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

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Bulldog45

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Oct 2, 2018
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Seinfeld said:
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.
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Saw this in an article about their 2025 distribution, so $31.7 million x 16 would put the media deal over $500 million.

“That coincides with the Big 12’s new six-year media rights package with ESPN and FOX, which is expected to give schools $31.7 million annually until 2031.”
 
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The Peeper

The Peeper

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Feb 26, 2008
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TheBannerM said:
Besides, travel would be a nightmare and the loss of SEC "prestige" would be tough for the University.
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I was just looking at that when I read your comment.

- With 2 schools in Arizona, in Utah, and Kansas that would mean at least 1 trip to each of those states per year.
- A trip to Morgantown, WV, Orlando, Cincinnati, Boulder, Stillwater and Ames Iowa every other year.
- 4 schools in TX so probably 2 trips per year there.

Other than the TX schools driving or flying would not be fun.

Wonder what kind of extra "Bulldog Club donation" they would require to cover all of that extra travel every year?
 
horshack.sixpack

horshack.sixpack

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Rsbrsb1010 said:
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.
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I'd like to see some offense before committing to a conference that is all offense. For the record, I'd like to see some defense too, and better play calling at critical times in the game. Come to think of it, does the Big12 make an easier football path if you don't have any of those things?
 
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AROB44

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Mar 20, 2008
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Bulldog45 said:
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
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So....in a couple more years, it gets changed to the Gulf of Mexico Conference. Gulf of America is temporary and not recognized by most.
 
85Bears

85Bears

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Arkansas is a weird program. They have the money to compete in football if they really wanted to but Chad Morris/jerry jones booster fight broke them. They decided just to stop funding football other than a token amount to keep collecting a check. They actually have a lot of wealth but just decided apparently to compete in basketball, baseball.
 
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Anon1769786017

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Jan 30, 2026
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This discussion lacks validity.
First, the Waltons are not megadonors to the Foundation anymore. The only megadonor is John Tyson himself. I can guarantee with 100% certainty that Arkansas is not thinking about the Big 12. There may be factions of the fan base that wish they could.
 
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leeinator

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I'm fine wherever we end up. SEC, Big10, PAC10, Big12, Sunbelt, AAC, ACC......just doesn't matter to me. I will pull for MSU regardless and buy tickets regardless.
 
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Bulldawg77

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The Walton family dont give nor support ARK athletics. Neither do the jones family. Tyson really only supports basketball but Tyson Siri will have logos on court and fields. Ark isn’t as wealthy as most think.
 
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gtowndawg

gtowndawg

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I've discussed this very thing with several close friends (moving to the Big 12). After the initial "no" and you think logically about it, it's not a terrible idea and they start coming around to the idea. Football becomes easier and you have at least a shred of a chance of a big season every 5 years or so and a playoff birth. So for football it totally makes sense. Basketball we're middle of the pack and baseball leads the pack and you go to the World Series(conference won't matter).

This doesn't take into consideration conference revenue, something that would need to be negotiated if a move was made. Attendance would be the same in my opinion. The same 50,000 are going to show up if we are playing Arkansas or Kentucky or Oklahoma St or TCU (as an example). Yes, local SEC teams bring more people but do we really want that anyway?
 
greenbean.sixpack

greenbean.sixpack

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Ain't nobody voluntarily moving down.

Rainbow Thumbs Down GIF by Mind Pump Media
 
Negative Waves

Negative Waves

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No current SEC school is going to willingly leave the conference. The money is too much, and the final realignment is going to be the BIG and SEC similar to the NFC/AFC in the NFL. A few ACC teams (UNC/FSU/Miami) and maybe 1 or 2 BIG12 school will get poached and the breakaway will then occur.
 
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