Rumor mill — Where Big 12 members may land
Tribune-Herald staff report
Baylor’s best options if the Big 12 were to dissolve may be Conference USA or the Mountain West Conference. Baylor’s small alumni base likely doesn’t offer enough access to big TV markets.
Colorado reportedly entertained an offer to join the Pac-10 in the mid-1990s but opted for the Big 12 instead. The Buffaloes don’t compete in many spring sports, which is a potential barrier.
Iowa State could find itself left out of major realignments and needing to join a mid-major conference, as could Baylor. But it may end up in a revamped Big Ten conference with rival Iowa.
Kansas has been left out of most major realignment scenarios with the Pac-10 and Big Ten, but it has one of the most successful basketball programs in the nation.
Kansas State, like Baylor and Iowa State, also has been left out of most scenarios. The Wildcats have enjoyed recent basketball success, as well as football success in the early Big 12.
Nebraska boasts one of the most successful and tradition-rich football programs in the country and is rumored to be in the Big Ten’s crosshairs. One hurdle may be Nebraska’s lack of a major television market to bring with it.
Oklahoma could offer the Pac-10 access to the Oklahoma City television market, which has grown to more than 1 million residents. The Sooners also offer a rich winning tradition in most major sports and a large alumni base.
Oklahoma State, like Oklahoma, offers a large base of alumni and access to the OKC market. The Cowboys have experienced most of their athletic success in basketball, baseball, golf and wrestling.
Missouri could be the first school to officially announce it is leaving the Big 12, as it reportedly is sitting on an offer from the Big Ten. The Tigers have the fewest Big 12 championships.
Texas A&M is one of the largest schools in America and offers the Pac-10 or SEC access to nearly every major TV market in Texas, including two of the biggest in the country — Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston.
Texas is one of the most visible athletic programs in the country and has drawn interest from every major conference. Texas is the key to all realignment scenarios, but the school’s interest in its own network is a major hurdle.
Texas Tech’s success in Big 12 football has helped position the school for an invite to the Pac-10 or, less likely, the Big Ten. Reports have suggested that Tech is viewed as a package deal with Texas to make the move more politically acceptable.
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THE NEW BIG 14 NORTH DIVISION OKLA, OKLA ST, KANSAS, KANSAS ST, IOWA ST, MIZZOU & NOTRE DAME SOUTH DIVISION TEX, TEX A&M, BAYLOR, TCU, TEX TECH, HOUSTON & ARKANSAS I know it's crazy - and prolly just wishful thinking - but ND has already said it doesn't want to go north and would love to be able to infilitrate the south for recruiting and TV exposure...and Arkansas and TCU would jump in a heartbeat...but alas - the key is talking ND into it....anotther option would be to give mizzou the boot and bring in either boise st or colo st. Just hoping against hope that my Baylor Bears are not left out in the cold having to beg for a spot in the Mntn. West ot "GULP" conf USA
This is just nuts! As a fan I will be really unhappy about no road trips and regional rivals.
t.u. is the black widow of conferences. They ruined the SWC and now they've killed the B12. I want A&M to do all they can to prevent them from getting their own nutless bovine t.v. network. My bags are packed for the SEC. As for Baylor, you're a bunch of pikers who were only included by shear luck. You didn't care for rivlaries when you bailed on the SWC (TCU, SMU, Rice, UH), so good luck with that.
Actually, the root of all evil is evil itself; the devil, if you will. Many people would tell you that "the love of money" is the root of all evil. That is probably right if that love transcends God and man. msp, UH should not have been chosen to enter the Big XII. I don't know how old you were in 1992, but UH had just come off probation and was really struggling at the time. They couldn't even half fill the Astrodome. That's why they moved to back to Robertson Stadium in the first place. Texas and Texas A&M have far more fans in Houston than UH. Heck, even Baylor may have more "committed" fans in Houston than UH.
The problem is that BU has too few eyes to watch in the major markets. And to those who cry that if only we had been winning in football .... doesn't matter. It's all about fan base. What's really wild is that Kansas (my bride's alma tamata) appears to be in not much better shape than my dear old BU. Cue Pink Floyd's "Money"
Really. I didn't think that Baylor should have even been inthe Big 12. They should have put in UH instead, with that big metro area, it would have created a little more interest for the BIG 12 in the Houston area. I keep reading scenarios with Baylor joining the Mountain West with K-State, Kansas and Iowa State, Boise State will probably join the MWC. Some people have Houston and maybe Fresno State in the MWC as well.
First the SWC....NOW the Big 12!? The old saying is true"money is the root of all EVIL".
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| Date | Opponent | Time/ Result |
Pics | TV? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 2 | TCU | W, 50-48 |  |
ESPN |
| Sept. 17 | SFA | W, 48-0 | |
|
| Sept. 24 | Rice (parents' weekend) | W, 56-31 | |
Fox SW |
| Oct. 1 | @ Kansas State |
L, 36-35 | |
ABC |
| Oct. 8 | Iowa State | W, 49-26 | |
Fox SW |
| Oct. 15 | @ Texas A&M | L, 55-28 | |
FX |
| Oct. 29 | @ Okla. State |
L, 59-24 | |
ABC |
| Nov. 5 | Missouri (homecoming) |
W, 42-39 | |
Fox SW |
| Nov. 12 | @ Kansas |
W, 31-30 (OT) | |
|
| Nov. 19 | Oklahoma | W, 45-38 | |
ABC |
| Nov. 26 | vs. Texas Tech (at Dallas) | W, 66-42 | |
Fox SW |
| Dec. 3 | Texas | W, 48-24 | |
ABC |
| Dec. 29 | Alamo Bowl vs. Washington (Alamodome, San Antonio) |
W, 67-56 | |
ESPN |
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