Two Reasons to Consider BIG12 Expansion… Really

Two Reasons to Consider BIG12 Expansion Really It’s been a good while since we have touched base as fans and in that time there’s been a lot happening with Football, BYU Football and the world of sports. So, without further delay let’s start to talk about the following: What’s the deal with Big12 Expansion? Why […]

The post Two Reasons to Consider BIG12 Expansion… Really appeared first on TornBySports.

Two Reasons to Consider BIG12 Expansion Really

It’s been a good while since we have touched base as fans and in that time there’s been a lot happening with Football, BYU Football and the world of sports. So, without further delay let’s start to talk about the following:

What’s the deal with Big12 Expansion?
Why does the Big 12 Expanding to the Big 16 make sense?
What the hell were the Utah Jazz thinking?

What’s the deal with Big12 Expansion?

We have been here before, right? This isn’t deja vu. We didn’t see the black cat in the stairwell as a result of new code pushed and thusly we would see the ripple in the Matrix? It seems like we have been here before. So, can I tell you that the hammer will fall this time? Can I tell you that BYU will finally be invited to go dancing with the big boys of College Football?

Let’s face it fans, as it stands in the BIG12’s current format, they have a pretty good television contract. In 2015 the 10 member league split more than $250 million from TV, giving each school a nice deposit in the bank account. That number is anticipated to rise through the end of the agreement in 2025.  Why do I mention this? The sheer issue of expanding boils down to money, survival or both.

So, if your only reason to expand is financial, then this deal doesn’t happen. Simple economics state that without a new agreement the same 10 members would be sharing $250 million 12 ways instead of just 10.

If your reasoning for expansion is not self-destruct, or yet get poached and finally die of extinction? Well, you will fight like hell to preserve the good thing that you have got.

Several reports have indicated that the BIG12’s TV partners would be willing to re-negotiate their current deals in the event of expansion “IF”  there were the right partners. So, what schools or combination of schools make the right mix, and if the BIG12 is going to expand, would it start an avalanche of other conferences to re-think their conferences members and realign?

Why does the BIG16 make a lot of sense?
Courtesy of ESPN

Well, my first response is – why the heck not? If the BIG12 is trying to stave off extinction and avoiding having its best member schools poached by a potential PAC16, BIG14 or a Super SEC conference, then it may have to pad its membership ranks to weather the storm of attrition.

It wasn’t too long ago that the BIG12 used to be a 14-team league. So, if you are a non-BYU fan reading this post acting all surprised, then don’t be. You should remember that Utah and Colorado were the then PAC10’s second choice to Oklahoma and Texas. Chris Hill sold what ever soul he had left, bargained with the revenue sharing and he and the University of Utah are in the PAC12 and reaping the benefits of membership.  So fans, we are about to talk about the idea of adding a couple of new schools to the BIG12. The BIG12 must try to get back in line with the other members of the Power 5, so let’s all just drop the act of being surprised and showing dismay that BYU can’t get in.

I also don’t think that the other Power 5 conferences will just sit still and let the BIG12 swoop up other potential members without having a serious conversation, if they should be locking up these G5 member schools to prevent a talent vacuum. The trick here is to strike while the iron is hot for both the TV contracts, conferences and schools who are building programs that might be the next Utah or TCU.

I saw an article at ESPN this last week that made a lot of sense. Let me share what the author outlined conference by conference and I will give you a brief breakdown after each conference.

BIG16 (Formally the BIG12)

NORTHSOUTH

Air ForceBaylor

BYUTexas

Iowa StateTCU

KansasSMU

Kansas StateTulane

OklahomaNew Mexico

Oklahoma StateHouston

Texas TechRice

While the author suggests that the BIG12 North would add BYU and Air Force for the Rocky Mountain television market. I have read that the true prize that the BIG12 is seeking is BYU & Boise State.  Either way this is good for BYU Fans.

SEC

EASTWEST

AuburnAlabama

Charlotte (ECU or UCF)Arkansas

FloridaLSU

GeorgiaMemphis

KentuckyMississippi State

South CarolinaMissouri

TennesseeOle Miss

VanderbiltTexas A&M

In this new SEC conference, the Author suggests that Auburn and Missouri switch spots. New members Charlotte (ECU) or it could easily be UCF be placed in the East and Memphis and the FedEx corporate backing be added to the West division.

ACC

SouthernNorthern

ClemsonBoston College

DukeConnecticut

Florida StateLouisville

Georgia TechPitt

MiamiSyracuse

North CarolinaVirginia

NC StateVirginia Tech

Wake ForestWest Virginia (Navy?)

WVU and Connecticut are suggested to fill the map.  However, most notable is Notre Dame is missing.

Big Ten

EastWest

CincinnatiIllinois

IndianaIowa

MarylandMinnesota

MichiganNebraska

Michigan StateNorthwestern

Ohio StateNotre Dame

Penn StatePurdue

RutgersWisconsin

This to me is the most practical fit that works. Notre Dame in the BIG Ten just feels right and with Cincinnati being added to lock up Ohio.

The new PAC-16

NorthSouth

Boise StateArizona

CalArizona State

OregonColorado

Oregon StatteColorado State (Air Force)

StandfordHawaii

UtahUCLA

WashingtonUNLV (Nevada)

Washington StateUSC

Now I know BYU fans, the first thing you will say is Hawaii and UNLV are not research institutions. This, as the author states, is a Happy Happy Joy Joy version of re-alignment.

All in all, I think that this list, with a few minor tweaks, makes a whole lot of sense geographically.

Utah Jazz T-Shirts??
Photo Courtesy of the Utah Jazz

Sports fans… I normally love what the Utah Jazz front office does. This time is not one of them. T-Shirt Jerseys have been creeping their ugly heads into the NBA these last few years. I had hoped that my beloved Utah Jazz would stay clear of this horrendous mistake. Nope, not this time. The good news, it isn’t permanent or a primary jersey.  It’s called their “Pride” jersey.

I don’t totally hate all the jersey’s. In fact, I really like 3 of the 4.  I think the Utah Jazz front office might have jinxed themselves with this NBA lottery draft by messing up a good thing introducing this “Pride” Jersey.  However, that is just this fan’s opinion.

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