Whatever options remain for Big 12 rest on what happens with Big Ten, ACC and Pac-12 alliance

The Big Ten, Pac-12 and Atlantic Coast Conference could bring a lot of news in the next few weeks.

The eight Big 12 schools other than Texas and Oklahoma will be watching closely.

The remaining options for the rest of the Big 12 might depend on what happens.

The first point concerns the rapidly evolving alliance between the Big Ten, Pac-12 and ACC. It’s real and could be announced as early as this week, The Athletic reported for the first time on Friday.

The alliance could encompass anything from football planning to defending the college sports model. Don’t underestimate the role the Oklahoma and Texas move played in it.

The idea of ​​a 41 schools alliance would be a potential counterweight to the SEC’s oversized ambitions.

You will find that the Big 12 is nowhere to be found, be it the idea that it is damaged merchandise or that the three conferences have more in common.

During an interview with ESPNU Radio, West Virginia Sports Director Shane Lyons described the omission as “very disappointing” and said he did not know why the Big 12 were excluded from the talks.

Surely, Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby’s meeting with Pac-12 colleague George Kliavkoff a few weeks ago seems like old history.

Kliavkoff himself made some news in an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal last week. He said he would not “actively poach” any school, but he has listened to a number of schools contacting the Pac-12.

The Pac-12 held “initial meetings” with everyone who expressed interest, Kliavkoff said. The conference set up a working group on recommendations for enlargement.

“There’s no set deadline for this, but I’d say it’s not good for college athletics given the vibration that comes with the news from Texas and Oklahoma,” said Kliavkoff.

“The faster we can dampen these vibrations, the better. We will decide in the next few weeks whether we want to expand or not. “

Then Big 12 schools will know whether a golden invitation to another Power Five conference is realistic. Texas Tech, TCU, Baylor, and Oklahoma State have all been linked to the Pac-12 in published reports.

As much as the eight remaining schools have publicly pledged their solidarity, history has shown that self-interest will eventually prevail.

Right at the start of the expansion, Kansas pulled quite a bit of Snark for a self-promoting tweet that seemed to double in size almost like a linked-in realignment application.

Other schools were more cautious. This week, TCU Sports Director Jeremiah Donati tried to calm his fan base with an online newsletter.

“While it is disappointing that Oklahoma and Texas are announcing their decision to leave the Big 12 Conference in 2025, I can assure you that the TCU is in a position of strength,” said Donati.

If the Pac-12 decides to expand and adds multiple Big 12 members, then the conference is likely to implode sooner rather than later. Then Texas and OU will go to the SEC well before 2025.

If not, the eight schools will have to make a decision.

It won’t necessarily change things, but it will crystallize the possibilities.

If there is no way to another power conference, the Big 12 have to react quickly.

The perception can often become a reality and the perception right now is that the Big 12 expiration date is getting closer.

So what is the Big 12 doing? Something contemplated in 2016 – expansion.

With only eight schools on board, it must be vital. Leave regional concerns behind and put together the best two or four or six schools that can include a solid football and basketball conference. Then the Big 12 can claim a status of no worse than the fifth best conference out there.

BYU, Cincinnati and Central Florida go without saying. Then check out the next group including Boise State, Navy, Houston, SMU, South Florida (as a travel partner for central Florida), and Colorado State.

Why should a Group of Five school join the Big 12? After all, the American Athletic has made enormous progress under Mike Aresco.

But for now, the Big 12 still bears the NCAA designation as a conference of autonomy, which means some benefits for rules and legislation. And as a power conference, it gets a huge chunk of college football playoff revenue.

Yes, the Oklahoma and Texas loss takes up half the TV value of the conference, if you believe Bowlsby. The next TV deal will be much less and the Big 12 earnings won’t come close to the $ 40 million per school projected for the next year.

Nevertheless, the new Big 12 will not be impoverished. And in an expanded 12-team playoff system, there should be a decent chance of a CFP team every year.

Depending on what happens over the next few weeks, the Big 12’s best option may be the only option, and its only option may be the best option.

For more coverage of college sports, see the Dallas Morning News here.

Click here to view subscription options for The News and SportsDay.

[ad_1]