Conference Expansion Talk - This Time From Oklahoma

Submitted by maizeonblueaction on

Hey, I know it's kind of a slow news day, what without any commits in at least 48 hours (!!!), so I figured I'd bring up this potentially dead horse. Apparently, a few days ago, the OU president brought up the idea of the Big 12 actually trying to get back to 12, because the pro rata revenue is set to stay constant no matter how many schools are in the conference (thus, anyone new doesn't need to bring in $20 million+ in value immediately). Many felt that the lack of a championship game prevented Baylor and TCU from making the playoffs this past year, which could really hold the conference back in the future.

However, as many of us are aware, the available options for an expansion are pretty bad, as detailed in this ESPN article (http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/111803/oklahoma-president-d…), and they even cite trying to get Nebraska back as an (admittedly unlikely) option. A guy who often has a pretty interesting (if fringe-y) take on expansion says this may point as much to Oklahoma potentially being willing to leave the conference if they feel it's still too Texas-centric, with the Longhorn Network, etc., and thus holding them back (http://frankthetank.me/2015/06/25/bad-blood-within-the-big-12-oklahoma-…). As another random thing, apparently there was talk back in March of Arizona State joining the Big Ten for hockey alone (there was mutual interest: http://www.cornnation.com/2015/3/28/8298423/big-ten-hockey-expansion-co…), and of course, Hopkins is the example of the new world of affiliate membership for one sport.

So, I guess my broad question is, do you think the Big 12 will expand, and if so, who do they go for, do you think Oklahoma gets poached before that happens, and what is the Big Ten's move going forward? Get more academically strong affiliate members that pair well with its existing strengths (a fringe-y idea is MIT for rowing, etc.)?

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

June 28th, 2015 at 5:18 PM ^

Still don't want Oklahoma and Texas.  This is not a game of collect 'em all.  You don't win for having the coolest schools in your conference.  Texas acts like hegemonic assholes.  I don't know why any conference would want to invite the school that destroyed the Big 12 as well as the Pac-16 before it even left the ground.  They'll come in acting like their shit don't stink and nobody will want to live with them.

Nothing against Oklahoma per se, I suppose, but you're not a Big Ten school if you're closer to saltwater than to a Great Lake.

I agree with the first one-third of your post.  The rest, no.

Everyone Murders

June 28th, 2015 at 5:42 PM ^

I want Texas, especially if we could ditch Rutgers. I think the school is good academically and the athletic tradition is great. They even have top 5 uniforms and helmets for football. And a road trip to Austin? Sounds good to me.

I wouldn't touch Oklahoma, though. Academically they are ... ungood. And moreover, they're slimy athletically.

DrMantisToboggan

June 29th, 2015 at 9:51 AM ^

Yup. There are literally no downsides to adding Texas. They can bully the Big12 around because they dwarf everyone in the conference (even OU, once you get outside of football UT has more money, better academics, everything) and so the conference is at their disposal. Once they get into a conference with Michigan and Ohio State they are no longer the only giant. They would no longer be the top academic school, they'd had have 3 other revenue giants on their heels. They would have to play ball with everyone, it would be a stellar addition.

AwlinBrutus

June 28th, 2015 at 6:11 PM ^

was surpriesed PITT never got an invitation to join the BIG. geographically it makes sense as does Notre Dame. If it was up to me I would add PITT and Notre Dame. Looking at it economically Nort Carolina and Georgia Tech would be a good fit i think as well as more plausible than ND. who else would be a good fit.

TrueBlueMichiganMan

June 28th, 2015 at 8:46 PM ^

Honest question: did the addition get the Big Ten Network added to NYC cable packages?  That was basically the entire reason for their addition, which is extremely sad in my opinion, and I'm not sure if it ever did or will come to fruition.  Plus, with the seemingly impending move to a la carte television, I think it was an extremely stupid move.  Rutgers adds NOTHING.  Not academics, not athletics, not research, not a good place to travel to.  I can't think of a single good thing to say about that "school".

TrueBlueMichiganMan

June 28th, 2015 at 9:17 PM ^

Thank you.  And I was sad to see his passing.  Even in one of the worst movies I've ever seen, "The Drop", he was a bright spot.  Awesome actor.

But please, I hope we never let Rutgers forget how unwanted they are in this conference.  No need to be overly cordial for hangers-on.

They are like the really crappy kid in your elementary school class who your Dad made you invite to your birthday party with the coolest kids in school, making you look worse, just because that crappy kid MIGHT give you a really expensive birthday present.  

Then he shows up and just brings a card... without any money inside.  And eats all the cake.  Then throws up on himself and goes to eat glue in the corner.  

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

June 29th, 2015 at 4:32 PM ^

True.  I actually Google Earthed that a bit ago and they're closer to Baltimore harbor than to Lake Erie by about twelve or fifteen miles.  I'm willing to give them a waiver basically for being on the western side of the mountains.  But, I also wouldn't bat an eye if we traded them to the ACC for someone more midwestern.  Maybe Pitt.  Then everyone who gives a shit about markets can still have their markets.

bjk

June 28th, 2015 at 7:49 PM ^

the idea of reducing Texas to a vassal state within the B1G, perhaps with a probationary period where they split Longhorn Network revenue with the other 13 teams of the B1G before they get entitled to a split of B1G Network revenue.

Rutgers to the Big-whatever-it-is at the moment as a trade-off.

I think Oklahoma academics will leave it in the cold for the time being. Did Nebraska ever get re-admitted to the AAU?

TrueBlueMichiganMan

June 28th, 2015 at 9:28 PM ^

Is Oklahoma really much worse of a school than Rutgers?  Everyone I know from New Jersey, who has the means, and whose child has the intelligence, has flat out REFUSED to send their child to Rutgers.  Perhaps it is the combination of subpar academics, a crappy campus, and a compltely unremarkable name... but they would rather send them anywhere other than Rutgers.

bjk

June 28th, 2015 at 10:15 PM ^

to The Global Research University Profiles(GRUP) project conducted by the Center for World-Class Universities (CWCU) of Shanghai Jiao Tong University since 2011, Rutgers is 39th in the US, 2 ahead of Ohio State U (61st globally), and Oklahoma is tied for 109-31 (301-400).

I had to go through 2 pages of Google to get to a ranking that wasn't done by US News and World Report.

Blue Durham

June 29th, 2015 at 8:40 AM ^

Vanderbilt (35) and Florida (43) are both ahead of Georgia (53-67) in those rankings.

Penn State (37), Purdue (38), Rutgers (39), and Ohio State (41) are all ranked lower than Vanderbilt and Indiana (47), Michigan State (50), Iowa (53-67), and Nebraska (86-108) ranked below both Vandy and Florida.

So the FIRST SEC school (Vanderbilt) is ranked ahead of half (7 of 14) of the Big Ten.

rainingmaize

June 29th, 2015 at 11:15 AM ^

Oklahoma Rankings:

Forbes: 202

US News & World: 106

Washington Monthly: 148

ARWU Global: 301-400



For comparison, Here is Nebraska:

Forbes: 280

US News & World: 99

Washington Monthly: 165

ARWU Global: 201-300

 

So in summary, Oklahoma is no Michigan, and a debatable academic addition, however they are very comparable to Nebraska academically. If they are behind Nebraska, they aren't behind by much. 



Also as a side note, I think any University that falls in between 50 and 150 is pretty much the same in academic quality. For example, Michigan State falls at 85 in US News and Report. Great school, but I you can't convince me the 50 or so schools behind them are that much worse.

bjk

June 29th, 2015 at 4:24 AM ^

-uh-MAHN-ik."

I've seen this word a lot used to discuss Bretton Woods and the international US dollar standard, but not yet CFB conference expansion.

House that Rockne Built's "Stuffing the Passer" series made a conceptual link between CFB conference expansion and European imperialism in a 2011 episode entitled "The Berlin Conference," yet still managed to avoid using the word "hegemony," as far as I recall.

bluebyyou

June 28th, 2015 at 5:28 PM ^

Maryland has very good academics, basketball, lacrosse, etc., and a good football program is not beyond the realm of possibility. MD finished 4-4 in the B1G, way better than many long term B1G teams.  Rutgers...ugh.

Other than football, and they were 8-5 this past year, what does Oklahoma bring to the table.