Big 12 will live on

Submitted by B on

The Big 12 will survive its exodus so that the remaining schools can keep their BCS birth and their rights to the name.  I see them raiding the Mountain West, not the Mountain West raiding its remains for these reasons.  Look for Utah, BYU, TCU, and Boise St. to make the move over, joining the Kansas schools, Iowa St., Baylor, and probably Mizzou.  Houston probably makes it in too.  The real question is whether a beefed up Big 10 will look to slim down the BCS autobids.  I always thought they should have kicked out the Big East, but the contracts make that move complicated. 

EverybodyMurders

June 10th, 2010 at 12:53 AM ^

If Missouri stays they will keep the Big 12 intact. But if Missouri leaves they don't have enough teams to ensure a BCS bid. So when all the invites are accepted, it boils down to if the B10 wants Missouri or not

BlueinLansing

June 10th, 2010 at 12:54 AM ^

If Nebraska joins, and the 6 other schools bolt for the Pac 10 that leaves  Iowa State, Missouri, Kansas, Kansas St and probably Baylor/Colorado.........who are they going to invite Tulsa?, SMU? Rice.   No dice.

 

In that scenario, Missouri will absolutely BEG the Big 10 for admission leaving KU, KSU and ISU on their own, Baylor would probably unwillingly be picked up by Conference USA.

 

 

I will be pretty surprised if the Big 12 can survive Nebraska leaving, even if they hang on as the Big 12 with only 11 for a couple years.

 

ijohnb

June 10th, 2010 at 7:43 AM ^

The Big Ten is going to have to change its name, correct?  I know that the name is more symbolic than anything.  But at some point any symbolic meaning will just look like foolishness if it is referring to a conference with sixteen teams(schools).  Ideas for the new name....... the HardAss 12, the Monster 16...

 In all seriousness, the MWAC? The Big 16?

Raoul

June 10th, 2010 at 7:52 AM ^

"Big Ten" is a well-known brand and will continue to be the name of the conference no matter the number of schools.

Similar to 7-11, which didn't change its name after changing its hours from the original 7:00 to 11:00.

ijohnb

June 10th, 2010 at 8:25 AM ^

Alright, I am sold, "Big Ten" will remain, it will just be up to the teams which ten are being referred to in any given year.

Phoenix

June 10th, 2010 at 8:42 AM ^

If we expand with schools in 2 new states only, we'd have 10 states in our geographical footprint. (Example: adding Nebraska, Missouri, and ND.) Then the 'ten' could refer to states, not schools.

Bonus: we midwestern states as an aggregate aren't exactly known for our physicque. A descriptive term as well!

madtadder

June 10th, 2010 at 9:02 AM ^

Someone in the know, I think it was Mary Sue Coleman, said that if expansion were to happen, the Big Ten name would remain. As previously stated, the brand is too valuable as it is, and it isn't even an accurate description of our current membership, so why mess with it.

uminks

June 10th, 2010 at 2:47 AM ^

Local word in KS, is that KU and KSU along with MO will be looking to form a new conference. ISU and Baylor will probably fit in with possibly adding TCU and a few other Mountain West schools.

Wow the fans down here are all depressed about the big 12 dissolving on them.  Another rumor has KU going to the ACC.

tenerson

June 10th, 2010 at 8:56 AM ^

the league staying together. The only hope is for Texas to find it is better for them to stay, which won't happen.

 

The MWC now has it's opportunity now to go get some decent schools and form a decent conference to get their BCS status. If they add KU, KSU, MO, ISU, CU/Baylor, they would get three currently great basketball prgrams, one pretty good football program, 4 good fan bases and and a pretty good academic insititution. This is their chance to make the move. If they don't, I will never again feel bad that they don't get in the championship when undefeated. Never. Make your move now or shut up and deal with being looked down up MWC.

oakapple

June 10th, 2010 at 9:22 AM ^

I don't see the Big XII surviving without Nebraska. Multiple sources have reported that Texas would not remain in the conference without Nebraska. The Longhorns don't care whether Iowa State or Kansas State is in a BCS-eligible league. They care about their own institution.

The Big Ten can't take away the Big East's BCS autobid. There are criteria defining who gets one, based on performance, and the Big East qualifies (barely). If the Big Ten wants the Big East out of the BCS, all it needs to do is poach one school. That'll leave the Big East with just seven football schools, and they'd lose their autobid, which requires a minimum of eight.