Big 12, Pac 10 Expansion. Is This Wild Ride Almost Over?
by Jon Woods on Jun 9, 2010 5:21 PM MDT
in Buffaloes Football Season
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PrintAfter a brief lull, stories about the impending end of the Big 12 conference are coming at a torrid pace now. So much so that I am afraid to go workout for fear that I'll come back and I will no longer be able to find the conference we have called home for the last 12 years. As I wrote on Twitter, it's been really hard for me to accept that the Buffaloes may actually be moving to a new home. Not because I don't want them to, but mostly because we now live in a day in age where exaggerations and rumors are proven incorrect almost daily. But it starting to look more and more like the entire landscape of college football as we know it is changing, and it's changing this week. Let's take a quick look at the most recently developing stories.
This was around 5 MT:
Sources say Colorado's mtg Tuesday night was about Pac-10 and Buffaloes will "opt out" of the Big 12.
Chip Brown
ChipBrownOB
As was this:
Six schools being invited by Pac-10 - TX, A&M, Tech, OU, Ok State and Colo - expected to accept invitations, begin play in Pac-16 in 2012.Chip Brown
ChipBrownOB
Next, we finally hear from a source not pseudo-affiliated with the University of Texas:
A source close to the Nebraska program told ESPN's Chris Mortensen that athletic director Tom Osborne informed athletic staff members within the past 24 hours that the Cornhuskers were going to make the move to the Big Ten conference.
Sounds like it's adding up to a lot more coastline in our future doesn't it (or at least a lot more desert...)
UPDATE 6:47 PM - The LA Times is now citing a Pac-10 source that says that the deal is "lock and loaded" and that CU would still be the number one choice if the Big 12 South schools were to turn down the offer:
With Nebraska reportedly headed to the Big Ten Conference, the Pac-10 is poised to extend offers to six current Big 12 Conference members, ramping up its numbers to 16.
Pac-10 Conference officials declined to talk about the deal on the record because of the sensitive nature of negotiations, but one with knowledge of the plan said, "It's locked and loaded.
Even if Texas and others decide to stay in the Big 12, the Pac-10 would still make a move to expand by two schools, sources said, with Colorado being the No. 1 target.
UPDATE 9:04 PM - We just got another confirmation that Colorado's invite has already been received. While we may not be sure of exactly what the Buffaloes new conference may look like, it's almost a near certainty that they will be joining the members of the Pacific 10 conference in either 2011 or 2012:
Colorado already has received an invitation to join the conference, while five other invitations will be extended to Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech, according to a source familiar with the negotiations.
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I guess this spells the end
of the CU-NU rivalry. Yeah, we could play every year, but would it really matter if we’re in seperate conferences?
Most likely
But I would like to see it continue. I’d be all for playing it every year OOC
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if Nebraska were to pick…a Non-conference game every year…would it be CU…or OU?
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based on the NU history
they would rather play temple or some other BS school
by Hawkinshero on Jun 10, 2010 12:40 AM MDT up reply actions
I suspect they'll try and keep the CSU rivalry not Nebraska
just a hunch. i wonder if this new conference will adopt the “pod” system. I don’t see it happening that way. more than likely it’ll be two divisions in which case we got our work cut out for us.
I am thinking they would consider some kind of "Pod" system..
.. instead of the PAC-8 and Big8(AZ inclusive) round robin
(1) It would give everyone yearly access to CA, Pacific/NW, Texas and AZ/Colorado area
(2) It would not look like, the Arizonas were thrown off to the Southwest Division only to be seen every 4-8 years
Bout damn time this thing ends.
It’s been so confusing and all the posturing going on is just silly. Also, I’m gonna lol if the Big Ten snubs Missouri again. Screw them.
A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day.
It will be good to get this over with....
And ge back to some good ol’ Hawkins bashing!!
Seriously, I just want to have CU have the occasion to play some games down here in TX so I can go see some.
i want it over as well
But, I just want to make sure that we have a seat at the table – don’t want to end up like KU, KSU, ISU, BAY or Mizzou. Still feels strange
by CleBUFFS on Jun 9, 2010 6:24 PM MDT via mobile reply actions
Is there any chance the BIG 12 trys to make a go without CU and Nebraska?
pick up TCU and BYU? I would much rather see the destruction of the Mountain West instead of the BIG 12 if it means we go with Utah to make PAC 12
I bet...
…we still play CSU and Nebraska, since we get 4 non-conference games. Perhaps not every year, but very often. Remember, we signed a 10 year deal last season? http://blog.taragana.com/sports/2009/08/31/cu-csu-rivalry-extended-for-a-decade-will-return-to-denver-starting-in-2010-24554/
It will be interesting to see if 9 conference games or 8 conference games happens, as the Pac-10 currently plays a 9 game round robin.
9 games would be perfect for a Pac-10, that way you play your division, plus a home and away game against non-division teams.
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
I kind of like...
the pod system that was being thrown around. Play all 3 teams in your pod every year (for CU it’s likely ASU, Arizona and one other, maybe Oregon) and two teams from each of the other 3 pods every year. That permits solid rivalries to be built up within your pod, but also flexibility to play all of the teams on a regular basis.
My only question is with 4 pods how do you choose which 2 teams go to the championship game?
My guess would be
Pod 1 Pod 2 Pod 3 Pod 4
UCLA Washington Texas OK ST.
USC Wash. State A&M Colorado
Stanford Oregon OK ASU
Cal Oregon State Tech Arizona
Now, this preserves every rivalry except one, OK-OK state, but they could make it so they still play every year i’m sure. The pods are more of a scheduling tool than a division concept. Using the above pods, pods 1 and 2 would be the pacific division, 3 and 4 would be the other division. Winners go to the conference championship.
by spencer peaty on Jun 9, 2010 8:15 PM MDT up reply actions
Wow, that formating got screwed up, should be:
Pod 1: USC, UCLA, Stan, Cal
Pod 2: UW, WSU, Oregon, Oregon st.
Pod 3: Texas, A&M, OK, Tech
Pod 4: Ok. st., Colorado, ASU, AZ
by spencer peaty on Jun 9, 2010 8:17 PM MDT up reply actions
No way that
Texas and Oklahoma don’t play each other every year. They have to be in the same pod. TX and OK would both reject the offer without that guarantee. The red river rivalry is as important as the conference championship or a bowl win to those two teams .
I don't know
I agree that you should switch OSU with Tech. Still, it looks to me that Pods 1 & 3 seem pretty loaded – and if OSU is in Pod 3…ouch
by CleBUFFS on Jun 9, 2010 8:57 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
Oh crap – I just realized we’re gonna have two OSU’s!
CGB: Wasting Your Potential, Your Time, & Your Life Since 2006.
Even worse:
Oregon State school colors: orange and black
Oklahoma State school colors: orange and black
Oh geez.
CGB: Wasting Your Potential, Your Time, & Your Life Since 2006.
Don't worry about it
Up here in Duck Country we refer to the Beavs as OSCC: Oregon State Community College
The author of "How to be a hero then a goat in less than one JD"
Who's email address is @osu.edu?
Whoever has the email address has the legit claim.
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haha, ours are leftovers.
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I guess that would be like going back to the old Pac 8, plus two games a season
Makes sense to me, over the pods. There’s no way to make the pods work without splitting somebody up who won’t like it. It’s that darn Texas threesome!
DAG
by DavidAGerhardt on Jun 9, 2010 8:19 PM MDT up reply actions
Yeah, the ‘pods’ idea is interesting, but I think the round robin works better. As a Cal fan, I’ve been a big proponent of the round-robin, and I feel it still works here.
I mean, right now in the Pac-10, we play 12-games a season, with the 9-game round robin and 3 OOC games.
With the new divisions, we could do:
7 games for the round-robin
3 out-of-conference games
2 inter-division games
We still get the round-robin going (which the Pac-8 division would love), we still get to challenge ourselves with OOC games, and we still get to go up against two of our new division-mates. CU could keep CSU as one of its OOC games, and ever so often you could schedule Nebraska as well.
And like the ESPN article says, the round-robin would be absolutely perfect if the Pac-16 is awarded two automatic BCS bids. We wouldn’t need a conference championship – a division championship would be enough, especially if it leads to a BCS berth.
I really wasn’t a fan of this idea at first – but sadly, it seems necessary for the financial and national relevance of all involved, and the round-robin scenario really lets us hang on to our traditions.
The academic reputation of the Pac-10 basically gets tossed out the window with schools like Oklahoma State and Texas Tech – but on the other hand, adding schools like Colorado and Texas maintains some of the academic luster…
CGB: Wasting Your Potential, Your Time, & Your Life Since 2006.
I know you're fond of the Round Robin
And frankly, so am I. But I was under the impression that one of the biggest reasons for expansion was to add a conference championship game.
Same for the Big 10. They’re already making tons of money on their network, but they wanted a Championship game, which is why they’re only adding 1, 3 or 5 teams.
Thoughts?
DAG
by DavidAGerhardt on Jun 10, 2010 9:23 AM MDT up reply actions
I don't know about you guys....
But I view this as Nebraska trying to get away from us. They’re running scared…. ;)
Bleacher Report says
Rutgers, maryland, Cuse and ND to Big Ten as well.
I just can’t see it. I mean Rutgers?
is mizzou still in the mix for the big 10?
man, I’d hate to be a ku, ksu, or isu fan this week!
by The Notorious R.O.B. on Jun 9, 2010 7:30 PM MDT up reply actions
Rutgers
is the state school of New Jersey…lots of TVs and eyes.
Colorado Rockies correspondent at My Team Rivals (www.mtrmedia.com/rockies) and my own site Rockies Reporter (www.rockiesreporter.wordpress.com) and one of the top Rockies writers at the Bleacher Report.
but
nobody in NYC cares about Rutgers. Their own students didn’t realize they had a football team until 3 years ago.
That will change if
they are on TV every week and the team plays well. Plus, it doesn’t matter. In negotiating the contract the potential eyeballs will get attributed some value.
its true
NYC is a completely untapped resource for college football. if rutgers ends up playing some more meaningful games (which they will with an expanded big10) then growth potential is HUGE there.
Sounds like missouri is gettin SCREWED. They’ll be paired with KU and KSU in Big12 reject conference. If Big 10 expands this way it’s all but a lock that Pac-16 will form to keep up. No way Texas will try and keep the big 12 together.
It doesn't matter
This is the same argument that people were making against CU in that most of the Denver market doesn’t care about the Buffs. It doesn’t matter from a TV perspective if everyone cares, it just matters that enough people care. The Big 10 network (or new Pac-16 network) makes money from the cable/satellite providers for each subscriber. If you have a team in the local market, there’s enough pressure for the cable/satellite companies to add the network to one of their basic tiers meaning more subscribers and more $$$ for the network.
Kinda funky
this conference switcheroo and will definitely make for some changes. Most good, some not. Still think that a Pac-12 w/ Colorado plus Utah/BYU would be the best fit for the Buffs. Good to see the LATimes piece notes that as a real option still. Time will tell.
Who knows if this is accurate or not
But according to this article CU now has an invite from the Pac 10: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=5270048
lets not lose sight of what is important!
by NYCskibum on Jun 9, 2010 9:02 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
+1 :)
But yeah, this is awesome news if true.
by highlandsbuff on Jun 9, 2010 9:04 PM MDT up reply actions
Just updating the story!
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Interesting part of that article
The coach said it’s possible the Pac-16 would push for two automatic bids to the BCS, one for each division champion. That potential bonanza could open the possibility of the two division champs from one league playing for the national title, and it would eliminate the need for a conference championship game.
"The Pac-10 doesn’t believe in a championship game," the coach said. "And coaches in the Big 12 don’t like it anyway."
by spencer peaty on Jun 9, 2010 9:29 PM MDT up reply actions
The plot thickens
Again, who knows if any of this is true, but Chip Brown just tweeted that the Big 10 “may be prepared” to offer two more schools (in addition to Nebraska), neither of which is Missouri.
Bob saw a rumor on a Northwestern message board...
that said that the Big-10 was going to offer Texas and Texas A&M. Eh, whatever. Im glad that we will be a part of the Pac-10 and my heart certainly won’t be broken if Texas isn’t a part of it (but they damn sure better keep OU/TX as a yearly game). The Pac-14 sounds pretty swell as well. Hell, I hear there’s a Baptist school available at the moment… :)
But seriously, you have to assume that the Pac-10 would have no interest in taking Tech if Texas is coming with them and the same could easily be said for Oklahoma (as much as I hate to say it) and Ok St.
That being said, from what I have heard from my own Chip Brown style sources, this deal is even more done then we have heard, including with the five South schools…
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mortensen is an idiot
Whenever that guy “breaks” something he is 94% wrong.
Until Adam Schefter breaks the story, it simply isn’t true. Where are you Adam?!
He's had some duds
but to be fair he was the first to report Pete Carrol to the Seahawks.
by spencer peaty on Jun 9, 2010 9:54 PM MDT up reply actions
why TT?
I mean I get that they are in the rumor and what not, but why hasn’t that been questioned? I still for the life of me, don’t understand why TT would be invited? What do they bring to table? Lubbock? Are they locked in more politically w/ Texas than I know? Would make more sense to toss that invite to Utah than TT. someone enlighten me.
i think they are more locked with UT than baylor since they are a public school
the state of texas has also been pushing HARD to get more tier one research universities. They currently only have 2 public ones: UT and A&M (Rice is the only other). With a population as large as Texas its shocking they only have 2. California has 9. Joining the Pac-10 will almost certainly upgrade TT academics and fast track them to tier 1 status.
Its politics...
Buff grad living in Dallas. The powers that be really don’t care about Baylor too much as they have 1) Bitched like school girls about this and 2) Got in because of Ann Richards to the Big XII.
Tech is a totally different beast. State school, much larger fan base, more representation, and a more natural rivalry with UT and A&M. They do have clout in the state, and make sense for the region.
I hope we will see you guys in the Pac-16 Championship game in a few years!
Hopefully tomorrow we will receive official confirmation of this move happening, and welcome CU into the conference.
Self-anointed President of the Kenjon Barner fan club.
Im still shocked that they got the 2 year post season ban
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Repeat offender
Now we know why Pete Carroll left for Seattle
DAG
by DavidAGerhardt on Jun 10, 2010 9:20 AM MDT up reply actions
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