The Big XII Thread (2013).....

Louisville should have been called, and maybe there is still a chance to woo them to the BIG 12.

call em up Wheat. Tell the Big12 commish you have my blessing. Cincy and Louisville will be the BEST combo addition to the Big12 in my opinion, but my opinion is based on the Big12 not poaching teams from the ACC.

dunno, but I'm pretty sure that Bowlsby doesn't give a rats patootie what we think, but I could be wrong.


I'll ring him up tomorrow and see if he'll answer......

Louisville might bring the 26 mil necessary for Big 12 admission, but Cinci won't come close. The Big 12 has run itself into a corner in that there are no 2 schools that will bring the kind of money/value to make it worthwhile to invite them in. I doubt Louisville would want to forsake the ACC for the Big 12, though they might.

Only BYU will bring the value and maybe Louisville would. Good luck to you guys in finding 2 schools that will bring 26 mil each.

There is zero need to expand.

Even moreso with the upcoming playoff format of allowing 4 teams.
The only argument is that the current format hinders the ability to get a team into the BCS title game.
The 4 team playoff would virtually eliminate that concern.
If the conference is truly worried about the cannibalism of the 9 game, simply make it 8 games and not play everyone.
The Big 10 did it just fine with only 8 games.

I'm understanding now why the Big 12 targeted FSU & Clemson. These two schools would definitely bring the value and pay their own way while the other schools out there may or may not. The Virginia schools and NC schools would, too, but FSU & Clemson fit the Big 12 "type" much better than anybody else in the ACC. GT is slowly but surely losing value to UGA and that will continue until/unless GT gets serious about football, which may never happen. 

Stoops is shaking up the house. DT coach Jackie Shipp gone. TE/OT coach Bruce Kittle gone. OL coach James Patton gone to join Kevin Wilson in Indiana. OL coach of WVU Bill Bendenbaugh is expected to take the same position at OU per SoonerScoops.

I predict WVU will finish the 2013 regular season at 6-6 based on our 2013 schedule. It will be tough, with our three best players on offense gone. If the defense shows up and we get a few breaks, then 7-5 will be possible; maybe 8-4, but that's asking a lot. I see us getting an invite to one of the Big 12 low tier bowls, I think we will have a return trip back to the New Era Pinstripe Bowl or get an invite to the Heart of Dallas Bowl.

I think the Big 12 would be wise to try to move into the mid-atlantic and Kentucky given that they currently have WVU hemmoraghing money (according to a report I read the other day) in part by being out there on its own, but also the cost of joining the conference.  

The problem with the current format is very much that without the title game, there's not that end of the year marquee matchup that can boost a Big 12 team into the playoffs.  Sure there can be issues like having a team like TTU winning a division and knocking off a superior UT, OU, or WVU - but if done right (as the SEC has) you can almost always guarantee a matchup of top 10 or top 15 programs. 

Going to 8 conference games wouldn't solve this.  If OU is ranked #6 while other Big 12 teams are of similar records and ranked top 15 at the end of year, the lack of a CCG means that OU's ranking will most likely remain on the outside looking in.  Whereas if they have a game against say a #8 WVU, then winning that game would likely propel them into the playoffs (for either team).  

I think the Big 12 would be wise to try to move into the mid-atlantic and Kentucky given that they currently have WVU hemmoraghing money (according to a report I read the other day) in part by being out there on its own, but also the cost of joining the conference.  

The problem with the current format is very much that without the title game, there's not that end of the year marquee matchup that can boost a Big 12 team into the playoffs.  Sure there can be issues like having a team like TTU winning a division and knocking off a superior UT, OU, or WVU - but if done right (as the SEC has) you can almost always guarantee a matchup of top 10 or top 15 programs. 

Going to 8 conference games wouldn't solve this.  If OU is ranked #6 while other Big 12 teams are of similar records and ranked top 15 at the end of year, the lack of a CCG means that OU's ranking will most likely remain on the outside looking in.  Whereas if they have a game against say a #8 WVU, then winning that game would likely propel them into the playoffs (for either team).  

Baron, you are right with the Big 12 needing to expand eastward. WVU really need a travel partner. The Cincinatti Bearcats and the Memphis Tigers would work perfectly. That way the conference could divide up to an East / West division format. Both schools bring a solid basketball teams, and the Bearcats are solid in football. Even if the conference would invite only one school, that would help WVU.