I in no way have any insider friends connected to the Ducks, but someone I work with has extremely close ties to UT. He said Larry Scott has been a busy boy when it comes to Texas, and has told them if A&M bolt, he wants Texas now. Calls also made to Oklahoma Oklahoma State, Kansas, Mizzou and Indiana State. There is a clause in the tv contract that will give the conference more money if they add more teams. Also a clause for 6 regional sports channels. This would basically allow Texas to keep their Longhorns network and still join the conference. Initial talk had the conference split East/West with the original Pac 8 in one division and UA, ASU, UTAH, COL, TEXAS, OKLAHOMA, OKLAHOMA ST AND KANSAS in the other. If Texas doesn't agree to come, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State would be "wooed out of their minds" There you go. That's what my boss, a UT alum with deep pocket connections, told me this afternoon 2013 is the year he said they were targeting
Anything is possible, but there's always a lot of talk about changes within the conferences. SEC officials recently stated they are open, but have not received any formal application from Texas AM. Keep in mind, it's in a conferences best interest to keep schools and they can and will give out legal and binding fees and fines for schools who attempt to jump ship. "Texas A&M announced Wednesday that it will leave the Big 12 Conference by July 2012 if it can find another home, preferably in the Southeastern Conference. The decision could set off another round of conference realignment in college sports and it raises questions about the future of the Big 12, which is starting the football season with 10 teams after losing Nebraska and Colorado. The Big 12 said it would move quickly to find at least one replacement for the Aggies but offered no timeline. “The presidents and chancellors of the nine remaining member institutions are steadfast in their commitment to the Big 12,” Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe said in a statement. “As previously stated, the conference will move forward aggressively exploring its membership options.” http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=ap-texasam-big12
We should kick Oregon State and Washington State out of the Pac 12 and replace them with the Oklahomas. (just kidding)
Just imagine how much better the Civil War would be if it were a non conference game in sunny September. Hell, the Beavers could change their turf to orange and join Boise States conference.
Ted Miller comments on an article that appeared in the Austin Statesman believes Texas wants Oklahoma to make the first overtures to the Pac-12: Should Oklahoma act upon its earnest desires and seek an invitation to join the Pacific-12 Conference — something I'm fully expecting to happen within days, if not hours — that decision could well be the killing blow to the Big 12 while also providing Texas the political cover to follow suit and ask for admission as well. The Pac-12's not going to ask first. It's been down that road before, led along until the eleventh hour a year ago. Bohls goes so far as to make a prediction. Here's what I think will happen, probably before the calendar turns to October: Your new Pac-16 members: Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. The era of the super conference begins. http://espn.go.com/blog/pac12
...I guess if this came to pass (this isn't the first time this has been discussed) it could equal a four team playoff. considerably more $$ involved for programs.
