Kind of slow on board, and I think it's an interesting topic. I think they'll go with four teams over two, as ESPN/Fox owe them $25M per year for every team they add. So four teams is $100M a year. They could pay the AAC buyouts which are around $10M each to get them playing in 2017, and still come out ahead. Plus that sets up their new 2017 title game. They get the same $25M no matter who they add, good or bad.
BYU needs to be their first or second choice, if not, they're jackasses. They have a national following. They're good at football and multiple other sports like basketball. They have the brand. They have the academics. It's a no brainier. The Sunday thing has been easy to work out in their other conferences. They have more going for them than most of the existing Big 12 members.
Houston is second. They're big. They're in the fourth largest market (dominated currently by SEC and UH, but not Big12). They're good in football and can be good in basketball we know. They're in that academic research consortium. I think they'd be a good fit in SEC too, and help deliver even more of Texas to SEC.
Cinncinatti is third, gives WVU a partner. They're pretty good and football and basketball. In a big market.
Fourth team is harder, I'd go with Colorado St as gets the Big 12 back into the state. They have potential. Memphis and UConn are reasonable alternatives to CSU.
I think UCF or USF are mind numbing choices with zero brand. They bring nothing despite being in a big market and fertile recruiting area. The Big12 can wait thirty years and those two will still be there for the taking.
BYU needs to be their first or second choice, if not, they're jackasses. They have a national following. They're good at football and multiple other sports like basketball. They have the brand. They have the academics. It's a no brainier. The Sunday thing has been easy to work out in their other conferences. They have more going for them than most of the existing Big 12 members.
Houston is second. They're big. They're in the fourth largest market (dominated currently by SEC and UH, but not Big12). They're good in football and can be good in basketball we know. They're in that academic research consortium. I think they'd be a good fit in SEC too, and help deliver even more of Texas to SEC.
Cinncinatti is third, gives WVU a partner. They're pretty good and football and basketball. In a big market.
Fourth team is harder, I'd go with Colorado St as gets the Big 12 back into the state. They have potential. Memphis and UConn are reasonable alternatives to CSU.
I think UCF or USF are mind numbing choices with zero brand. They bring nothing despite being in a big market and fertile recruiting area. The Big12 can wait thirty years and those two will still be there for the taking.
