Oklahoma holds all the cards. If they decide to leave the Big 12, the Big 12 crumbles and wherever they join, that conference gets a huge boost in power and value.

(02-02-2021 02:18 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  Oklahoma holds all the cards. If they decide to leave the Big 12, the Big 12 crumbles and wherever they join, that conference gets a huge boost in power and value.

This is it exactly. I truly think Texas will test independence before joining another conference.

(02-02-2021 08:13 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(02-02-2021 02:18 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  Oklahoma holds all the cards. If they decide to leave the Big 12, the Big 12 crumbles and wherever they join, that conference gets a huge boost in power and value.

This is it exactly. I truly think Texas will test independence before joining another conference.

The way I see it, Oklahoma is presented with 4 options:

1. Stay where they are and hope for decent tv money
2. Join the Big Ten; Kansas likely comes too
3. Join the SEC; this could be with OK St, Kansas, Texas, or even a 4 team expansion
4. Push for a partial merger with the PAC 12 to try and up the tv value

As a Big Ten fan I’d like to think we can offer them a lot.

Texas is a wild card and I don’t think the Big Ten should make any effort to court them. If they go Indy would they be able to line up enough quality opponents?

(02-02-2021 11:05 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(02-02-2021 08:13 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(02-02-2021 02:18 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  Oklahoma holds all the cards. If they decide to leave the Big 12, the Big 12 crumbles and wherever they join, that conference gets a huge boost in power and value.

This is it exactly. I truly think Texas will test independence before joining another conference.

The way I see it, Oklahoma is presented with 4 options:

1. Stay where they are and hope for decent tv money
2. Join the Big Ten; Kansas likely comes too
3. Join the SEC; this could be with OK St, Kansas, Texas, or even a 4 team expansion
4. Push for a partial merger with the PAC 12 to try and up the tv value

As a Big Ten fan I’d like to think we can offer them a lot.

Texas is a wild card and I don’t think the Big Ten should make any effort to court them. If they go Indy would they be able to line up enough quality opponents?

I think Texas would have a national and State-centric schedule each season. Probably something like this:

H vs Auburn
H vs UTSA
A @ Ohio St
H vs USC
H vs SMU
N vs Oklahoma (in Dallas)
A @ Notre Dame
H vs Rice
A @ Baylor
H vs SMU
H vs Texas Tech
A @ TCU

(02-03-2021 01:44 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(02-02-2021 11:05 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(02-02-2021 08:13 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(02-02-2021 02:18 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  Oklahoma holds all the cards. If they decide to leave the Big 12, the Big 12 crumbles and wherever they join, that conference gets a huge boost in power and value.

This is it exactly. I truly think Texas will test independence before joining another conference.

The way I see it, Oklahoma is presented with 4 options:

1. Stay where they are and hope for decent tv money
2. Join the Big Ten; Kansas likely comes too
3. Join the SEC; this could be with OK St, Kansas, Texas, or even a 4 team expansion
4. Push for a partial merger with the PAC 12 to try and up the tv value

As a Big Ten fan I’d like to think we can offer them a lot.

Texas is a wild card and I don’t think the Big Ten should make any effort to court them. If they go Indy would they be able to line up enough quality opponents?

I think Texas would have a national and State-centric schedule each season. Probably something like this:

H vs Auburn
H vs UTSA
A @ Ohio St
H vs USC
H vs SMU
N vs Oklahoma (in Dallas)
A @ Notre Dame
H vs Rice
A @ Baylor
H vs SMU
H vs Texas Tech
A @ TCU

I agree Texas MIGHT try independence but I think that would be pretty risky. Texas MIGHT get a football schedule like that one year but I doubt they could consistently. They did get a one and one with tOSU but I think that's the only time they've played tOSU, and it's only a one-time deal (at least as of now). I don't know that Texas has ever played Notre Dame (or that Notre Dame has any interest playing UT). Likewise with Auburn or USC (figure that's Southern Cal, not South Carolina). The problem with being Independent is that unless you are someone like Notre Dame who has been doing this for some time, trying to schedule teams that are conference members during their conference schedule is fairly difficult. September scheduling is not usually a problem but the later in the year the more difficult it becomes to schedule a game with a team that has a conference schedule. Seems like s Texas independent schedule would be oriented more to the likes of BYU, Army, Liberty, New Mexico State and/or UMass that play independent schedules, with some in-state Texas game thrown in. Rather than going totally "independent", Texas would probably try to work out a "partial" with the Big XII (a la Notre Dame with the ACC). That would also possibly provide a "home" for their minor sports. But, whether that could be done or not is certainly a question that presently can't be answered.

I know it is popular to imagine Texas as an independent but is there any reason to think they want to or will try independence? I think they could survive and probably thrive but I don't know how this got so popular.

(02-04-2021 06:58 PM)GE and MTS Wrote:  I know it is popular to imagine Texas as an independent but is there any reason to think they want to or will try independence? I think they could survive and probably thrive but I don't know how this got so popular.

Oklahoma would have to leave the Big 12 for Texas to consider independence. Assuming Texas doesn't follow Oklahoma to the conference they go to, their options would be go to another "big" conference, stay in the Big 12 and be the bully but the conference would have no reputation, likely no NY6 automatic bid and weak media deals, or try independence where they can sign their own media deals. If the networks aren't giving the Big 12 peanuts, Texas might as well try independence and then get to keep all their media money like Notre Dame does rather than have to share it with the Little 8.

I think the SEC makes a ton more sense for Texas than independence. Let’s say they go there with TTU. They’d have this for an annual schedule:

TTU
TAMU
Arkansas
LSU
Ole Miss
Miss St
Missouri
SEC East school
Oklahoma (OOC, neutral site)
FCS home game
G5 home game
A 12th game that could either be a H/H with a big OOC opponent or just another G5 buy game

Texas will go independent before they go the SEC and Big Ten. The ACC? Not happening either. Their fans see the ACC as inferior. Texas arrogance has no limits. I live here in the Great State of Texas and I'm surrounded by its alumni and t-shirt fans. Trust me, it's not easy.

This is what I've learned so far when it comes to UT-Austin and the other state institutions:

Texas likes to be in control. They like to be surrounded by an entourage of schools that with a snap of a finger, they can call the shots and everybody has to agree with it. They know Texas Tech, Baylor, TCU, Kansas State, Iowa State, Oklahoma State and West Virginia have either limited options or none at all so they'll agree mostly on what they want. Oklahoma has options so more often than not the Sooners make its weight known and it's the only one that can stand to Texas in the Big XII. Kansas might be the other school that has options outside the Big XII but they might come as a package deal (you can say the same about the rest) with Oklahoma to the SEC, B1G or Pac-12. I just don't see Kansas going to another P5 by themselves even if they're a blue blood in basketball. Maybe the ACC? Who knows.

There's two things most people overlook when it comes to Texas. One, Texas won't tolerate being treated as an equal to the likes of Mississippi State and Indiana. As I wrote above, Texas thrives with being in control not with being told what to do or just being one of the pack. So the SEC and B1G are out. The Pac-12 has made it clear they won't give Texas any preferential treatment (e.g. Longhorn Network) but they're okay with brining part of the entourage to the conference (except Baylor). The Pac-12 will put up with the likes of Texas Tech and Oklahoma State to get the biggest prize of them all in college sports, the big whale, Texas. Oklahoma is just the cherry on top of the cake. Second, Texas will not follow its little brother Texas A&M to the SEC. A&M can protest all they want but if Texas really wants to go to the SEC, the SEC will say yes before Texas finishes the sentence. But their arrogance won't let them go to the SEC.

Finally, the one thing when it comes to Oklahoma is, do they really want to be the next Nebraska and Texas A&M? The Big XII has been not just good but great to Oklahoma. One national championship, four national championship appearances, four CFP's, tons of Big XII titles and it is by far the best Big XII football program (old and new versions). You put OU in the SEC and B1G and suddenly they'll lose more games than not. Oklahoma's goal every year is to make the CFP but if not, make a NY6 bowl. Those goals would diminish in the SEC and B1G. The Citrus Bowl would not be a good consolation prize for their fans. Yes, A&M had a good season in 2020 but I'm still not sold on how good they are. A&M usually has one good team once a decade and then they fade away. I also do not expect LSU and Auburn to be down for long so the Aggies more than likely will go back to 4th or 5th in the SEC West. That's the question OU fans need to answer when it comes to the SEC and Big Ten. Do they want to play for 3rd of 4th place in their division like A&M or just fade away if they lose Texas recruiting ties like Nebraska? Or worse, OU can look at neighbor Arkansas and see what happens when you get away from your recruiting grounds.

That's why I believe the Big XII is here to stay. Texas gets what they want, Oklahoma keeps winning football games and aim for the CFP playoffs, Kansas still enjoys blue blood status and the rest are just happy to get paid for being in a P5 conference and not get in the way of Bevo. Big XII football is good and basketball has been impressive lately especially this year. They'll get a raise in the next tv contract and everybody will be happy. Where I see trouble is in the ACC but that's another topic for another day.

For Oklahoma to remain in the Big 12 I think ESPN is going to have to win the bidding on the T1/T2 Big 12 rights and give the Sooners a sweet side deal for their T3 content. With that being said, I don’t think that’s too far fetched.

I have to wonder if ESPN’s giant deal with the SEC was done in part with the understanding that the SEC wouldn’t make any attempts to expand. With a few choice adds from both the ACC and Big 12 the SEC would control a giant portion of the CFB market.

(02-07-2021 09:33 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  For Oklahoma to remain in the Big 12 I think ESPN is going to have to win the bidding on the T1/T2 Big 12 rights and give the Sooners a sweet side deal for their T3 content. With that being said, I don’t think that’s too far fetched.

I have to wonder if ESPN’s giant deal with the SEC was done in part with the understanding that the SEC wouldn’t make any attempts to expand. With a few choice adds from both the ACC and Big 12 the SEC would control a giant portion of the CFB market.

Actually there are those who think that perhaps the SEC's big T1 deal already had a couple of additions baked in. We'll see. I'm not sure what to think. It could be so, or it could be as you have suggested.

But I can say that Oklahoma, which is suffering a drop in donations from Oil and Gas people, might well be looking to cash in. There are many there who are tired of making the sacrifice to stay only to watch Texas get fat on their own private T3 deal giving them their own TV channel. Now that Boren is no longer president the need to protect the Big 12 and OSU isn't as palpable as it once was. Boren as a former Governor whose wife had a building named after her at OSU had his own agenda. The president's agenda seems to be what will be best long term for Oklahoma.

If so I think they are the likeliest to make a move.

(02-07-2021 01:46 PM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  Texas will go independent before they go the SEC and Big Ten. The ACC? Not happening either. Their fans see the ACC as inferior. Texas arrogance has no limits. I live here in the Great State of Texas and I'm surrounded by its alumni and t-shirt fans. Trust me, it's not easy.

This is what I've learned so far when it comes to UT-Austin and the other state institutions:

Texas likes to be in control. They like to be surrounded by an entourage of schools that with a snap of a finger, they can call the shots and everybody has to agree with it. They know Texas Tech, Baylor, TCU, Kansas State, Iowa State, Oklahoma State and West Virginia have either limited options or none at all so they'll agree mostly on what they want. Oklahoma has options so more often than not the Sooners make its weight known and it's the only one that can stand to Texas in the Big XII. Kansas might be the other school that has options outside the Big XII but they might come as a package deal (you can say the same about the rest) with Oklahoma to the SEC, B1G or Pac-12. I just don't see Kansas going to another P5 by themselves even if they're a blue blood in basketball. Maybe the ACC? Who knows.

There's two things most people overlook when it comes to Texas. One, Texas won't tolerate being treated as an equal to the likes of Mississippi State and Indiana. As I wrote above, Texas thrives with being in control not with being told what to do or just being one of the pack. So the SEC and B1G are out. The Pac-12 has made it clear they won't give Texas any preferential treatment (e.g. Longhorn Network) but they're okay with brining part of the entourage to the conference (except Baylor). The Pac-12 will put up with the likes of Texas Tech and Oklahoma State to get the biggest prize of them all in college sports, the big whale, Texas. Oklahoma is just the cherry on top of the cake. Second, Texas will not follow its little brother Texas A&M to the SEC. A&M can protest all they want but if Texas really wants to go to the SEC, the SEC will say yes before Texas finishes the sentence. But their arrogance won't let them go to the SEC.

Finally, the one thing when it comes to Oklahoma is, do they really want to be the next Nebraska and Texas A&M? The Big XII has been not just good but great to Oklahoma. One national championship, four national championship appearances, four CFP's, tons of Big XII titles and it is by far the best Big XII football program (old and new versions). You put OU in the SEC and B1G and suddenly they'll lose more games than not. Oklahoma's goal every year is to make the CFP but if not, make a NY6 bowl. Those goals would diminish in the SEC and B1G. The Citrus Bowl would not be a good consolation prize for their fans. Yes, A&M had a good season in 2020 but I'm still not sold on how good they are. A&M usually has one good team once a decade and then they fade away. I also do not expect LSU and Auburn to be down for long so the Aggies more than likely will go back to 4th or 5th in the SEC West. That's the question OU fans need to answer when it comes to the SEC and Big Ten. Do they want to play for 3rd of 4th place in their division like A&M or just fade away if they lose Texas recruiting ties like Nebraska? Or worse, OU can look at neighbor Arkansas and see what happens when you get away from your recruiting grounds.

That's why I believe the Big XII is here to stay. Texas gets what they want, Oklahoma keeps winning football games and aim for the CFP playoffs, Kansas still enjoys blue blood status and the rest are just happy to get paid for being in a P5 conference and not get in the way of Bevo. Big XII football is good and basketball has been impressive lately especially this year. They'll get a raise in the next tv contract and everybody will be happy. Where I see trouble is in the ACC but that's another topic for another day.

Status quo among the P5 is more likely than major changes for this coming cycle. We're at the point where the conferences would prefer the "perfect" to the "good". The previous cycle was the "good" over the "perfect" as programs were added to take advantage of population and markets. And look how much backlash they received from the sports media and fans, especially traditional-minded fans. Look to the chaos going on at the lower FBS and FCS level to see why the upper level FBS would prefer stability at this point in time.

(02-07-2021 10:22 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(02-07-2021 09:33 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  For Oklahoma to remain in the Big 12 I think ESPN is going to have to win the bidding on the T1/T2 Big 12 rights and give the Sooners a sweet side deal for their T3 content. With that being said, I don’t think that’s too far fetched.

I have to wonder if ESPN’s giant deal with the SEC was done in part with the understanding that the SEC wouldn’t make any attempts to expand. With a few choice adds from both the ACC and Big 12 the SEC would control a giant portion of the CFB market.

Actually there are those who think that perhaps the SEC's big T1 deal already had a couple of additions baked in. We'll see. I'm not sure what to think. It could be so, or it could be as you have suggested.

But I can say that Oklahoma, which is suffering a drop in donations from Oil and Gas people, might well be looking to cash in. There are many there who are tired of making the sacrifice to stay only to watch Texas get fat on their own private T3 deal giving them their own TV channel. Now that Boren is no longer president the need to protect the Big 12 and OSU isn't as palpable as it once was. Boren as a former Governor whose wife had a building named after her at OSU had his own agenda. The president's agenda seems to be what will be best long term for Oklahoma.

If so I think they are the likeliest to make a move.

I think ESPN is trying to give themselves multiple options for 2024:

Option A: Buy Big 12 T1/T2 rights and give Oklahoma a side deal for T3
Option B: if Oklahoma is adamant about leaving for the Big 10, ESPN can still try to offer a price to keep the rest of the Big 12 intact with Texas as the lone Tent pole
Option C: if the Big 12 loses Oklahoma and Texas wants out too they can add Texas to the SEC, and then pay bargain rates for the rest of the Big 12
Option D: if Fox maneuvers to try and buy the whole Big 12 T1/T3 deal and offers a solid offer, ESPN can slip in and offer Texas and/or Oklahoma a deal in the SEC

ESPN needs volume so it may be advantageous for them to keep the ACC and Big 12 intact rather than consolidating but I do see the angle where for cost saving measures, the consolidate the Big Players into one entity and pay bargain prices for the others. They’d still control the same amount of content, but the accounting is a little different as the Have’s get huge payouts and the Have Nots get tiny sums.

(02-08-2021 09:41 AM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(02-07-2021 10:22 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(02-07-2021 09:33 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  For Oklahoma to remain in the Big 12 I think ESPN is going to have to win the bidding on the T1/T2 Big 12 rights and give the Sooners a sweet side deal for their T3 content. With that being said, I don’t think that’s too far fetched.

I have to wonder if ESPN’s giant deal with the SEC was done in part with the understanding that the SEC wouldn’t make any attempts to expand. With a few choice adds from both the ACC and Big 12 the SEC would control a giant portion of the CFB market.

Actually there are those who think that perhaps the SEC's big T1 deal already had a couple of additions baked in. We'll see. I'm not sure what to think. It could be so, or it could be as you have suggested.

But I can say that Oklahoma, which is suffering a drop in donations from Oil and Gas people, might well be looking to cash in. There are many there who are tired of making the sacrifice to stay only to watch Texas get fat on their own private T3 deal giving them their own TV channel. Now that Boren is no longer president the need to protect the Big 12 and OSU isn't as palpable as it once was. Boren as a former Governor whose wife had a building named after her at OSU had his own agenda. The president's agenda seems to be what will be best long term for Oklahoma.

If so I think they are the likeliest to make a move.

I think ESPN is trying to give themselves multiple options for 2024:

Option A: Buy Big 12 T1/T2 rights and give Oklahoma a side deal for T3
Option B: if Oklahoma is adamant about leaving for the Big 10, ESPN can still try to offer a price to keep the rest of the Big 12 intact with Texas as the lone Tent pole
Option C: if the Big 12 loses Oklahoma and Texas wants out too they can add Texas to the SEC, and then pay bargain rates for the rest of the Big 12
Option D: if Fox maneuvers to try and buy the whole Big 12 T1/T3 deal and offers a solid offer, ESPN can slip in and offer Texas and/or Oklahoma a deal in the SEC

ESPN needs volume so it may be advantageous for them to keep the ACC and Big 12 intact rather than consolidating but I do see the angle where for cost saving measures, the consolidate the Big Players into one entity and pay bargain prices for the others. They’d still control the same amount of content, but the accounting is a little different as the Have’s get huge payouts and the Have Nots get tiny sums.

It is easy to forget that ESPN also owns all of the AAC. If they cherry picked the Big 12 because Texas and/or Oklahoma wanted a much larger payday elsewhere ESPN's option is simple when it comes to cleanup. Move the best of the AAC into the Big 12 and build a true tweener between the G5 and the P5.

That’s a good point. ESPN would be just shifting content from one property they control to another to restock the Big 12

I think the Big Ten NEEDS one of Texas, Oklahoma, or Notre Dame as in it isn't worth expanding without at least one. To keep pace with the SEC, the Big Ten absolutely needs at least two of those because the SEC is likely to get whichever of Texas and Oklahoma (or both) that doesn't end up in the Big Ten but Notre Dame might be too big of a stretch for either party.

How does this look?

West:
Oklahoma
Nebraska
Iowa
Northwestern
Kansas

Iowa likely misses Wisconsin and Minnesota but Oklahoma and Kansas aren't bad options. Northwestern adds a game in Chicago to help the western schools recruit. Nebraska feels more at home after a rocky 2020 when it felt like the conference turned on them.

North:
Wisconsin
Minnesota
Purdue
Illinois
Indiana

Likely the weakest of the divisions but everyone should be happy with who they are playing against, although Indiana probably misses opponents like Michigan State and Illinois still doesn't get Ohio State.

South:
Ohio State
Michigan
Maryland
North Carolina
Virginia

Well what do you know? Ohio State and Michigan should dominate to set up a showdown at the end of the season for a winner-takes-all division title. The southern three are happy to be reunited.

East:
Penn State
Notre Dame
Syracuse
Rutgers
Michigan State

For someone like Penn State, I think they would be okay giving up annual games to Ohio State if they got someone the caliber of Notre Dame as a replacement. Michigan State can still get Michigan annually with a locked non-division game while Rutgers and Syracuse can resume their rivalry.

8 conference games (unless Notre Dame and/or Oklahoma are okay with 9); one from each pod/division plus one fixed non-pod rival. The North is weakest from a brand standpoint but division winners will go to semifinals anyway so it doesn't really matter which division is strong or weak. The non-brands (those not Oklahoma, Nebraska, Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, or Notre Dame) should get at least one home per year against a brand while traveling to another so they get a guaranteed strong home game for marketing. I tried to give everyone at least one or two schools they cared about, even if it wasn't their top opponent. Some may be able to be played annually as a fixed opponent but some may be replaced.

Why this makes sense:
- Two of the highest football brands are added, making more money.
- Two (UNC, Kansas) or three (Syracuse) elite basketball brands as well as a recent champion (Virginia) are added, giving better winter inventory.
- Notre Dame and Syracuse cement the northeast, particularly New York City. No more are are needed.
- The recruiting footprint creeps further south.
- The academics are a net positive.
- Spring sports get a boost, particularly baseball and lacrosse. Good content all year round for the media partner(s).

Maybe Virginia Tech instead of Virginia is more valuable, and if so then do it. Same for Syracuse being replaced by someone else (Duke?) but I thought Notre Dame would want them for the northeast presence. I think it all comes down to what Oklahoma, Texas, and Notre Dame want and can the Big Ten give it to them.

If your main concern is keeping up with the SEC, just add Oklahoma and Texas and keep it a 16 team conference rather than a mammoth 20 team conference. It prevents the SEC from getting Texas, Notre Dame isn't likely going to the SEC and any other adds isn't going to make them more valuable from a demographic standpoint (Clemson from a football standpoint but if ACC schools are fair game for the Big Ten there's nothing stopping the SEC from grabbing them under your scenario).

The Big Ten shouldn’t rush to 20 unless they need to.

In 2024 they need to pursue Oklahoma and Kansas. The Big 12 GOR will be up and their tv rights will be up for negotiation. The Big 10 can offer Oklahoma way more money than what the Big 12 can.

In 2037, when the ACC GOR is up, then you go for ND and a plus 1 for 18 and hope that the SEC is prowling for Florida St and Clemson at the same time, which would make it easier to pry away ACC properties.

(02-16-2021 05:38 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  The Big Ten shouldn’t rush to 20 unless they need to.

In 2024 they need to pursue Oklahoma and Kansas. The Big 12 GOR will be up and their tv rights will be up for negotiation. The Big 10 can offer Oklahoma way more money than what the Big 12 can.

In 2037, when the ACC GOR is up, then you go for ND and a plus 1 for 18 and hope that the SEC is prowling for Florida St and Clemson at the same time, which would make it easier to pry away ACC properties.

I agree that the B1G can offer OU more money than the Big12 but I think the question is can the B1G offer more money than the SEC.

(02-16-2021 07:46 PM)ICThawk Wrote:  

(02-16-2021 05:38 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  The Big Ten shouldn’t rush to 20 unless they need to.

In 2024 they need to pursue Oklahoma and Kansas. The Big 12 GOR will be up and their tv rights will be up for negotiation. The Big 10 can offer Oklahoma way more money than what the Big 12 can.

In 2037, when the ACC GOR is up, then you go for ND and a plus 1 for 18 and hope that the SEC is prowling for Florida St and Clemson at the same time, which would make it easier to pry away ACC properties.

I agree that the B1G can offer OU more money than the Big12 but I think the question is can the B1G offer more money than the SEC.

Money isn't the issue with OU deciding between the SEC and Big 10. The decision will be a wrestling match with Big Money Donors who love sports wanting the SEC and the Academics wanting the Big 10. But keep in mind athletically the sticking points over the Big 10 are significant and none of it has to do with football, except maybe a little bit on the SEC's side with recruiting access and games in Texas whether Texas joins the SEC or not.

The big issues for Oklahoma is that other sports receive large contributions from the Big Money Donors. Surprisingly women's gymnastics and softball both have huge followings at Oklahoma. Both favor an affiliation with the SEC. Oklahoma Basketball for men and women would be very competitive in the SEC. Their women's basketball would be very competitive in the Big 10, but their men's hoops may not be as competitive against a Big 10 slate as they would against the SEC. And then there is baseball. Oklahoma baseball also has a large following and the SEC is a major draw because of the number of players signed by the major leagues.

A big point however in the Big 10's favor is men's wrestling which Title IX eliminated in the SEC. Everything else is a wash.

There are some corporate backers at OU that would favor an affiliation with the Big 10.

Separation from Texas is what they fear, even though they don't talk openly about it. If they leave and Texas doesn't go with them then they need games in Texas. If Texas heads to either the SEC or Big 10 then Oklahoma is likely to go with them.

What they fear most is that Oklahoma accepts a Big 10 offer and leaves with perhaps Kansas for the Big 10 and Texas stays behind to make the Big 12 work, gives it a year and heads to the SEC with or without another Texas Team, and without another Texas Team with Oklahoma State which has the 4th most productive athletic department in the Big 12. IMO this scenario is very unlikely. If Texas moves to the SEC to join A&M they will want either Baylor (oldest university in the state of Texas), or Tech to go with them. I see no scenario where OSU moves to the SEC with Texas. But if they did you can see how this would upset OU. Texas could refuse to play them, OSU would have SEC branding, and Oklahoma is effectively isolated from games in Texas with anything but G5's. They would see this as a major problem.

So when OU makes a decision, if they do, then the struggle will be internal, and the question is will the administration win, or the donors and athletic department? Will Texas be with us, or not? Are we leaving the Pokes a better option than we think?

It won't be money as long as it is relatively close. So the only factor that would tilt this decision without the internal struggle is Texas choosing to leave and then it will be a matter of where Texas is going. And believe it or not there is very little chance Texas heads to the Big 10. They see the distance and business model as being too different from what their fan base is accustomed to experiencing. They are obligated to ESPN until 2031 so if they move prior to 2031 I fully expect them to move to an ESPN held conference. So, unless ESPN buys FOX out and acquires majority rights to the Big 10 I think Texas is off the market for the Big 10. If ESPN does buyout FOX for the Big 10 rights then Texas and Oklahoma could be very much in the mix for the Big 10.

All of that said Oklahoma is tired of Texas getting the special T3 deal from ESPN. They want to make more money because they can't always cover their needs with Oil and Gas money being so up and down, and now with fracking under threat by the Democrats. So I truly think if the SEC and Big 10 offered them an in we'd have their ear. I think they are ready to move. But I don't think they know yet which way they would choose.