M
MarsExpansion is winding down nationally. Most fans have had enough of it by now anyways.
Still...
I was just thinking...
The Big XII is fragile. Their national profile is weak.
Half the conference is still looking for the first train out of town, and the remaining "orphans" (Kansas State, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Baylor) aren't good enough to call themselves "BCS".
Texas wants money, but even more they NEED conference stability. The catch is, they must also keep their power and be in control of their conference. Right now after losing Nebraska, not only are they unable to attract the likes of Arkansas, but they're not even strong enough to keep Missouri for much longer.
So why don't the Longhorns simply create their own new conference? Similar to USC's situation right now, Texas might have to sacrifice a few years of post-season opportunities, but then their money, stability, power, and respect would be greater than ever!
If Texas and ESPN got together and decided, "We want to create the greatest conference in sports!", what could it end up looking like?
How about...
Texas
Texas Tech
Texas A&M
LSU
Oklahoma
Arkansas
Notre Dame
Nebraska
Kansas
Missouri
Tennessee
Kentucky
Texas, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma get Arkansas, LSU, and Tennessee for southern rivals and for recruiting purposes, and vice-versa.
Kentucky and Kansas get to be in the same hoops power conference together.
Nebraska gets to share Notre Dame's football prestige, Missouri gets to share Notre Dame's academic prestige (#20 nationally), and Notre Dame gets to be the final piece added to the greatest puzzle in the history of the NC2A.
And EVERYONE gets equal revenue sharing!
#1 in Football, #1 in Basketball, #1 in TVs!
After landing the Golden Domers and pulling off successful raids of both the SEC and the Big Ten, no one would deny it (the SEC could always add FSU, Miami, Clemson, and GT and survive just fine- including much less travel; naturally the Big east would soon die).
How much money do you think this conference could rake in per school? How about... $30MM/year? It's possible. Extremely possible.
In fact, in today's college sports world, almost everything seems possible.