(10-21-2019 08:01 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  Lots of fascinating info in this thread. I always enjoy reading such material.

One thing worth noting: Jim Delaney, though retiring in 2020, and his successor are not going to "allow" the SEC to grab Texas and/or Oklahoma without a fight. For whatever it's worth ... my mother worked with Delaney in the 1980s when he oversaw the OVC (here in Nashville). My brother attended Indiana University for six years and now teaches at Vanderbilt (he's been there 11 years). So we talk about the "future" Big Ten and SEC on occasion. There are MANY potential future scenarios.

I look forward to seeing it unfold.

There aren't many left that are profitable. The issues as I see them for the Big 10 are simple. They are at a geographical disadvantage with Texas and Oklahoma. They are at a demographical disadvantage with regard to Texas and Oklahoma. They are at a competitive disadvantage with regard to the SEC. They do not offer the balance of sports that Texas and Oklahoma desire (Softball and Baseball lack, women's gymnastics aren't up to par). And the only thing they do offer is an academic association that is free to be made independently of sports. And right now, at least until the SEC signs their new T1 deal the Big 10 has an advantage in media money. However they still lag the SEC in Gross Total Revenue averaged per school and by a significant amount.

Culturally, athletically, proximity wise, and monetarily, the SEC has the advantage on the Big 10 should Texas and Oklahoma desire to leave. The rest of the permutations I've covered.

I'm sure the Big 10 will make a tremendous effort, but they have a plethora of issues to overcome.