If anyone can predict what is going to happen, then please tell me the next week's winning lottery numbers. As fellow SportsPageNetwork blogger Kody's Sports Corner writes, "Big 12 Insanity now could turn to College Football Madness", and that's exactly what this has become... madness. Take a minute to check out that article. I'm going to attempt, and I mean attempt some of the possibilities.
A week ago I thought it was lock that the Mountain West would invite Boise St. to join their conference. Monday the Mountain West announced they would not make any expansion moves at this time. It looks like they are going to take a wait and see approach to what happens in the Big 12. If Nebraska and Missouri bolt, then the Pac 10 will attempt to snap up Texas, Oklahoma and maybe Oklahoma St. Then the Mountain West could pick over the left overs, that being Kansas, Kansas St, Iowa St. and Baylor.
Matt Hayes of the Sporting News has put together what I think is the most reasonable scenario I've seen yet. You can check out his article at "A word of caution for conferences wishing to expand".
I agree with Hayes, Nebraska may hold the key to whole thing. The Big 12 can afford to lose Missouri, but not Nebraska. If Nebraska chooses to stay and the Tigers it is no big deal. The Big 12 just picks up TCU or someone similar. Lose both and that sets in motion what I said above with Pac 10.
How does that affect the rest of the county if the Pac 10 becomes the Pac 16? I think you can say goodbye to the Big 12. The SEC is not going anywhere, and if they move to 16 teams, they are going probably after Florida State, Miami, Clemson and Georgia Tech. Florida State and Miami are name brands. Clemson has a great fan base, and Georgia Tech brings the rest of the state of Georgia. I don't think it's a given though these teams all head for the SEC though.
The ACC is viable conference that just signed a strong TV contract. It's not as good as the SEC's, but it is pretty good. Those teams may decide on an individual basis what's best for them. That includes other sports and academics.
I disagree with Hayes the Big East will not die. It has become one of the best basketball conferences in the country. Conference USA for example has teams that would be eager to join the Big East. Then there's Notre Dame that is already part of the Big East in other sports. If they joined the Big East, that conference gains instant credibility. I don't see Notre Dame joining anyone, but hey I think anything is possible now.
I hate to see college sports going to this way. I'd like think there will be minimal changes. Like Ed Goren, president of Fox is quoted in Hayes's article as saying "We know what we have now in college football, "It's successful, it's more than sustaining, fans can't get enough of it. If we change, there's no guarantee of anything."
That is so true.
