari wants it as well.

The Waltons and several megadonors for whatever reason love and are willing to pony up for men’s basketball but not football. Got Calipari, Bud Walton arena, huge NIL for roster etc.

People have sworn to me they are discussing moving to the Big 12. The logic is that they would be in the best basketball conference, and that it would give them a easier/better chance to be competitive in football. This sounded crazy to me at first, but when I hear this from 10+ people I start to believe it.

I have no idea whether this is going to happen or not. But it just got me thinking—if our higher ups said we think we should go to the Big 12, we’re going to beef up on basketball, and it gives a better chance to compete in football. Would you be ok with it? Doesn’t actually sound bad to me when you think about it.

 

[Leeshouldveflanked]

 

[basedawg]

 

[She Mate Me]

There’s also a lot of chatter on their board about it, and that Calipari wants it as well.

I haven't heard anything about this. Got some links to the chatter on their boards??

 

[HailStout]

I think we are a more of a natural fit for the Big 10

 

[ReverseCowbell]

They can go chat with Tulane, Sewanee, and Georgia Tech to see how leaving the SEC works out

 

[RBcoach]

YES! Sewanee is itching to come back home!!!

 

[Rsbrsb1010]

They can go chat with Tulane, Sewanee, and Georgia Tech to see how leaving the SEC works out

Those were all 60+ years ago lol the landscape has changed drastically. I’m not saying I would like it if I was an Arkansas fan, but it’s not some sort of catastrophic move. You would be putting Calipari in the best basketball conference, while also giving yourself a much easier path to the playoffs in football.

 

[Rsbrsb1010]

I think we are a more of a natural fit for the Big 10

Big 12 would be better. The main guy I was talking to, who is not even a big Hogs basketball fan, was all for this move. He was like “besides a little bit of extra TV money, what’s so great about being in the SEC? So you can go 7-5 but beat your chest about how you got skulldrug by Georgia, Bama, and Texas? How about joining the Big 12, where a smaller market team like us only has to get through TX Tech, BYU to get to the playoff”

Honestly, it makes sense. If we were in the Big 12 we would have a shot at going 10-2, 11-1 a lot of years.

 

[Dawg1976]

The Arky higher ups won’t give up the SEC money just like MSU won’t either. The only way it could happen is to get the boot due to a super conference realignment.

 

[Rsbrsb1010]

The Arky higher ups won’t give up the SEC money just like MSU won’t either. The only way it could happen is to get the boot due to a super conference realignment.

That’s exactly what I said. But group of guys I was talking to countered that yes the current SEC TV deal pays out about $70m annually per school with the Big 12 TV getting $40-45m per school annually. But they said their megadonors (which is not just the Walton’s btw, includes the Tyson’s, Warren Stephen’s, etc) are prepared to cover it.

 

[jethreauxdawg]

This is the first time I’ve heard about the Waltons caring about sports.

 

[patdog]

I think the guys you’re talking to don’t know nearly as much as you think they do. Only way Arkansas is going to Big 12 is if they get kicked out of SEC. Looks like wild conference realignment speculation season is starting 10 days early this year. Official season doesn’t start till June 1.

 

[HailStout]

I think we are a more of a natural fit for the Big 10

Big 12 would be better. The main guy I was talking to, who is not even a big Hogs basketball fan, was all for this move. He was like “besides a little bit of extra TV money, what’s so great about being in the SEC? So you can go 7-5 but beat your chest about how you got skulldrug by Georgia, Bama, and Texas? How about joining the Big 12, where a smaller market team like us only has to get through TX Tech, BYU to get to the playoff”

Honestly, it makes sense. If we were in the Big 12 we would have a shot at going 10-2, 11-1 a lot of years.

I needed these “********” apparently

 

[Rsbrsb1010]

I think the guys you’re talking to don’t know nearly as much as you think they do. Only way Arkansas is going to Big 12 is if they get kicked out of SEC. Looks like wild conference realignment speculation season is starting 10 days early this year. Official season doesn’t start till June 1.

It’s just not guys I know. Take a look at their 247 board if you’re subscribed there’s been multiple threads over the past several weeks with one of the staff writers saying it is on the table.

 

[QuaoarsKing]

This really feels like a troll thread.

 

[Puppers]

Should I quit my job and become a drifter? I'd have a lot more time to travel and I love camping.

 

[was21]

I live in Arkansas and am friends with a lot of reasonably well connected alumni, not like megadonors but donors. Multiple people over the past several months have told me that the higher ups at Arkansas are considering moving to the Big 12. There’s also a lot of chatter on their board about it, and that Calipari wants it as well.

The Waltons and several megadonors for whatever reason love and are willing to pony up for men’s basketball but not football. Got Calipari, Bud Walton arena, huge NIL for roster etc.

People have sworn to me they are discussing moving to the Big 12. The logic is that they would be in the best basketball conference, and that it would give them a easier/better chance to be competitive in football. This sounded crazy to me at first, but when I hear this from 10+ people I start to believe it.

I have no idea whether this is going to happen or not. But it just got me thinking—if our higher ups said we think we should go to the Big 12, we’re going to beef up on basketball, and it gives a better chance to compete in football. Would you be ok with it? Doesn’t actually sound bad to me when you think about it.

Nope. Never leave money on the table.

 

[GloryDawg]

It would be the easiest rout to the Play off but hell no.

 

[Rsbrsb1010]

This really feels like a troll thread.

I’m not trolling in any way lol it’s not like I’m being negative towards MSU? I was just saying this would be a very surprising move and might make some teams including us think differently about conferences.

 

[Rsbrsb1010]

It would be the easiest rout to the Play off but hell no.

I don’t understand this mindset. Do you think Texas Tech last year really wished they had played Georgia, Texas, etc and gone 8-4 and missed the playoffs? Heck no

 

[She Mate Me]

I haven't heard anything about this. Got some links to the chatter on their boards??

So, is the answer "No, I don't have links to the chatter on their boards"???

I'd kinda like to see some evidence that this is a real thing outside of your mind.

 

[HailStout]

I live in Arkansas and am friends with a lot of reasonably well connected alumni, not like megadonors but donors. Multiple people over the past several months have told me that the higher ups at Arkansas are considering moving to the Big 12. There’s also a lot of chatter on their board about it, and that Calipari wants it as well.

The Waltons and several megadonors for whatever reason love and are willing to pony up for men’s basketball but not football. Got Calipari, Bud Walton arena, huge NIL for roster etc.

People have sworn to me they are discussing moving to the Big 12. The logic is that they would be in the best basketball conference, and that it would give them a easier/better chance to be competitive in football. This sounded crazy to me at first, but when I hear this from 10+ people I start to believe it.

I have no idea whether this is going to happen or not. But it just got me thinking—if our higher ups said we think we should go to the Big 12, we’re going to beef up on basketball, and it gives a better chance to compete in football. Would you be ok with it? Doesn’t actually sound bad to me when you think about it.

Does your uncle work for Nintendo too?

 

[Rsbrsb1010]

So, is the answer "No, I don't have links to the chatter on their boards"???

I'd kinda like to see some evidence that this is a real thing outside of your mind.

It’s against site rules to link anything from a competing site. If you’re subscribed to 247 go look at their board

 

[She Mate Me]

It’s against site rules to link anything from a competing site. If you’re subscribed to 247 go look at their board

I'm not and just color me skeptical that this is a real thing worthy of any discussion until further evidence is submitted.

 

[615dawg]

The Waltons care about NW Arkansas, and the University of Arkansas is part of that. They do not care about Arkansas sports.

That being said, NW Arkansas is the nicest area that encompasses an SEC university and its not even close. And that is largely because of the Waltons.

 

[PBRME]

Arkansas? Don’t care. Us? No.

 

[The Peeper]

He was like “besides a little bit of extra TV money, what’s so great about being in the SEC?

So $22.4 Million more in SEC payouts PER team is "a little bit of extra money" to him? He evidently wasn't a math major at AR and probably wears one of those red plastic pig hats while driving around town and thinks that's "great"

 

[patdog]

It’s just not guys I know. Take a look at their 247 board if you’re subscribed there’s been multiple threads over the past several weeks with one of the staff writers saying it is on the table.

Sounds like someone is trying to drum up page views for their website. Arkansas isn’t going to take a 50+% revenue hit & their donors aren’t going to magically decide to make that up if they move to big 12.

 

[40 acres and a mule]

MSU: No.

Arkansas: Every Arkansan I ever knew had an overinflated view of the University and the State of Arkansas. They are just tired of getting their asses whipped. They will stay in the SEC.

 

[SoJxnVol]

They can go chat with Tulane, Sewanee, and Georgia Tech to see how leaving the SEC works out

I’d “cry tears of joy” to see Tulane and GT come back home.

 

[Dawgbite]

I think we are a more of a natural fit for the Big 10

You misspelled Sunbelt!

 

[40 acres and a mule]

I’d “cry tears of joy” to see Tulane and GT come back home.

I would trade Arkansas for GT in a heartbeat.

 

[Rsbrsb1010]

So $22.4 Million more in SEC payouts PER team is "a little bit of extra money" to him? He evidently wasn't a math major at AR and probably wears one of those red plastic pig hats while driving around town and thinks that's "great"

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This is precisely why I was surprised there is even a mention of it. But I’m just saying they have people willing to step up and fund the difference. When you consider donors at schools all over the country are shelling out $30, $40m a year for football roosters annually, covering $20m in TV money doesn’t seem like a stretch.

As a fan I’d take us being in the big 12 with a literal chance to make the playoffs 3 out of every 5 years in a heartbeat.

 

[QuaoarsKing]

I’m not trolling in any way lol it’s not like I’m being negative towards MSU? I was just saying this would be a very surprising move and might make some teams including us think differently about conferences.

I think you hoped some people would take the bait and say we should join the Big 12.

 

[TheBannerM]

Yes. The Big12 is wide open in football every year and State would have a better chance at competing there.

BUT it will never happen. State's been living off that SEC welfare check for decades and it's impossible to give it up. Besides, travel would be a nightmare and the loss of SEC "prestige" would be tough for the University.

 

[Bulldog45]

I propose we form the GAC (Gulf of America Conference):

MSU
OM
TX
aTm
TCU
Houston
Baylor
TX Tech
SMU
LSU
Bama
Auburn
Florida
FSU
Miami
Central Florida or South Florida

 

[vhdawg]

Arkansas: Scared of Texas

 

[Seinfeld]

So $22.4 Million more in SEC payouts PER team is "a little bit of extra money" to him? He evidently wasn't a math major at AR and probably wears one of those red plastic pig hats while driving around town and thinks that's "great"

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To add to this, I am really questioning the Big 12 distribution amount of $50M per school

The SEC number of $72.4 passes the sniff test. $1B in annual media money + CFP payouts - conference overhead split 16 ways gets you right around $70-80M

The Big 12 number doesn’t make sense though. $380M in media money + smaller CFP payouts doesn’t get them anywhere near $50M/school, even without deducting other expenses.

 

[TimberBeast]

This really feels like a troll thread.

That's because it is, I can't believe this many people have responded to this. And now I'm one of them, great.