RE: pac16
If ESPN wants Texas as a partial in the ACC it can happen. As for John's contention that in 2011 it was talk about full membership, yes. As for He1nous's contention that it would be for partial membership, yes. Why? Notre Dame happened in between. There is no reason for Texas to assume they are worth less consideration than Notre Dame.
As for the distribution of the rest of the Big 12 members it is a colossal problem to solve amicably. FOX has an interest, ESPN has an interest, the SEC has an interest, the Big 10 has an interest, and the ACC has an interest. The PAC is independent and while they have business dealings with FOX, Comcast, and ESPN product placed in the PAC would not fall under quite the same Network control as it could in the other three conferences. We also have to seriously consider the schools that would be moving and the concerns they would have over travel.
All of the conferences would like to have Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. I'm sure the Big 10 and SEC both would like to go to 16 with two of them. I call that an impasse because nobody else is going to jump at taking Kansas State, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Baylor, or T.C.U. without them. West Virginia could fit somewhere on their own.
I doubt seriously the Longhorns will move anywhere if they can't take their pan-Texas games with them. The only real solution I can see is for the ACC to move to 16 + 2 and create a Western pod of 4 (not including Texas). To accomplish this the ACC needs to lose a couple from its existing membership. If they, the schools involved, ESPN, and the SEC agreed to it then N.C. State and Virginia Tech could move to the SEC. T.C.U., Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Kansas State could move to the ACC to form a Western Division. Texas would agree to 6 ACC games of which these 4 would be annual and every year the Southern division would rotate two games against the Horns. Syracuse, Pitt, B.C., and Virginia could form the Northern division of the ACC and every year Notre Dame would play those four and rotate two against the Eastern division. So the only alteration to the deal would be 1 additional conference game for Notre Dame making both the Irish and Longhorn total 6 a piece. All four divisions would benefit from the 16 + 2 arrangement. Texas and Notre Dame would access the playoffs through winning the divisions they played annually.
The SEC could add Baylor for a presence in the DFW market and West Virginia to get to 18. Kansas would be available for the Big 10 and Texas Tech would be available for the PAC. Iowa State would be available for either. The actual destination of any of the non Big 3 schools isn't as relevant as the distribution. The SEC gets what it wants most, access to Virignia and North Carolina markets. The ACC gets what it needs most, a considerable boost in reputation with Texas, and much greater football content with the other additions. The Big 10 doesn't get two prizes but is guaranteed 1 prize in a contiguous state with AAU membership with Kansas. Whether they are interested in Iowa State or not that is a possible travel companion for the Jayhawks. B.Y.U. if they can work out their issues with the California schools could make a travel companion for Texas Tech, if not then there is always U.N.L.V. or Nevada for the markets. The Big 10 moves to 16 with Kansas plus 1, the PAC moves to 14 (for the time being), the SEC and ACC essentially move to 18 a piece. That's 66 teams total.
The likelihood that this can transpire amicably? Less than 5%. The likelihood that this will transpire? Less than 5%. The likelihood that there will be further movement in the next 10 years among the P5? 80% The need for further threads discussing this until there is further substantive information? 0.00% The likelihood of further threads discussing this without further substantive information? 100%
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