Game of the Century Rematch Defies Purpose of Championship Game

The matter of opinion is what’s the matter with college football these days. 

Media and voters react in the preseason based off their perception of what one school should be or what another school isn’t. I don’t have a problem with preseason rankings. In fact, I love them as they make games early in the season more interesting to watch and talk about. I also have no problem that within this type of system there are some huge swings and misses in the rankings. 

If the media’s perception of teams was always accurate, Oklahoma and Alabama would be playing for the national title game, the ACC champion Florida State Seminoles would be BCS bound, and Texas A&M looks like it could take the SEC by storm.

If the media’s perception of teams was always accurate, we would all be wondering if Bill Snyder should’ve stayed retired, who will replace Dabo Swinney, and if it’s going to be 10 or 20 years before Baylor sees their next bowl game. None of these teams received a single vote in the AP preseason poll.

 I guess it’s a damn good thing they played out the season after the preseason poll was released.

My real problem is the way the media spins its perception of a team with a herd mentality and refuses to be individually objective. A current example would be the national media’s conviction that Alabama is the second best team in the nation.

Are you sure? Can you prove that with 100% factual positivity? 

It’s mind boggling how the majority can emphatically exclaim this in unison when college football is a sport that annually carries so many unknowns.

Fans and media that constantly clamor for a playoff system don’t seem to realize this season has presented an opportunity for them to see the closest thing to one. If LSU takes on a worthy opponent they haven’t faced this season, like OSU, it will be the closest thing to a playoff type of champion college football has ever seen.

The Tigers have been the country’s most dominating team this season (by far) and are the only AQ team left unscathed. They’ve decisively defeated the probable champs of the Pac 12 and Big East and both teams would likely receive automatic berths in many proposed playoff formats. LSU also beat Arkansas, who is a top ten team this season and a potential candidate for an at large bid in many playoff formats.

In the game of the century, LSU went into ‘Bama's turf and wa able to leave victorious. Do you realize the significance of  home field advantage in Tuscaloosa? That fan base is rabidly, foaming out the mouth, passionate for Alabama football and the Crimson Tide were unable to win this game with 102,000 screaming fans making life a living hell for the LSU players. What on earth makes people certain they can beat them on a neutral site?

If this was a playoff, LSU would be in the championship game and Alabama, Oregon, Arkansas, and West Virginia would be eliminated.

The ironic thing is Alabama hasn't been eliminated. Instead, they are in line to get a second chance to try and beat LSU because of the popular OPINION they are a better football team than Oklahoma State. LSU being a better team than Alabama is a FACT proven on the actual football field.

Where is the factual proof that Oklahoma State isn’t the better team?   

Is it fact because the media says so? Has the media watched and dissected football enough this season to where they are sure Oklahoma State wouldn’t present any match-up problems for LSU or Alabama? Did I miss where European scientist cloned Alabama and Oklahoma State’s teams and had them play a game in which Alabama won or something? How do they know this for sure?

These are the same people who thought Florida State was the 5^th best team in the nation at the beginning of this season. These are the same people that ranked Auburn #22 to begin last season. These are the same people who almost gave us a rematch in 2006 when they thought Ohio State and Michigan were the two best teams in the country, which was clearly not the case. 

Everyone has been wrong before. The difference is Florida State got a chance to prove they are not the 5th best team, Auburn was able to prove on the field they were better than #22, and Ohio State had already proven they were better than Michigan. 

I understand the desire to put who we think are the two best teams in the national championship game, but how can we know for sure? Since we already know LSU is better than Alabama, why do we need a second opinion? Why not put a team in there who has no proven result against the best team in the nation?

Oklahoma State is being penalized heavily for losing to a bowl eligible opponent on the road in double overtime. Yes, it was a bad loss. However, in 2008, Florida lost at home to a mediocre Ole Miss team and still played for the national championship. Instead of penalizing them for losing at home, the voters instead noted they had great wins against Georgia and Alabama, the only teams they beat in the regular season that were ranked in the final BCS Poll.

If Oklahoma State beats Oklahoma, they will have beaten five teams currently ranked in the BCS Poll and become conference champions. That’s three more top 25 victories than Florida had in 2008. Why can’t Oklahoma State be rewarded for their quality wins and winning their conference like the Gators were just three years ago?

Also, why was the national media prepared to give OU a pass for losing at home in regulation to Texas Tech? Before Oklahoma lost to Baylor, the media cited the Sooners could pick up a marquee win for the polls if they are able to beat Oklahoma State. Why would it be a marquee win for one school but not the other?

If the Pokes beat the Sooners and the media was alright with Oklahoma playing for the national championship, why shouldn't they be fine with Oklahoma State? Iowa State throttled Texas Tech 41-7 in Lubbock. Isn't a road loss in overtime to Iowa  State better than a loss at home to Texas Tech, especially when you consider the extenuating circumstances facing Oklahoma State on that tragic Friday?

The media assumptions and bias in favor of traditional powerhouses or the SEC is ridiculous and could prevent the fans from assurance of who is the true champion.

The consensus wants to put a weighted emphasis on losses rather than quality wins when it comes to the resumes of the one loss teams. This is fine with me as long as they are consistent about it. If losses are weighted more than quality wins, then let’s vote undefeated Houston into the national championship game. They are ranked 6^th in the BCS and don't have any bad losses (don’t roll your eyes at me).

I'm tired of hearing, without reason, that Alabama is the second best team in the nation. They might be, but they also were able to avoid Georgia and South Carolina, who are both 10 win teams and both may have provided Alabama with an upset. At least Oklahoma State beat all the marquee teams in the Big 12.

I’m not saying it’s my opinion Oklahoma State would beat either Alabama or LSU if they were to play. I just think asinine, preseason-like, assumptions leave too much to be desired in college football. This is the one season the voters can feel, with certainty, they know who the best team in the country is.


I've never seen an opinion throw a touchdown pass, make an open field tackle, kick a field goal, or run a two minute drill, but I have seen football players do it.

Even if people are truly convinced Alabama is the second best team in the nation, I think it would be idiotic not to let Oklahoma State prove otherwise assuming they beat Oklahoma. Alabama had their shot to prove they were the best and lost against LSU. When a heavyweight boxer wins a title fight, they take on challenges from different competitors to prove they are the best. They don't beat the same guy up four times in a row. Consider the Tigers college football's heavyweight champ.

Is the point of having a championship game to find out who the best team in the country is or who the two best teams in the country are?

Can the BCS really stand behind their slogan that “Every Game Counts” if a rematch is awarded to Alabama?

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2011 SEC Preview: Analyzing the Odds

The SEC conference will try to capture its sixth consecutive national championship in 2011 and with eight teams ranked in the preseason AP Poll, they have a pretty damn good chance of making it happen.

Once again, this conference is loaded with talent and should be difficult to navigate through unscathed. Last year, Auburn and South Carolina met in the SEC championship game. Auburn was rated in the preseason as 4^th in the West division, while South Carolina was 3^rd in the East.

If you can find it, there is always great value, betting wise, in the SEC.

***If you place a wager, please wager responsibly. Do NOT place a wager that is outside your financial means. If you can’t afford to lose that amount, then it is outside your means. There have never been and never will be a LOCK on any particular game. Anything can happen inside the lines on any given day, like a 36 point underdog in Stanford beating USC on the road in 2007.

Now that you plan to wager responsibly, let’s take a look at some Vegas odds on the SEC Conference.

East

Projected Winner- South Carolina (+200): The Gamecocks return the division’s most proven and talented offense, which isn’t actually saying much comparatively speaking. If they can get consistent play out of QB Stephen Garcia, then this offense should be able to maximize the talents of Marcus Lattimore and Alshon Jeffery. South Carolina, potentially, could have one of the best defensive lines in the nation. The unit has a great blend of experienced  returning upperclassmen and highly touted recruits coming in. They will need their secondary to improve from last season to truly be a dominate unit.

They have a great schedule in the fact that they do not have to play Alabama or LSU, but they do have games at Mississippi State and Arkansas from the West. Also, they do travel to Georgia, which is a disadvantage, but the Bulldogs will be coming off a tough game against Boise State, which should help. I think South Carolina matches up extremely well with Georgia and should be able to go into Athens and get a win. Overall, it’s not the easiest schedule, but it is one a team with South Carolina's talent can maneuver through.

The Gamecocks are the most talented and experienced team in the East division and I’m not sure anyone can argue that. They have some tough road games, but this team is fully capable of going into hostile environments and leaving with wins. Given the various situations with the other schools in the East, I think this team is a fairly safe bet for the division.

Why Not

Georgia (+180): The Bulldog’s schedule is so ridiculously easy that it is almost impossible to pass on them. Not only do they get South Carolina at home and Florida at a neutral site, but they avoid Alabama, LSU, and Arkansas.  The schedule sets up beautifully! However, their offense is a huge question mark outside of Aaron Murray and they have little experience at the skill positions. They should improve defensively, but the front seven doesn’t have any type of proven pass rush or run stuffing ability to speak of. This team doesn’t match up well with Boise State or South Carolina and if they start 0-2, the rest of the season could be very uncomfortable.

Florida (+190): Another coaching overhaul this offseason for the Gators could cause them to struggle early in the season. Depth and experience are two things this football team lacks in numerous areas. Unlike South Carolina and Georgia, the Gators must play Alabama and @LSU. Add the fact they must travel to South Carolina and a bet on the Gators seems very unappealing at such low odds.

Tennessee (+900): This is an extremely young, but talented, team that has upset potential in them this season. Their schedule features road games at Florida, Alabama, and Arkansas, and visits from LSU, Georgia, and South Carolina. It’s a very tough schedule for a team that is not quite there yet, so I’ll have to pass on the Volunteers.

Kentucky (+3300): I don’t think they will win the division, but this team shouldn’t be taken too lightly. They have a very interesting schedule and if there was a value wager in this division, it would be this team. However, it is way too much of a dreamer’s bet to actually put money on the Wildcats.

Vanderbilt (+7500): I’m almost starting to believe Vanderbilt is the highest paid sacrificial lamb in all of college football and the SEC has been hoodwinking us this whole time making us believe they are an actual member of the SEC.

West

Projected Winner- Alabama (-140): Usually, I like to begin with each team’s offense in these previews, but Alabama’s defense is too good not to come first. Their linebackers and secondary are stacked with NFL talent and if their defensive line can get any type of production remotely similar to that of Marcell Dareus, it might be impossible to score on them. The defense is going to be that good. Offensively, they should be solid in the running game with four starters returning on the line and Heisman candidate, Trent Richardson, in the backfield. If they can get effective passing and game management from their new quarterback, this team will be hard to stop.

Schedule wise, they get their two toughest opponents (LSU and Arkansas) in T-Town, which gives them a huge advantage in any tie breaker scenario. They have manageable road games at Florida, Mississippi State and Auburn, so if they can avoid too many slip ups, things should shape up nicely for the Crimson Tide.

Alabama has an extremely talented team and if they can get adequate play from the quarterback position, winning the SEC will be an afterthought by the time the season ends. Betting wise, I don’t find the value in Alabama too intriguing to put any type of sizeable bet on them. They are breaking in a new quarterback in the toughest conference in the nation, which is not easy to do. Nick Saban’s track record helps ease my concerns, so I think a small bet might be worth it in the end.

Value Wager- Mississippi State (+1300): The Bulldog’s are entering their third season under Dan Mullen and the expectations have never been so high at Mississippi State. Quarterback Chris Relf will need to continue to improve as a passer for this team to take the next step. Offensively, they have RB Vick Ballard back to lean on behind an offensive line that returns three starters, though, they will miss T Derrick Sherrod, who departed for the NFL. The Bulldogs should have one of the best secondaries in the SEC and be stingy in the defensive line. The real concern for the defense is continuing in the right direction without last years defensive coordinator, Manny Diaz.

The Bulldogs have an appeasing schedule, which makes them attractive as a dark horse team. They get Alabama, South Carolina, and LSU at home – games they would have a tougher time winning on the road. They still must travel to Auburn and Georgia, who they match up well against. A game on the road against Arkansas in Fayetteville could be a tough one to steal for the win column. Overall, it’s a huge advantage to get the divisional juggernauts at home, where the Bulldogs play tough. Last season they almost beat national champs Auburn and lost out to Arkansas in double overtime, both at home.

All of the components needed by any dark horse to make a run are present for Mississippi State. They’re a team coming off one of the best seasons in school history and return a plethora of upperclassmen starters, including the starting senior quarterback. They are entering their third season under one of the hottest coaches in college football. Their schedule breaks nicely for them where their hardest competition is at home. What else could a dark horse possibly ask for? I expect this team to compete every week in the SEC and given all their dark horse qualities, I will be placing a little bet on them to steal the division.

Why Not

LSU (+275): Jordan Jefferson and Russell Shepard are both facing indefinite suspensions at the moment and the offense really doesn't have an identity. They also travel to Alabama and Mississippi State (Thursday night games are tough). Defensively, they lost their best player makers from 2010 to the NLF draft, which included the electrifying return ability of Patrick Peterson. They will be good, but not worth my money at these odds.

Arkansas (+915): If it wasn’t for scheduled road games at Alabama and LSU, this would have to be the dark horse pick. Arkansas should be highly competitive this season and if you felt like you wanted this to be your dark horse, I couldn’t blame you.

Auburn (+1800): They return only seven starters from their 2010 national championship team. Auburn is a legit program, but their scheduled road games at South Carolina, Arkansas, LSU, and Georgia are brutal and may be too much to overcome to get the wins they need.

Mississippi (+3300): This team should be improved and become bowl eligible this season, but I don’t think they will have the squad to pull it off. Although, you never know with Houston Nutt and they do have Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, and LSU at home. I would keep an eye on them, just in case.

SEC Champion

Alabama (+205):

Florida (+460):

Georgia (+475):

LSU (+475):

South Carolina (+625):

Arkansas (+1750):

Mississippi State (+2200):

Tennessee (+2200):

Auburn (+3700):

Kentucky (+8500):

Mississippi (+8500):

Vanderbilt (+18500):

I expect to see the SEC championship game feature Alabama and South Carolina, with the state of Alabama winning this thing again.

Projected Winner- Alabama (+205)

Value Team- Mississippi State (+2200)

Comments and opinions are always encouraged.

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The not so Big 12

The Big 12 conference has turned into an enthralling game of Jenga. One risky maneuver after another has this conference teetering on the edge of collapsing, yet somehow it is still standing.

Big 12 officials, minus Texas A&M, exclaim via various media outlets that they have been working feverishly to keep the conference together and ensure solidarity if it remains intact.

What’s the point?

Either this is Déjà vu or we have all already witnessed the Big 12 telling us they’ve  become blood brothers for life. Texas A&M and Missouri have both made it perfectly clear they want out of the Big 12 and fans are supposed to believe that a hug and some kum ba yah are going to fix things?  

Did you forget that a certain portion of your fan base graduated from your institution? Expecting them to believe your statement of “solidarity” (for the second time) is basically saying the education they received from your institution was not of a high enough quality where they can decipher the true state of the conference. Maybe they should be refunded? 

Money is the only reason this conference is being propped up at the moment and portrayed as if everything will be fine, just like old times. Money is the reason that this conference will eventually fold. Money is evil.

Texas does NOT want the conference to fold either. They are adamant they do not want to go independent and the PAC 12, Big 10, and SEC would never allow them in with their network. Texas found a way to make money grow on trees and they will never give that up for any conference.

And why should they? They have one of the largest and most loyal fan bases in the country. They have a great opportunity to bring them more coverage of Texas athletics then they could have ever imagined- for a small fee of course. 

A normal game against Rice, Texas fans fill up the stadium in its entirety even though they know it’s going to be a completely lopsided beat down. Ask Kirby Hocutt if he thinks Texas Tech fans will do the same for their opener against Texas State. They won’t, he’s not that lucky. 

Texas is lucky though and they have a fan base that will attend or watch every game regardless of their opponent. Now the university seeks to exploit their fans pockets even further by trying to get them to fork over their hard earned cash and subscribe to their network to watch a tune up game against Rice or, more importantly, a Big 12 conference game? Its one thing if they are providing extra coverage above and beyond the games, but the games themselves!? CMON.

What’s the next step for the Corporation of Texas to maximize profit on their assets? Are they going to put Bevo out to stud?

I can’t and won’t fault Texas for their ambition, but the greed and self-righteous power trip they are on, trying to impose their will on their conference “partners,” will be the root of conference’s demise. They've already scared off a fantastic football program in Nebraska and now they are pushing one of their biggest rivals out the door in A&M.

When the Big 12 crumbles, that $300 million practically guarantees Texas becomes a conference-less independent football program. By their actions, it seems that is something that Texas wants.

From a competitive stand point, I will never understand the appeal to be an independent entity. It's like you're a satellite in orbit in the College Football universe. What exactly are you playing for? Sure you have opponents to play against on the field in a singular game, but what teams are you competing against? It’s not like you can win your conference because you’re not in one and you're playing against the polls.

Now that game against Oklahoma every year is now just another game on the schedule instead of one with massive conference and national title implications. It would be unforgivable if that game lost any of its shine.

Don’t let A&M fool you into thinking their departure is strictly because of Texas and their evil ways, because it’s not. The TLN is just a convenient excuse for the Aggies to get out of the shadow of Texas and go try to make more money for their program. Their opportunity is being piggy backed on the issue of the TLN airing high school games and Texas A&M’s supposed angst towards the recruiting advantages doing so would provide for Texas.

Even though Texas has been banned from airing high school games on their network, A&M is still pressing on, upset, and headed towards the SEC.

The Texas A&M situation reminds me of Mike Leach and Texas Tech. It was well documented that the Tech brass, feeling slighted and outsmarted, was looking for any excuse to use to get out of their brand new contract with Coach Leach (which was well documented). When the slightest opportunity arose, they pounced on it and acted hastily before due process could play out, thus achieving their hidden agenda and never looking back. Does the TLN’s consideration of airing high school games not look like A&M’s proverbial electrical closet? It does to me.

If Texas is Zack Morris and Oklahoma is AC Slater, A&M has been the Screech of the conference. Always aspiring to live up to the successes of Zack and Slater, usually falling short, but once managed to steal a kiss from Kelly Kapowski. It’s no wonder A&M’s inferiority complex is causing them to seek a transfer to Valley High (sorry if you are not familiar with Saved By the Bell).

While ultimately it seems A&M’s desire to move to the SEC is a calculated business move, it’s also very apparent that their hatred for Texas has moved past the point of continuing the 117 year old football rivalry and it's tradition.

Don’t let the SEC fool you either as they lean back in their chair with their hands in the air saying, “Hey they came to us, man.” They started this process last year, when Mike Slive flew into College Station amidst the “Pac 16” hoopla to try to persuade A&M to head East. He wasn’t trying to be a hospitable neighbor to the Aggies either, but rather expand the brand and money for his football conference.

With the addition of Texas A&M, who is a Top 15 football program, the SEC gets some HUGE TV markets and a pipeline into Texas football recruiting. The monetary advantage for the SEC is huge and you can bet next month’s rent that the 14^th team added will increase SEC monies as well. New TV markets are why you will hear Virginia Tech, North Carolina, and Missouri rumored to be in the expansion mix.

This is the new landscape of College Football. Forget about history, tradition, and rivalries. Get familiar with Super Conferences, ESPN, and marketability.

Dan Beebe DeLoss Dodds isn’t trying to save the Big 12 conference to protect your fandom. He’s trying to protect the Billions of dollars tied into its existence. I’m sure he and Bill Byrne are a little bit upset the classic rivalry will fade over the next few years, but they had better things to do around Thanksgiving every year anyways.

I am all for college football programs and conferences trying to maximize their earning potential as long as they can do it without messing up the brand.

Do you want to see the Texas Longhorns in Blue uniforms? I don’t either, but the way things are going in college football anything is a possibility as long as it helps the bottom line.

I doubt the BI9 12 will be around for much longer and that is a damn shame.

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Doomsday: A Super Conference Scenario

As discontent and concern with the Texas Longhorn Network’s programming arise, so do the rumblings of a doomsday scenario for the Big 12.

The Big 12 soap opera, starring the Texas Longhorns, continues to build towards the finale of Season 2: Conference Instability. 

And no, the Longhorns do not intend to air this on their network.

Disgruntled Texas A&M isn’t showing their cards and it is unsure if their threats of bolting for the SEC are legit or if they are playing the part of a grounded child threatening to run away.

Lets pretend the Aggies do run away from home and this allows Texas to go independent. Where would the rest of the Big 12 realign and would this trigger riot like robbery of other BCS conferences to create “Super Conferences?”

In the end, I came up with a preamble to a true Super Conference scenario.Lets take a look.
 

SEC (14)	BIG 10 (16)	Big East (12)	PAC 12 (12)	ACC  (12)
Florida	Iowa	Pittsburgh	California	Boston College
Georgia	Michigan	West Virginia	Oregon	UNC
Kentucky	Michigan State	Rutgers	Oregon State	NC State
South Carolina	Minnesota	Cincinnati	Stanford	Virginia
Tennessee	Nebraska	Syracuse	Washington	Virginia Tech
Vanderbilt	Northwestern	UCONN	Wash State	Wake Forest
Missouri	Purdue
	Wisconsin
Alabama	Illinois	Louisville	Arizona	Duke
Arkansas	Indiana	SFU	Arizona State	Clemson
Auburn	Ohio State	TCU	Colorado	Florida State
LSU	Penn State	Kansas	UCLA	Maryland
Miss State	Oklahoma	Kansas State	USC	Georgia Tech
Ole Miss	Oklahoma St	UCF	Utah	Miami
A&M	Texas Tech
	Baylor

Naturally, Texas A&M makes the first move and jumps ship to the SEC. This is a good move for the SEC, who can now claim a share in the Dallas and Houston TV Markets.

Not only are they getting TV ratings, but they would be adding one of the top football programs in the nation. Texas A&M has one of the largest stadiums in College Football (approx. 83,000), top notch facilities, and a plethora of tradition and pride in their program. They even claim to be the “Alabama of the West.”

Next the SEC would try to court the Oklahoma Sooners and add another national powerhouse to the conference. This could become a very sticky situation because the SEC is stuck in their current TV deal.

OU comes paired with Oklahoma State. I do not see a financial advantage for the SEC by adding Oklahoma State and having to split their pie even further. 

If Oklahoma State comes, then the conference would almost have to add a 4^th team to make divisions even for competition purposes. Basically, Oklahoma equals three pieces of the pie and I think the value of the current conference makeup outweighs adding Oklahoma and two friends.

In this situation, the SEC should look to add one more team. I think they would turn their focus to Florida State and pursue them vigorously, only to be spurned by the Seminoles. 

So what now?

Missouri was ready to bolt from the Big 12 conference last summer and was pining for an invite from the B1G  (that’s Big Ten and yes spellcheck , B1G is a word). 

For reason’s unknown, the invite never came and Missouri’s desire to escape from the Big 12 was duly noted by many around the country.  If the Big 10 didn’t want Mizzou, why would the SEC? 

On top of being a quality football program, Missouri offers the SEC potential to tap into the Midwest TV market and they are also the best available fit to even out the divisions in the SEC. 

I think Missouri is expecting a Big 10 invitation in a few years when the conferences TV deal with ABC/ESPN is up in 2016. However, if the SEC were to send them an invitation, even in the form of a tweet, I think Mizzou would accept without hesitation.

Now that Oklahoma has spurned the SEC, this becomes a great opportunity for the Big 10. Jim Delany has to be looking at the Pac 12’s new TV deal, less than a year after expansion, and wondering what the Big 10 could get in 2016 if they expanded.

If the Big 12 begins to crack, I would not be shocked to see Jim Delany make an aggressive move towards expanding the conference with Oklahoma as the centerpiece and Oklahoma State. 

I believe the “Big 12 South” group would stick together and the Big 10 would take Texas Tech and Baylor, with the consolation that at least they are tapping into the Texas recruiting pipeline and TV markets. If the Big 10 wants to expand South, they almost certainly would have to stomach adding Baylor even though they would probably prefer TCU.

Now equipped with Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, and Baylor, they will be salivating to start negotiations in 2016. 

Rumor has it they will finally change their name from the Big Ten Conference to the Big Ten National Bank once the deal is finalized. No word yet on the new logo. 

I think the Big East is a considered a candidate for invasion due to the national perception of an overall lack of elite competition in the conference. Take the 2011 coaches poll as an example - ZERO Big East teams ranked in the Top 25.

However, I think the invasion of the Big East would come in “Phase 2” of Super Conference alignment when four conferences of 16 are created. For now, they will be in a great position to pick up some pieces to strengthen the overall quality of the conference.

The Big East made a very quiet and opportunistic move last summer by adding TCU to the conference beginning in 2012. They add a pipeline in the Texas market, as well as a program that finished ranked 7^th, 6^th, and 2^nd in the final AP Poll from 2008-2010.  A great football move for the conference.

Next, the Big East can recruit some Big 12 leftovers, Kansas and Kansas State. Kansas had some recent success with a BCS Bowl victory in 2007 and Kansas State was wildly successful under Bill Snyder in earlier years, so there is some level of respect that comes with these programs.

The Big East is widely considered the best brand of College Basketball and bringing in Kansas and Kansas State certainly will help their cause in that aspect (especially Kansas).

The last addition was between a handful of C-USA teams and in the end I chose Central Florida. They are a natural fit for the conference and their recent bowl win our Georgia also gives them credibility on the field.

Adding these teams and remaining opportunistic increases the conferences stability and certainly helps them increase their revenue for their upcoming TV deal in 2013.

 

At this point, I couldn’t see the PAC 12 making a move to add four more teams to the conference. Yes, they made a huge push last summer to add teams, but they also had negotiations of a new TV deal on the horizon.

Now that they have secured a monster deal and each conference member will be paid handsomely. It’s hard to imagine them wanting to share that revenue further, especially when it seems they are ahead of the curve for now.

I went back and forth on where the Big 12 South teams would fall. At this point, I did not feel it made financial sense for the PAC 12 to add four more teams. It was hard to dismiss them as a landing spot since Larry Scott has the reputation of someone who will look at every angle and opportunity. 

One angle I came across with the PAC 12 was, IF the College Football landscape did shift to four super conferences, where would they find four quality teams like the Big 12 South? Geographically and traditionally, there are few teams that would make sense for the conference that would be left over (assuming BYU and Texas remain independent).

I could see Larry Scott making the move to protect the conference’s future in a super conference scenario, but in the end I couldn’t pull the trigger.

The only scenario I could see playing out where the ACC added teams was if the Big East dissolved. Since this did not happen, no teams were added.

I did tinker with a scenario where the SEC was able to steal Florida State and Miami away from the conference, but the more I researched I felt this was very unlikely for the time being.

I think the next step in this situation would happen if the SEC poaches teams from the ACC like Florida State, Miami, Georgia Tech, Clemson, or Virgina Tech. If that were to happen, then I think the Big East would get raided.



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