Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
The maelstrom that is the current college football landscape has at least seemed to slow down today. So let's catch up.
What's Done is Done. It's worth noting again: In 2011, Colorado will join the Pac-10, Nebraska will join the Big Ten, and Boise State will join the Mountain West. That's the easy part.
A&M + SEC = ??? The silent giant in this entire mess has been the SEC. Reports that SEC commissioner Mike Slive has met with Texas A&M officials in College Station, then, are a bit of a shock to the system. Also a shock? A&M turning down the Pac-10's overtures, according to Chip Brown's sources, who enabled Brown to report such before a Texas A&M spokesman rebutted it. Sunday night, A&M president R. Bowen Loftin confirmed that his school is still shopping around. Later, the Houston Chronicle reported that the Aggies are likely SEC-bound.
It makes sense that the SEC would want inroads in the Lone Star State, sure, and especially in and around Dallas and Houston; it also makes sense that A&M would want a better cut of revenue from a bigger pie. But it's hard to believe that merely adding A&M is the SEC's goal. Hook Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott up to an IV of truth serum and ask him about the conference's interest in A&M specifically, and I'll bet he'd say it was mostly to get to Texas, because Texas is the prize in Fox's eyes. I wonder if that's part of Slive's prerogative, too.
It also makes sense that the SEC might be feeling heat from one of its megadeal broadcast partners. ESPN would have been squeezed out of Texas, the state, should A&M have joined Texas, the school, and the other Lone Star squads from the Big 12 in a mass exodus to the Pac-Something-or-Other. ESPN putting pressure on the SEC to secure part of Texas isn't so far-fetched, especially if a renegotiated TV deal was the carrot (or stick) involved: Losing the Big 12 as a whole and the lion's share of Texas to boot doesn't sound like something the Worldwide Leader in Sports would allow, does it?
'Horns Won't Roam Free? Speaking of Texas, it's seeming more possible that the Longhorns will stay in a reformed Big 12.
As Brown explains, giving Texas an SEC-sized share of TV revenues after the current Big 12 deal expires in 2011 and allowing the school to put together its own network might be enough to keep the 'Horns on the range. That split isn't something the Pac-10 (or Pac-12, or Pac-16) is openly guaranteeing, and the local network likely evaporates should Texas bolt and join the NüPac, with its guarantees of a conference network and Fox coverage precluding individual schools from setting up their own. Texas still holds all the cards, and the school's decision, which should come Tuesday at a regents' meeting, will still shape what happens with the rest of this shakeup.
Update: Monday morning, Brown reported that, according to sources, Texas will commit to a ten-team Big 12. Then ESPN's Joe Schad tweeted that a Pac-10 departure by Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State was "imminent." Then my head exploded.
Send Money? But a wild card has emerged in the form of Memphis, and its corporate guardian angel. FedEx's CEO is reportedly willing to contribute $10 million a year to whatever BCS conference takes in the Tigers. FedEx has since denied that report. Even if it is true, it's not clear exactly how that money would change hands, but I agree with Ryan Ballengee, who imagines a FedEx16, that naming rights might be the loophole. Should this transpire, though—and, clearly, the NCAA's not going to stand in the way—it opens up an entirely different avenue of moneymaking for college athletics. Can you imagine the Wal-Mart SEC or the Washington Huskies Presented by Microsoft? You might not have to for long.
There are plenty of pieces in motion, but the end is probably almost in sight. For now. (Maybe.) We'll be watching various schools' regents' meetings this week very closely, and hopefully have a clear explanation for you when the dust settles.
This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
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Comments
I am currently a student at Texas A&M, Class of 2011. If the Big XII is destined to be destroyed, then I am 100% behind the idea of joining the SEC. First of all, the competition amongst the SEC, in my eyes, is top notch. In the 2009 football season alone only two teams finished with an overall record below .500 (Vandy and Mississippi St.). I would love to see the Aggies face powerhouses Florida and Alabama and joining the SEC would also benefit the reunited rivalry with Arkansas from back in the Southwest conference days. Next, the SEC has one of the highest attendance reports. Kyle Field can hold 82,500+ and I am sure that visting teams have more than enough chances to attend games here. Next, SEC has advantages over the PAC-10 travel wise. Personally, I would not be able to travel to southern Cali for a game against USC and I love the chance to attend every game. Trips to LSU, Alabama, or Arkansas would be much more beneficial. Finally, A&M has a rich tradition and teams in the SEC share the same respect for tradition. Outside of football, Texas A&M can benefit by playing in the SEC. Basketball, baseball, and Texas A&M’s back to back Men’s and Women’s NCAA Championship track teams should appreciate a change in competition as well. I may be just a 21 year old Sociology major, but I love my school and want what’s best for A&M. SEC is the place to be.
by Krpec07 on Jun 14, 2010 12:44 AM EDT reply actions
As a Pac-10 guy I totally agree with you. The A&M to SEC is just right logistically and more importantly culturaly.
No offense, but I’d rather have Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma St, Colorado, and Kansas.
by SailorGabe on Jun 14, 2010 8:33 AM EDT reply actions
I would love to see A&M in the SEC. It just sounds right, if you ask me.
by patriot82 on Jun 14, 2010 11:04 AM EDT reply actions
When I lived in Baton Rouge, the LSU/A&M rivalry was a great one. Let’s get after it, we’ll be making ribs, partaking in rye, and enjoying southern belles in no time.
by jaek on Jun 14, 2010 11:22 AM EDT reply actions
It really does not matter to me what happens with all of this realignment talk. If the Big 12 minus two want to stay together, then I wish them well. Same with them joining the Pac 10. The only thing I will say is that I do not want the SEC to be in any way responsible for the breakup of the Big 12. If the Big 12 is going to go away, then I would love for A&M to come to the SEC, but only after Texas the the puppies have announed their intentions to join the Pac. If A&M does come to the SEC, then we will need at least one more team. That becomes the next question. That, and does the Big 10 raid the Big East as that could give us some answers as who the other SEC team would be.
by LSUSMCR on Jun 14, 2010 1:44 PM EDT reply actions
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