Twelve is Enough
The ancient television show from my youth was called, "Eight is Enough," and it was a vastly mediocre comedy/drama show about a family with, you guessed it, eight kids. Because we all know too many kids can be overwhelming, which reminds me of all the screaming children remaining in the Big-12. Or as I enjoyed referring to them as the Texas Ten.
Eight teams was certainly enough for the old Big Eight, the old Southwest Conference, the older PAC-8, and even the SEC in the way back machine. Twelve seems to enough now, but of course, this time last year sixteen teams was the magic number for the 'Super' Conference. The aforementioned Super Conference theory looked inevitable after the departure of Colorado and Nebraska from the Big-12, and the wild game of musical chairs between the WAC and the Mountain West Conferences, that the world of college football was destined or doomed, depending on perspective, to move into at least four sixteen team conferences and opening a door for a playoff system.
As we know, the PAC-12 initiated talks and invitations last year that would have witnessed the launch of the PAC-16. However, the Texas Longhorns saw more potential for greenbacks staying where they were and including their own television network. I recall Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas Tech rejecting the then PAC-10's invite and it being perceived as a set back for the left coasters in their plans to take the lead on the formation of the first 'super' conference. As it turns out, not so bad.
PAC-12 Commisioner Larry Scott only needed Colorado and Utah as regional icing on the proverbial television contract cake of 3 Billion dollars, and oh by the way, the conference keeps the rights to their very own television network to cover all the stuff Fox and ESPN do not show on the little screen.
Meanwhile, Texas A&M is likely moving over the SEC, and all of a sudden, the four schools that rejected the PAC-16 concept are back on the doorstep asking if they can still take a look at that year old invitation. Texas isn't losing too much sleep either way, they will have their money and maybe not have to share with any of the other kids. Oklahoma will find a home, one way or another and be fine. The schools that could get caught in a financial crossfire are Baylor, Iowa State when all the dust settles and the music ends. The Big-12 offers to replace defecting programs with the likes of SMU, BYU and Colorado State are not satisfying the Sooners, so a sitcom happy ending is not around the corner for those remaining nine schools.
As everyone has had a year to think about it, the SEC isn't super excited about super conference size, the PAC-12 made their money and then some sans the southwestern football factories, and the twelve schools of the Big Ten seem to be content for the moment. The Big Ten has never looked at any of the remaining Big-12 schools, I think they still want Notre Dame if they have to add anyone else, and then one other team to balance it back out.
It could all change in a day, but for now, it appears the sixteen team conference concept is off the table. If the SEC gets Texas A&M clear of any legal troubles, they are rumored to want Missouri, but no talk of going beyond that. As to those who helped kick off the shuffle, twelve is indeed enough, at least for the PAC-12, the only conference with a number that actually matches the number of teams they have.
Eight teams was certainly enough for the old Big Eight, the old Southwest Conference, the older PAC-8, and even the SEC in the way back machine. Twelve seems to enough now, but of course, this time last year sixteen teams was the magic number for the 'Super' Conference. The aforementioned Super Conference theory looked inevitable after the departure of Colorado and Nebraska from the Big-12, and the wild game of musical chairs between the WAC and the Mountain West Conferences, that the world of college football was destined or doomed, depending on perspective, to move into at least four sixteen team conferences and opening a door for a playoff system.
As we know, the PAC-12 initiated talks and invitations last year that would have witnessed the launch of the PAC-16. However, the Texas Longhorns saw more potential for greenbacks staying where they were and including their own television network. I recall Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas Tech rejecting the then PAC-10's invite and it being perceived as a set back for the left coasters in their plans to take the lead on the formation of the first 'super' conference. As it turns out, not so bad.
PAC-12 Commisioner Larry Scott only needed Colorado and Utah as regional icing on the proverbial television contract cake of 3 Billion dollars, and oh by the way, the conference keeps the rights to their very own television network to cover all the stuff Fox and ESPN do not show on the little screen.
Meanwhile, Texas A&M is likely moving over the SEC, and all of a sudden, the four schools that rejected the PAC-16 concept are back on the doorstep asking if they can still take a look at that year old invitation. Texas isn't losing too much sleep either way, they will have their money and maybe not have to share with any of the other kids. Oklahoma will find a home, one way or another and be fine. The schools that could get caught in a financial crossfire are Baylor, Iowa State when all the dust settles and the music ends. The Big-12 offers to replace defecting programs with the likes of SMU, BYU and Colorado State are not satisfying the Sooners, so a sitcom happy ending is not around the corner for those remaining nine schools.
As everyone has had a year to think about it, the SEC isn't super excited about super conference size, the PAC-12 made their money and then some sans the southwestern football factories, and the twelve schools of the Big Ten seem to be content for the moment. The Big Ten has never looked at any of the remaining Big-12 schools, I think they still want Notre Dame if they have to add anyone else, and then one other team to balance it back out.
It could all change in a day, but for now, it appears the sixteen team conference concept is off the table. If the SEC gets Texas A&M clear of any legal troubles, they are rumored to want Missouri, but no talk of going beyond that. As to those who helped kick off the shuffle, twelve is indeed enough, at least for the PAC-12, the only conference with a number that actually matches the number of teams they have.
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