July 2012
The Texas A&M Aggies announced today that they plan on leaving the Big 12 for greener pastures by July 2012, with those pastures hopefully being in the SEC. Not only does this move deal a blow to the once proud Big 12, which is now down to nine teams, but it may just be that catalyst that starts everything rolling towards a future of four super conferences in collegiate sports.
What now, Big 12?
So what will the Big 12 do now that they’ve lost Nebraksa, Colorado, and Texas A&M? They could either look to add another team to the conference or stay pat. Possible options of teams that could join the conference include Notre Dame, BYU, SMU, Pittsburgh, Louisville, and even Air Force.
My guess is that none of these teams, or any other teams for that matter, will join the Big 12 for now. Pigs will fly before Notre Dame decides to move to the Big 12, and BYU is pretty happy being an independent program right now.
SMU hasn’t recovered from the death penalty and field a horrible football program, and I just don’t see the long-shots of Pitt, Louisville, or Air Force fitting into the league right now. Then again, I couldn’t have ever predicted some of the changes that happened last summer.
Also, as long as the Big 12 is able to retain Texas and Oklahoma, they should do fine…that is until more movement begins to take place.
SEC to 16?
Now that the SEC has added a 13th team to their conference, there is talk that more teams will be added – perhaps even three teams, which would create a 16-team conference. There are definitely teams to pick from in the Big East and ACC, and it may just be a matter of time before the likes of Clemson Georgia Tech make their way over to the SEC.
Let the Super conferences Begin!
If the SEC does succeed in expanding to a 16-team super conference (and possibly more), I don’t think it would be long before the Pac-12 and Big Ten follow suit. The Pac-12 could raid a few more schools from the Mountain West and the WAC, and the Big Ten would have their pick of Big 12, Big East, and ACC schools.
Lastly, the remaining schools from the Big East and ACC that were left out of the Big Ten and SEC would create their own conference.
How I See the Super Conferences Shaping up
This is how I think things would shape out if there were four super conferences:
Pac-12:
• 12 current teams plus Boise State, BYU, Air Force, Hawaii, and perhaps Fresno State and San Diego State for a 16-18 team conference
SEC:
• 12 current teams plus Texas A&M, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Florida State, Miami, and Louisville for an 18-team conference
Big Ten:
• 12 current teams and Pittsburgh, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, and TCU for a 16-team conference
ACC/Big East/Big 12 merger:
• From the ACC: Maryland, NC State, Wake Forest, Duke, Boston College and Virginia
• From the Big East: Cincy, UConn, Rutgers, USF, Cuse, and West Virginia
• From the Big 12: Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and either Texas Tech or Oklahoma St. or both
*16-17 team conference
Of course this alignment would leave some teams out in the dust to fend for themselves or create their own “mid-major” conferences.
What do you think?
If you read this post, let me know what you think of it. Do you agree that there is a good chance we are moving to super conferences one day? Do you think the Big 12 will stay put for now? Do you agree with my future super conferences?
Post a comment if you have any quality feedback!