(06-07-2018 09:10 PM)OdinFrigg Wrote:  While any change may be 5+ years from now, it still must be fairly open to possibilities while real options are relatively finite. Within two years there will be confident indicators emerging.
If the SEC is the first to initiate the next B12 extraction, one may expect the OU-oSu combo would be the most pragmatic choice. I am trying to think which SEC schools would resist. For example, does A&M and Mizzou want a pair from which they had sped away?
As to Texas, how will they deal with more of their traditional rivals scattering? I expect the PAC12 may try to offer the 4--team addition again. Offering 6 would be radical; but perhaps necessary to reach a deal.
OU may be the prime school that breaks it all open. They will also the school that will keep the B12 together if so decided.
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I don't think anyone will object to the Oklahoma pair. Their relationship with Missouri is historic in nature and without a high degree of animus. I could see A&M being antsy about having Oklahoma recruiting Texas while sporting the SEC logo. But even the Aggies know that Oklahoma would add tremendous value to the SEC while profiting all of us. A 3/4's informal vote by the presidents (and unrecorded voice vote) is all that is required for an official invitation to be extended. The formal vote ,by precedent, must be unanimous and will be recorded. So I doubt there is a school besides A&M that would raise any reservations over Oklahoma, let alone 4 who would vote against. And considering that Texas might otherwise be a pursuit if Oklahoma is not taken I would think the Aggies would vote in favor.

But that begs my first question from my previous post. What if Texas, upon the announcement that Oklahoma and Oklahoma State had been extended invitations, decided to seek membership as well? After all at that point we would hold Arkansas, A&M, and Oklahoma along with Missouri and OSU, and a very desirable nearby adversary in L.S.U..

I think A&M might well raise a stink about that possibility, at least publicly. Besides at 16 the SEC, in spite of Texas's value, might just choose to stay a relatively peaceful 16.

As to the PAC, I expect for them to make a run at Texas. Without the pair of Oklahoma schools I could see them offering Texas, Texas Tech, and Kansas, with the 4th being a bit murkier. Iowa State is AAU but Kansas State or T.C.U. might be the preferred direction.

And I agree that should Oklahoma decide to stand by the Big 12 they'll be around for quite sometime. But, the money, the Southeastern recruiting grounds, and entry into Texas via A&M will be quite the lure for the Sooners. But perhaps the biggest lure to the SEC would be the overall sports fit. Softball, Gymnastics, Baseball, and Football line up with their priorities better than with any other conference. The Basketball is good enough for the men and even better for the women. Then the capper is the proximity for their minor sports. The SEC West is the next best thing to being in the Big 12. So if we offer both Oklahoma schools that offer is going to be very very tempting. We'll see.