BYU notifies Big 12...

[11thEagleFan]

that it wants to join. Open to football-only or full-sports membership. Honestly, they're the most attractive mid-major available by far. I see the last spot going to Cincinnati, or Houston, who Texas wants. I can't see a scenario where Memphis gets in.

 

[dawgatUSM]

Memphis reporters seem confident. I will say that the Fed Ex pull could be strong. But outside of that they have no shot.

 

[57stratdawg]

I think they're in too, but no one ESPN picked them on CFBDaily this week.

BYU
Memphis
Cincy
Houston

BYU will be a pain in the *** to schedule in all sports. Also, I think Houston is a very attractive school. TCU 2.0, IMO. The Houston TV market isn't a slam dunk for Big12 now. I don't recall specifics, but I believe like 6 of the top 10 rated games from the Houston market were SEC games last year.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

Here's the latest rankings from ESPN before the BYU story broke.

http://espn.go.com/blog/big12/post/_/id/113563/big-12-expansion-extravaganza-edition

Trotter: As of today, with the key word being "today," this is how I rank the expansion candidates, based solely on how I believe the Big 12 collectively views them: 1. Houston, 2. BYU, 3. Cincinnati, 4. UConn, 5. Central Florida, 6. Memphis, 7. Colorado State, 8. Tulane, 9. Boise State, 10. South Florida. Given the ACC extension of its grant of rights through 2036, the only Power 5 possibility out there would be from the Pac-12, with UCLA, Arizona and Arizona State topping the wish list. Getting one of those would be a home run for the Big 12, but obviously there would be major obstacles in the way, including the Pac-12's grant of rights, plus, not to mention, who knows if anyone from the Pac-12 would even be remotely interested?

 

[hatfieldms]

I still think Memphis gets in

..,.

 

[DancingRabbit]

Houston, Cincy in - BYU, UConn, Memphis fighting over last 2 spots.

That's how I see it right now. It's a fluid situation.

Before recent developments I thought Houston would be black-balled but that apparently isn't the case.

In the current environment it's a bit of a sticky wicket that BYU girls are coming out that say they can't report rape to BYU because if they admit they were drinking when they got raped, they get kicked out of school. Honor code. They do have the biggest football fanbase of the candidates.

UConn has no football. ESPN might lobby for them though.

How big a 12 pounder Fred Smith lays on the desk could put Memphis over the edge. Assuming they take 4 teams. I think their attendance the last few years is 2nd amongst bidders.

 

[tatedog]

They keep talking about the expansion being 2 or 4 teams. I don't see any reason for the Big 12 to add more than 2 and see how that works out, then adding two more later on. There is absolutely no chance that anybody on that list is going to not be available down the road if they wish to add them. The two "safe" choices look like Cincinnati and BYU. It's interesting how BYU "notified" the Big 12 of their wishes in contrast to how Memphis basically slid a blank check under the door.

eta: I guess there is a scenario I could see the ACC adding UConn if they need a warm body, but the others I feel pretty confident are wall flowers.

 

[wpmusm]

I will die if Memphis joins the Big 12.

 

[11thEagleFan]

I think you're safe unless they add 4, and even then, you may be safe. You should be happy if the expansion is just BYU and Cincy/Houston. Pretty much all reports have claimed that if the American loses 1 team, USM is the favorite to be added. So we'd go from a garbage conference to a not-as-garbage conference.

 

[MaroonNation]

Hell I think USM would be a better school for the Big12 than Memphis. Am I missing what Memphis State brings? Beal Street? The Peabody? I don't get it. This would be the infusion of money and excitement that USM needs. Plus it gives the B12 a foothold in the South Louisiana market where half the USM kids are from.

 

[notoriousD_O_G]

Can you imagine traveling from Lubbock to UConn every year in non revenue sports? W VA is bad enough.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

UT just bought a bunch of land in Houston with the intention of building a Houston campus. That pissed off the U of Houston but they came out yesterday and said they were willing to drop their opposition to campus if they were invited to the Big 12. The governor and Lt governor have both said that UH should be invited to the Big 12.

 

[JungRebel]

USM adds nothing except traditionally strong football and baseball programs. That's not what realignment is about. USM is a regional draw at best. In some years it's not even a local draw.

 

[jethreauxdawg]

Because they get $20-25 million

They keep talking about the expansion being 2 or 4 teams. I don't see any reason for the Big 12 to add more than 2 and see how that works out, then adding two more later on.

additional tv revenue per school they add, according to the existing tv contract, and they are not required to give any of that to the new schools.

 

[WayboDawg]

USM adds nothing except traditionally strong football and baseball programs. That's not what realignment is about. USM is a regional draw at best. In some years it's not even a local draw.

In their defense, just imagine all that USM could do in the 3 big sports if they had Big 12 money and exposure at their disposal. Now imagine the excitement around Hattiesburg with the freakin Texas Longhorns or Oklahoma Sooners guaranteed to come to town every other year. USM athletics would be a whole different ballgame at that point.

 

[hatfieldms]

What exactly does USM bring to the table?

Memphis is a larger market and is also bringing fed ex money. Fed ex is why Memphis will end up in the Big 12

 

[MaroonNation]

USM adds nothing except traditionally strong football and baseball programs. That's not what realignment is about. USM is a regional draw at best. In some years it's not even a local draw.

Nobody 17ing asked you cheater. What the 17 does Memphis bring other than beating your *** and cheating in basketball? Maybe thats why you like them so much...

Why don't you tell us what realignment is all about. Nobody thinks of Memphis as ANYTHING other than an automatic W on the schedule. It's not even the most popular team in their own city.

Willie Gay say he having the time of his life in Starkville this weekend.

 

[ShrubDog]

BYU is considered a power 5 already by the SEC. They are our power 5 out of conference game this year.

 

[JungRebel]

Pure hatred, that was awesome for 830 in the morning. If you don't know ******* well that realignment is all about the money then you don't know ****.

 

[JungRebel]

You could say the same thing about LA Tech or UL Lafayette. Or UCF or Arkansas State, etc. Of course USM would be better, but that wouldn't translate into making the Big XII any better or more alluring for TV contracts.

 

[WayboDawg]

Memphis is a larger market and is also bringing fed ex money. Fed ex is why Memphis will end up in the Big 12

The only benefit that I can think of is that USM extends the Big 12's recruiting footprint further into the the deep south and Florida panhandle regions without adding a competitive threat to the conference. Memphis and USF look more threatening to Texas than USM does.

 

[ShrubDog]

Its 9am and GD is excessive even for the morning shift.

 

[JungRebel]

This is actually my midnight shift. I've been awake for 14 hours. Of course it's hard to defend Ole Miss when they have nothing to do with this topic.

 

[QuaoarsKing]

According to Clay Travis, the Big 12 will get $25 million more in TV money every year for every extra team the conference brings in. It doesn't matter who those teams are. Expand from 10 to 14, and that an extra $100,000,000 for the conference.

The Big 12 doesn't have a rule like the SEC where TV money is split evenly between all the teams -- that's a big reason why Nebraska, Colorado, Texas A&M, and Missouri left it a few years ago.

According to Travis, the Big 12 will essentially do a "reverse auction" in which the 2 or 4 teams that are willing to surrender the higher % of their TV share to the rest of the conference are the teams that will be selected.

 

[TBone.sixpack]

:snicker

 

[MaroonNation]

You still haven't told me what Memphis brings that USM couldn't cheater.

 

[11thEagleFan]

In that case, let's make it the Big 32! I'd love to look at that contract, it sounds like ESPN made a blunder.

In all seriousness, I'm not gonna argue that USM deserves to be in the Big 12, because we don't. But neither does Memphis. They lost their 1st round draft pick QB, their head coach, and there's no home game against Ole Miss this year, so their attendance should drop back down to USM levels. Also, the FedEx money thing rings a bit hollow. You think the Big 12 will have trouble finding a sponsor? But at least FedEx sponsors the American championship game. Oh wait, they don't.

 

[wpmusm]

Unfortunately, you're right.

We're a pretty strong mid major football program. That's kinda all we got.

We don't have elite academics (Tulane, Tulsa, SMU), huge market (Houston, UCF), or good hoops and massive corporate backing (Memphis).

That being said, we stand a decent shot at AAC inclusion if they lose a team or 2.

 

[engie]

Memphis is a larger market and is also bringing fed ex money. Fed ex is why Memphis will end up in the Big 12

Fred Smith has been saying as much to everyone that will listen for a long time now.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

Memphis' season ticket sales are already up over 20 percent from last season.

 

[patdog]

In that case, let's make it the Big 32! I'd love to look at that contract, it sounds like ESPN made a blunder.

This is why Clay Travis is wrong. The contract may say that, but you can be sure there's an out clause and/or it will be renegotiated downwards if/when the Big 12 starts adding teams.

 

[The Maroon Pug]

USM and UAB will get serious looks from the AAC if Houston/Cincy go to the Big12.

 

[boatsandhoes]

Houston, who Texas wants.

germans. DCD already said it.

Usually Texas gets what Texas wants. Too much money and influence.

 

[tatedog]

additional tv revenue per school they add, according to the existing tv contract, and they are not required to give any of that to the new schools.

Understood, but if that is the rationale, why not add 6 or 8 schools?