NCAA Confernces expanded and disappearing
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http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/15/sports/sec-decides-against-adding-texas-am-for-now.html
SEC Decides Against Adding Texas A&M
Changes to the college football landscape that appeared imminent because of Texas A&M’s flirtations with the Southeastern Conference have been postponed.
Related
SEC to Discuss Admission of Texas A&M (August 14, 2011)
A group of 11 SEC university presidents met in Atlanta on Sunday and decided against immediate action on adding Texas A&M or any other programs.
“The SEC Presidents and Chancellors met today and reaffirmed our satisfaction with the present 12 institutional alignment,” Dr. Bernie Machen, the president of Florida and chair of the SEC presidents, said in a statement.
The statement gave no indication of when, or if, the issue of SEC expansion will addressed again.
“We recognize, however, that future conditions may make it advantageous to expand the number of institutions in the league,” Machen said. “We discussed criteria and process associated with expansion. No action was taken with respect to any institution, including Texas A&M.”
The decision is viewed as a huge victory for the Big 12, which was poised to lose its third member in just more than a year. It is also a huge victory for the Atlantic Coast Conference and Big East, which were bracing to have members poached.
It will inevitably lead to an awkward year for Texas A&M, which clashed with Texas over its new television network and approached the SEC three weeks ago about joining the league.
SEC Decides Against Adding Texas A&M
Changes to the college football landscape that appeared imminent because of Texas A&M’s flirtations with the Southeastern Conference have been postponed.
Related
SEC to Discuss Admission of Texas A&M (August 14, 2011)
A group of 11 SEC university presidents met in Atlanta on Sunday and decided against immediate action on adding Texas A&M or any other programs.
“The SEC Presidents and Chancellors met today and reaffirmed our satisfaction with the present 12 institutional alignment,” Dr. Bernie Machen, the president of Florida and chair of the SEC presidents, said in a statement.
The statement gave no indication of when, or if, the issue of SEC expansion will addressed again.
“We recognize, however, that future conditions may make it advantageous to expand the number of institutions in the league,” Machen said. “We discussed criteria and process associated with expansion. No action was taken with respect to any institution, including Texas A&M.”
The decision is viewed as a huge victory for the Big 12, which was poised to lose its third member in just more than a year. It is also a huge victory for the Atlantic Coast Conference and Big East, which were bracing to have members poached.
It will inevitably lead to an awkward year for Texas A&M, which clashed with Texas over its new television network and approached the SEC three weeks ago about joining the league.
Texas A&M move to SEC getting ugly with Big 12
Texas A&M move to SEC getting ugly with Big 12
BY Dick Weiss
It's getting ugly in the Big 12. Texas A&M president R. Bowden Loftin angrily lashed out at Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe late Wednesday afternoon, accusing him of going back on his word and suggesting one of its fellow league schools was deliberately slowing its departure to the Southeastern Conference.
Loftin pointed to two different statements from Beebe sent within the past week.
The first was a letter sent Sept. 2 to SEC Commissioner Mike Slive that said the Big 12 "and its members" had agreed to waive the right for legal action against the SEC over the Aggies' move. Loftin then shared with The AP a copy of a Sept. 6 email sent by Beebe to Slive that said the legal waivers from each school were actually far from being secure.
"You have notified me that the SEC is willing to accept the application of Texas A&M to become a member of the SEC, provided that the Big 12 member institutions individually waive any legal actions against the SEC for its decision," Beebe wrote.
"I recognize that this issue has been raised due to Baylor University's indication that its governing board has not waived the university's rights," Beebe added. "As you know, the attached letter waived the right of the Big 12 Conference Inc. to take legal action against the SEC. Missouri Chancellor Brady Deaton, chair of the Big 12 Board of Directors, has told me that he informed Texas A&M President Bowen Loftin that such action by the Big 12 Conference Board of Directors was not binding on the individual institutions' governing boards. You seek waivers by the individual institutions, you must receive them from those institutions directly."
That email was sent Tuesday, the same day SEC presidents and chancellors voted unanimously to accept Texas A&M if the league has guarantees it won't be sued over the latest move in conference realignment.
Loftin was clearly angry about Beebe's statement. "I felt that was really a violation of trust right there," Loftin said to the AP in an interview. "We took this letter very seriously. We asked for such a statement. They gave it to us freely. It says here unanimous vote was taken and yet when we look at Beebe's letter last night it says: 'No we didn't really mean that,' and I find that to be rather difficult to digest."
Lotkin claimed A & M was being held hostage against its will.
The Big 12 accused Texas A&M of making an extraordinary request that will put some members at risk of losing millions of dollars in revenue, presumably from the 13-year, $1 billion television deal reached with Fox Sports in April.
Loftin said he believes Texas A&M is "replaceable" when it comes to the TV contract, stating his school would not destabilize the legue by leaving. Loftin was in meetings most of today, trying to figure out what A&M will do next. He said he spoke with SEC officials and that they are trying to sort out the recent developments.
"We believe we have no real future in the Big 12," Loftin claimed.
The Big 12's future has been the subject of intense speculation for more than a year ever since Nebraska left for the Big Ten and Colorado left for the Pac-10.
Texas has the option of remaining independent but has enough brand name recognition to be welcome in any conference if it will accomodate the Longhorn network. Missouri has value to the Big Ten and SEC. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are reportedly talking to the Pac-12. But Iowa State, But Missouri Kansas, Kansas State, Texas Tech and Baylor could be in limbo if the Big 12 collapses.
I wonder who's next to jump ship
Texas A&M move to SEC getting ugly with Big 12
BY Dick Weiss
It's getting ugly in the Big 12. Texas A&M president R. Bowden Loftin angrily lashed out at Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe late Wednesday afternoon, accusing him of going back on his word and suggesting one of its fellow league schools was deliberately slowing its departure to the Southeastern Conference.
Loftin pointed to two different statements from Beebe sent within the past week.
The first was a letter sent Sept. 2 to SEC Commissioner Mike Slive that said the Big 12 "and its members" had agreed to waive the right for legal action against the SEC over the Aggies' move. Loftin then shared with The AP a copy of a Sept. 6 email sent by Beebe to Slive that said the legal waivers from each school were actually far from being secure.
"You have notified me that the SEC is willing to accept the application of Texas A&M to become a member of the SEC, provided that the Big 12 member institutions individually waive any legal actions against the SEC for its decision," Beebe wrote.
"I recognize that this issue has been raised due to Baylor University's indication that its governing board has not waived the university's rights," Beebe added. "As you know, the attached letter waived the right of the Big 12 Conference Inc. to take legal action against the SEC. Missouri Chancellor Brady Deaton, chair of the Big 12 Board of Directors, has told me that he informed Texas A&M President Bowen Loftin that such action by the Big 12 Conference Board of Directors was not binding on the individual institutions' governing boards. You seek waivers by the individual institutions, you must receive them from those institutions directly."
That email was sent Tuesday, the same day SEC presidents and chancellors voted unanimously to accept Texas A&M if the league has guarantees it won't be sued over the latest move in conference realignment.
Loftin was clearly angry about Beebe's statement. "I felt that was really a violation of trust right there," Loftin said to the AP in an interview. "We took this letter very seriously. We asked for such a statement. They gave it to us freely. It says here unanimous vote was taken and yet when we look at Beebe's letter last night it says: 'No we didn't really mean that,' and I find that to be rather difficult to digest."
Lotkin claimed A & M was being held hostage against its will.
The Big 12 accused Texas A&M of making an extraordinary request that will put some members at risk of losing millions of dollars in revenue, presumably from the 13-year, $1 billion television deal reached with Fox Sports in April.
Loftin said he believes Texas A&M is "replaceable" when it comes to the TV contract, stating his school would not destabilize the legue by leaving. Loftin was in meetings most of today, trying to figure out what A&M will do next. He said he spoke with SEC officials and that they are trying to sort out the recent developments.
"We believe we have no real future in the Big 12," Loftin claimed.
The Big 12's future has been the subject of intense speculation for more than a year ever since Nebraska left for the Big Ten and Colorado left for the Pac-10.
Texas has the option of remaining independent but has enough brand name recognition to be welcome in any conference if it will accomodate the Longhorn network. Missouri has value to the Big Ten and SEC. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are reportedly talking to the Pac-12. But Iowa State, But Missouri Kansas, Kansas State, Texas Tech and Baylor could be in limbo if the Big 12 collapses.
I wonder who's next to jump ship
Texas can go fuck themselves. We dont want their bullshit in our conference.
The ONE positive that could come with the collapse of all conference's as we know it, is schools giving the NCAA and the BCS the middle finger and basically bringing the chance of a TRUE playoff to reality. And I am OK with that.
The ONE positive that could come with the collapse of all conference's as we know it, is schools giving the NCAA and the BCS the middle finger and basically bringing the chance of a TRUE playoff to reality. And I am OK with that.
Oklahoma-to-Pac-12 happening this month
osted by Ben Kercheval on September 12, 2011, 9:55 AM EDT
Mike Stoops, Mike Gundy
Possibly.
As we’ve seen with Texas A&M’s attempt to move on to the SEC, departing Big 12 members haven’t exactly been able to just waltz out on the conference at their leisure. The Baylor Four (Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas State and Kansas) have made things especially difficult for the Aggies by not signing over the waiver to pursue litigation.
While Baylor’s case to prove damages in A&M’s departure may seem like a long shot, it did send a clear warning shot to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, whose potential package deal to the Pac-12 also appeared to be on the western horizon.
A&M’s departure would be a devastating blow to the Big 12, but its survival depends on OU and Texas. If the Sooners leave, Baylor may have a more significant case to pursue legal action.
That may not stop OU, though. OrangeBloods.com’s Chip Brown reports this morning that Oklahoma will look to apply for Pac-12 membership by the end of this month, a source close to the school’s administration has said. Oklahoma State is expected to follow.
The source states that OU is “fed up with Big 12 instability” and is prepared to move on with or without Texas.
But it’s important to recap the legal processes that need to occur if Oklahoma and Oklahoma State were to depart. As evident by commissioner Larry Scott‘s comments last Friday, the Pac-12 won’t publicly pursue any kind of expansion with the possibility of a tortious interference lawsuit on the other end. It’s why SEC officials met weeks ago to publicly downplay the possible addition of A&M.
On the surface, A&M needed to “come to the SEC” first; the same goes for the Pac-12 and Oklahoma/Oklahoma State.
It doesn’t mean that the two haven’t spoken privately, or that the Pac-12 wouldn’t pick up the phone if the Sooners call. Provisions in the Pac-12′s new multi-billion TV rights contract with ESPN and FOX allow the two parties to “revist the deal” in the event of expansion. Additionally, it’s been reported before that the Pac-12 will not stand by idly if the conference realignment shift begins in earnest.
But for that shift to begin, Oklahoma would have to send its notice of withdrawal to the Big 12, although Kirk Bohls of the Austin-American Statesman indicates that may not be allowable until A&M leaves. If Oklahoma’s goal is to leave the Big 12 by the end of September like Brown indicates, we would expect that notice to come within a couple weeks provided the all-clear comes for A&M.
One might reasonably expect some serious legal threats from several Big 12 members to follow. As OU and UT hold the key to the Big 12′s survival, any legal roadblock could be both ugly and drawn out. There’s certainly no guarantee that the Baylor Four would end up in a BCS conference if this whole conference realignment shakes out to its fullest extent.
Would that be enough to convince OU to stay? Last time we heard, the Sooners were still the only school left pondering over the idea of equal revenue sharing in the Big 12 in what appears to be another Hail Mary attempt to keep the conference together.
Then again, Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe was able to keep the conference together last summer, even if it was by a thin layer of glue and some duct tape.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned about the realignment drama, nothing is ever a “done deal” until the ink on the contract is dry.
osted by Ben Kercheval on September 12, 2011, 9:55 AM EDT
Mike Stoops, Mike Gundy
Possibly.
As we’ve seen with Texas A&M’s attempt to move on to the SEC, departing Big 12 members haven’t exactly been able to just waltz out on the conference at their leisure. The Baylor Four (Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas State and Kansas) have made things especially difficult for the Aggies by not signing over the waiver to pursue litigation.
While Baylor’s case to prove damages in A&M’s departure may seem like a long shot, it did send a clear warning shot to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, whose potential package deal to the Pac-12 also appeared to be on the western horizon.
A&M’s departure would be a devastating blow to the Big 12, but its survival depends on OU and Texas. If the Sooners leave, Baylor may have a more significant case to pursue legal action.
That may not stop OU, though. OrangeBloods.com’s Chip Brown reports this morning that Oklahoma will look to apply for Pac-12 membership by the end of this month, a source close to the school’s administration has said. Oklahoma State is expected to follow.
The source states that OU is “fed up with Big 12 instability” and is prepared to move on with or without Texas.
But it’s important to recap the legal processes that need to occur if Oklahoma and Oklahoma State were to depart. As evident by commissioner Larry Scott‘s comments last Friday, the Pac-12 won’t publicly pursue any kind of expansion with the possibility of a tortious interference lawsuit on the other end. It’s why SEC officials met weeks ago to publicly downplay the possible addition of A&M.
On the surface, A&M needed to “come to the SEC” first; the same goes for the Pac-12 and Oklahoma/Oklahoma State.
It doesn’t mean that the two haven’t spoken privately, or that the Pac-12 wouldn’t pick up the phone if the Sooners call. Provisions in the Pac-12′s new multi-billion TV rights contract with ESPN and FOX allow the two parties to “revist the deal” in the event of expansion. Additionally, it’s been reported before that the Pac-12 will not stand by idly if the conference realignment shift begins in earnest.
But for that shift to begin, Oklahoma would have to send its notice of withdrawal to the Big 12, although Kirk Bohls of the Austin-American Statesman indicates that may not be allowable until A&M leaves. If Oklahoma’s goal is to leave the Big 12 by the end of September like Brown indicates, we would expect that notice to come within a couple weeks provided the all-clear comes for A&M.
One might reasonably expect some serious legal threats from several Big 12 members to follow. As OU and UT hold the key to the Big 12′s survival, any legal roadblock could be both ugly and drawn out. There’s certainly no guarantee that the Baylor Four would end up in a BCS conference if this whole conference realignment shakes out to its fullest extent.
Would that be enough to convince OU to stay? Last time we heard, the Sooners were still the only school left pondering over the idea of equal revenue sharing in the Big 12 in what appears to be another Hail Mary attempt to keep the conference together.
Then again, Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe was able to keep the conference together last summer, even if it was by a thin layer of glue and some duct tape.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned about the realignment drama, nothing is ever a “done deal” until the ink on the contract is dry.
Texas talking about heading to the ACC?
Chip Brown
Orangebloods.com Columnist
Sources told Orangebloods.com on Tuesday that Texas is looking more and more to the east and the Atlantic Coast Conference as a potential home if the Big 12 falls apart with Oklahoma and Oklahoma State staring down the Pac-12 and Texas A&M counting down the days until it can join the Southeastern Conference.
Here are 5 reasons why the ACC could make more sense for Texas than the Pac-12:
1. The student-athlete
If it's really and truly about the student-athlete (and we know it's not when it comes to realignment, but let's just pretend for a moment), then it makes more sense for the Longhorns to travel east for athletic competitions than west.
Student-athletes would be gaining an hour by traveling back to Austin from the Eastern Time Zone as opposed to losing one or two hours by traveling across two time zones from the west back to Austin in the Pac-12.
2. Academics
According to the new college rankings published Tuesday in U.S. News and World Report, Texas (45) would be joining a conference with schools such as Duke (10), Virginia (25), Wake Forest (25), North Carolina (29), Boston College (31), Georgia Tech (36), Miami (38), Maryland (55), Clemson (68) and Virginia Tech (71).
The lowest rated schools in the ACC, according to U.S. News and World Report, are Florida State and North Carolina State, which are tied at 101st.
In other words, more than half the ACC is ranked ahead of Texas on the list. Good company.
The Pac-12 has good academics, too, thanks to Stanford (5), Cal (21), USC (23), UCLA (25) and Washington (42). But there's a big drop-off from Washington to Colorado (94), and half the Pac-12 is ranked below 100 - Oregon (101), Arizona (124), Utah (124), Arizona State (132) and Oregon State (138).
By the way, potential Pac-16 members Oklahoma (101), Oklahoma State (132) and Texas Tech (138) would not help raise that conference's profile on the list.
3. Football and basketball
Let's call it like we see it. When it comes to college football, everyone is jockeying for second place behind the Southeastern Conference.
No one is going to claim the ACC has good or even great depth as a football conference.
In fact, it has underperformed as a conference since the league last won a national title in 1999 (Florida State).
But there's tradition. Florida State dominated in the 1990s. Miami was a force through the 1980s, 1990s and into the early 2000s. Virginia Tech is a perennial power under Frank Beamer.
Boston College had Doug Flutie. Clemson had Danny Ford. North Carolina had Mack Brown. And Georgia Tech won that shared national title in 1990.
But while the ACC is in limbo, so, too, is the Pac-12.
Like the ACC (Miami and North Carolina), the Pac-12 now finds itself with two programs either reprimanded by the NCAA (USC) or under NCAA investigation (Oregon).
And outside of Oregon last season; USC when Pete Carroll was there; and Stanford when Jim Harbaugh was there, the Pac-12 hasn't exactly been lighting up the college football world.
But when it comes to college basketball, the ACC would rival the Big East in college basketball if the ACC were to bring in Texas or grow to 16 by possibly adding the likes of Kansas, Missouri and Baylor.
4. The non-revenue sports
The ACC has great baseball programs thanks to Florida State, Clemson, North Carolina, Georgia Tech, Miami and Virginia. While the Pac-12 schools have had a lot of success in Omaha in the past, the ACC was second as a conference in RPI (just behind the SEC) and ahead of the Pac-12 - UCLA, Arizona State, USC, Stanford.
If the Big 12 ceases to exist, the ACC probably is No. 1 in women's basketball.
In other words, the non-revenue sports are strong in the ACC and provide a solid home for Texas' "other" sports.
5. The Longhorn Network
This could easily be No. 1 on the list. It's that important for Texas to hold together LHN.
It will be a bit of a sales job and will require the help of ESPN, but in all likelihood Texas can keep the Longhorn Network and its revenue ($15 million per year for 20 years) by going to the ACC, something the Pac-12 would be unwilling to consider.
The ACC is in the first year of a new, 12-year deal with ESPN, which controls the Tier 1, 2 and 3 TV rights in the ACC. And with no Big 12 left to spend money on (in all likelihood), ESPN can probably help make the Longhorn Network palatable to the ACC by giving the ACC a break-the-bank television deal with Texas on board that will blow the ACC members away.
Consider it a reward to the ACC for accepting Texas' unique revenue stream. But there would be incentive for the ACC to take Texas. The Southeastern Conference and Big Ten stand to poach schools out of the ACC if it appears the college arms race is leading to 16-team super conferences.
The ACC could help fortify its walls by adding Texas and a school like Kansas.
FINAL ANALYSIS: While everyone is asking why Texas wouldn't simply head to the Pac-12 with Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech like they were about to do last summer until the 11th hour, a lot has changed that must be considered.
Texas now has the Longhorn Network, which UT's administration and regents are enamored with for a number of reasons, including a $5 million contribution to academics for the first five years of UT's 20-year deal with ESPN.
And the Pac-12 now has a series of regional networks that are not compatible with LHN. The Pac-12 also has the most restrictive "all rights in" agreement of any conference in the BCS. The Pac-12 even has the rights to its members' web sites.
Texas has been monetizing its own web site for years. So with LHN in pulling in $15 million in revenue on its own annually, for Texas to strip down LHN and share revenue with another school and the Pac-12, it would be like going from a free-market economy to socialism.
And no one at UT is looking to take a pay cut in a new conference home. If Texas is making between $30 million and $33 million per year right now in the Big 12, the Longhorns will be looking to make that same money elsewhere.
Texas is trying to convince Oklahoma and Oklahoma State to look east (ACC) - not west (Pac-12). Right now, OU is not thinking that way. Don't rule out Kansas as a possible ACC target.
It's time for Texas fans and faithful to start getting their heads around a possible move to the ACC. It's by no means a done deal. But it's looking more and more like Option No. 1 for the Longhorns if the Big 12 falls apart.
Stay tuned.
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However, this is the same website that assured Texas was heading to the "Pac-16" two years ago, so take it for what its worth.
Chip Brown
Orangebloods.com Columnist
Sources told Orangebloods.com on Tuesday that Texas is looking more and more to the east and the Atlantic Coast Conference as a potential home if the Big 12 falls apart with Oklahoma and Oklahoma State staring down the Pac-12 and Texas A&M counting down the days until it can join the Southeastern Conference.
Here are 5 reasons why the ACC could make more sense for Texas than the Pac-12:
1. The student-athlete
If it's really and truly about the student-athlete (and we know it's not when it comes to realignment, but let's just pretend for a moment), then it makes more sense for the Longhorns to travel east for athletic competitions than west.
Student-athletes would be gaining an hour by traveling back to Austin from the Eastern Time Zone as opposed to losing one or two hours by traveling across two time zones from the west back to Austin in the Pac-12.
2. Academics
According to the new college rankings published Tuesday in U.S. News and World Report, Texas (45) would be joining a conference with schools such as Duke (10), Virginia (25), Wake Forest (25), North Carolina (29), Boston College (31), Georgia Tech (36), Miami (38), Maryland (55), Clemson (68) and Virginia Tech (71).
The lowest rated schools in the ACC, according to U.S. News and World Report, are Florida State and North Carolina State, which are tied at 101st.
In other words, more than half the ACC is ranked ahead of Texas on the list. Good company.
The Pac-12 has good academics, too, thanks to Stanford (5), Cal (21), USC (23), UCLA (25) and Washington (42). But there's a big drop-off from Washington to Colorado (94), and half the Pac-12 is ranked below 100 - Oregon (101), Arizona (124), Utah (124), Arizona State (132) and Oregon State (138).
By the way, potential Pac-16 members Oklahoma (101), Oklahoma State (132) and Texas Tech (138) would not help raise that conference's profile on the list.
3. Football and basketball
Let's call it like we see it. When it comes to college football, everyone is jockeying for second place behind the Southeastern Conference.
No one is going to claim the ACC has good or even great depth as a football conference.
In fact, it has underperformed as a conference since the league last won a national title in 1999 (Florida State).
But there's tradition. Florida State dominated in the 1990s. Miami was a force through the 1980s, 1990s and into the early 2000s. Virginia Tech is a perennial power under Frank Beamer.
Boston College had Doug Flutie. Clemson had Danny Ford. North Carolina had Mack Brown. And Georgia Tech won that shared national title in 1990.
But while the ACC is in limbo, so, too, is the Pac-12.
Like the ACC (Miami and North Carolina), the Pac-12 now finds itself with two programs either reprimanded by the NCAA (USC) or under NCAA investigation (Oregon).
And outside of Oregon last season; USC when Pete Carroll was there; and Stanford when Jim Harbaugh was there, the Pac-12 hasn't exactly been lighting up the college football world.
But when it comes to college basketball, the ACC would rival the Big East in college basketball if the ACC were to bring in Texas or grow to 16 by possibly adding the likes of Kansas, Missouri and Baylor.
4. The non-revenue sports
The ACC has great baseball programs thanks to Florida State, Clemson, North Carolina, Georgia Tech, Miami and Virginia. While the Pac-12 schools have had a lot of success in Omaha in the past, the ACC was second as a conference in RPI (just behind the SEC) and ahead of the Pac-12 - UCLA, Arizona State, USC, Stanford.
If the Big 12 ceases to exist, the ACC probably is No. 1 in women's basketball.
In other words, the non-revenue sports are strong in the ACC and provide a solid home for Texas' "other" sports.
5. The Longhorn Network
This could easily be No. 1 on the list. It's that important for Texas to hold together LHN.
It will be a bit of a sales job and will require the help of ESPN, but in all likelihood Texas can keep the Longhorn Network and its revenue ($15 million per year for 20 years) by going to the ACC, something the Pac-12 would be unwilling to consider.
The ACC is in the first year of a new, 12-year deal with ESPN, which controls the Tier 1, 2 and 3 TV rights in the ACC. And with no Big 12 left to spend money on (in all likelihood), ESPN can probably help make the Longhorn Network palatable to the ACC by giving the ACC a break-the-bank television deal with Texas on board that will blow the ACC members away.
Consider it a reward to the ACC for accepting Texas' unique revenue stream. But there would be incentive for the ACC to take Texas. The Southeastern Conference and Big Ten stand to poach schools out of the ACC if it appears the college arms race is leading to 16-team super conferences.
The ACC could help fortify its walls by adding Texas and a school like Kansas.
FINAL ANALYSIS: While everyone is asking why Texas wouldn't simply head to the Pac-12 with Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech like they were about to do last summer until the 11th hour, a lot has changed that must be considered.
Texas now has the Longhorn Network, which UT's administration and regents are enamored with for a number of reasons, including a $5 million contribution to academics for the first five years of UT's 20-year deal with ESPN.
And the Pac-12 now has a series of regional networks that are not compatible with LHN. The Pac-12 also has the most restrictive "all rights in" agreement of any conference in the BCS. The Pac-12 even has the rights to its members' web sites.
Texas has been monetizing its own web site for years. So with LHN in pulling in $15 million in revenue on its own annually, for Texas to strip down LHN and share revenue with another school and the Pac-12, it would be like going from a free-market economy to socialism.
And no one at UT is looking to take a pay cut in a new conference home. If Texas is making between $30 million and $33 million per year right now in the Big 12, the Longhorns will be looking to make that same money elsewhere.
Texas is trying to convince Oklahoma and Oklahoma State to look east (ACC) - not west (Pac-12). Right now, OU is not thinking that way. Don't rule out Kansas as a possible ACC target.
It's time for Texas fans and faithful to start getting their heads around a possible move to the ACC. It's by no means a done deal. But it's looking more and more like Option No. 1 for the Longhorns if the Big 12 falls apart.
Stay tuned.
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However, this is the same website that assured Texas was heading to the "Pac-16" two years ago, so take it for what its worth.