Big 12 Conference Realignment Made Simple, Power Five Welcomed, Basketball Explored
STILLWATER – It’s summer and that means conference realignment and plenty of rumors and stories on which schools are going which direction. I’ve read some material lately that is comical as there are many reports coming from folks that obviously have no real sources and, in some cases, don’t appear to have much common sense. I can tell you that Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports has been solid, Brett McMurphy of Action Network has good people, and Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman has been spot on with what I’ve heard from my sources. I need to see where Berry is going for his info because he might be tapping into my Oklahoma State sources. Remember, Oklahoma is no longer at the table at Big 12 Meetings like last week at The Greenbriar in West Virginia. The Sooners contingent was in Destin, Fla. at the SEC Meetings.
Okay, this is a lot simpler than you would think. Give Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark credit. He knows you want to be in the conversation and Yormark has people talking. That’s fine. He has already jumped the Pac-12 and their commissioner George Kliavkoff in negotiating a television/multimedia rights deal and that was huge! The Big 12 is the only conference with ESPN and FOX Sports both on board for their future extension of the previous contract that takes them to 2030. Yormark has people talking with the Rucker Park project in New York City, the internationalization of the Big 12 with Mexico as the first target.
Now, for relaignment Yormark is known for the phrases; younger, hipper, cooler; we’re open for business; and we’re talking to everybody.
There is some truth to all of those phrases, but maybe not as complete as one would imagine or as some uninformed have reported.
The Big 12 Presidents and Chancellors (board of directors) are committed to protecting their pieces of pie. Oklahoma and Texas financial penalties will cover any lost revenue per school at next year’s end as the legacy eight school will divy up the loot that the Sooners and Longhorns were supposed to get.
The Pac-12 is definitely in play with Colorado being at the top of the list. Part of that is on Colorado’s part. The Big 12 even met with Coach Prime Deion Sanders last week to discuss the recruiting advantages of the Buffaloes being in the Big 12 over the Pac-12. Colorado is a hot entity right now. Arizona, as has always been mentioned, is a prime target with a strong athletic department and tradition in football. Arizona State and Utah are in play too. At Arizona State there is an administration that is more torn about losing California ties. Utah has their reservations about being in a league again with archrival BYU. That rivalry is not just on the field, it seems closer to Bedlam where there are deep cuts and massive agnst.
Our source told us there have been conversations with the University or Oregon, but nothing serious.
The Colorado and Arizona potential movement won’t take place until the Pac-12 comes out with its’ multimedia rights contract. That needs to happen soon if that conference is going to enetertain expansion with San Diego State. The Aztecs would see their exit free triple if no move is announced before the end of June.
Now, for the talk on adding for basketball schools only. I would call that hypotethical at this stage. My sources tell me the Big 12 Board of Directors are only interested in adding Power Five schools that bring immediate value to the conference. The money has to be there and they are not open to slicing up the pie into more pieces, only making the pie bigger.
Gonzaga has been a target for some time and there is curiosity there. The Zags would be a basketball only member. However, as Dennis Dodd of CBS reported and my sources confirmed Connecticut, while a huge basketball attraction, only moves as an entire athletic department. Their football is not competitive in the Big 12 and they are not an attraction that brings value in football rights. The basketball, at this time, doesn’t offset that plus there is the question of travel for UConn and the other Big 12 schools. Even West Virginia and Cincinnati are decent hikes to Storrs, Ct.
Keep your eyes on Colorado and Arizona. That is a viable story. Right now, the rest is more summer entertainment.