At least as far as Texas is concerned, it will officially be on come Monday. Reportedly.
Both Chip Brown of OrangeBloods.com and Kirk Bohls of the Austin American-Statesman are reporting that the UT Board of Regents will authorize president William Powers to, as Bohls writes, “act in [the school's] best interest in picking its conference.”
It was announced Friday that a special meeting of the UT Board of Regents had been scheduled for Monday, with the main item on the agenda being the “discussion and appropriate action regarding delegation to act on matters related to athletic conference membership.” Oklahoma’s regents have a meeting earlier the same day with a very similar agenda, and could authorize its president to pursue a similar conference tack.
Brown reports that OU will indeed give their president, David Boren, a similar directive as UT will give Powers
As far as UT is concerned, they appear to have four options when it comes to their future conference affiliation:
- Stay in the Big 12 and help rebuild the beleaguered conference after the departure of Texas A&M and the possible withdrawal of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State for the Pac-12. The Longhorns have publicly stated their desire to remain part of their current conference, but are obviously and rightfully leaving all of their league options open
- Along with Texas Tech, follow the Oklahoma schools to the Pac-12, forming the first BcS superconference. Such a move would effectively end the Big 12 as it would also set the wheels in motion for Missouri to leave for either the Big Ten or SEC, with such a move leaving the Big 12 with just four members.
- Go the opposite direction and become a member of the ACC. Bohls had previously reported that a move by the Longhorns to the ACC should not be dismissed, and that the two sides have already held informal discussions on potential membership. An alliance with the ACC would also allow UT to continue their beloved Longhorn Network unchanged; a move to the Pac-12, for example, would likely result in LHN being “folded into” that conference’s collection of regional networks.
- Eschew a conference alliance altogether for football and become an independent. This appears to be the least likely option for the school, if for nothing more than the era of superconferences could very well be upon us with the crumbling of the Big 12, and UT would not want to be left behind in the conference arms race.
As we’ve stated on multiple occasions the past few days, we all should have a clearer picture of which direction both UT and OU may head come Monday. Whether that will be a good or bad thing for the Big 12 remains to be seen, although all the signs are pointing to a funeral in the not-too-distant future for the 15-year-old conference.
ALL your fault Texas.
This comes down to simple math. 8 conferences with 16 teams per conf paves the way for those conferences to rule the NCAA football world for years to come (with a little help from ESPN, of course). Granted, 8 subdivision teams will need to be added, but the tv and bowl paydays that await what school in their right mind wouldn’t want to make the leap?
Word is we’re joining the ACC in every sport but football. We’ll be a football independent.
Centexhorn, So UT is going the ND route…. interesting.
Would the Pac 12 welcome OK St and Tx Tech, whose academic credentials are a bit lacking?
Interesting what centexhorn postulated. Strange that the ACC would accept this arrangement but it assures them of having a bully in their corner when things get interesting later. Seems Texas needs to be the Alpha male of the conference. They could co-exist with Oklahoma in a Mick Jagger/Keith Richards symbiotic relationship but needs to exert their power in any new a situation. Posts will be interesting on Monday.
If Texas goes independent will they get the same deal that Notre Dame gets in regards to the BCS?
@centexhorn: UT’s preference above everything else is to remain affiliated with a conference in football. Going the indy route is considered a last resort.
@bertenheim: Were it not for UT and their desire for their own TV network last year, TT and OSU would now be members of the Pac-16. As long as Texas and Oklahoma come along, the Pac will take the little brothers.
The ACC? The Atlantic Coast Conference? With Miami, FSU, Boston College, North Carolina, and those other schools that are on the, you know, Atlantic Coast?
Do they teach geography at Texas?
This whole thing has gotten ridiculous.
@Deb
Technically the Gulf of Mexico is part of the Atlantic Ocean….
@Deb,
Do they teach geography at Texas?
This whole thing has gotten ridiculous.
—————————————————————————————-
They teach economics. Ridiculous…I agree.
@frug …
And if we want to get into global plate tectonics, there’s really only one land mass that’s split up and drifted around and only one really large ocean.
Or if we want to be sensible, we can admit that Texas isn’t on the Atlantic Coast.
@TxGrown …
Good answer.
Mizzou will be headed to the SEC.
DeLOSS blew it. Powers is his puppet. How stupid can they get? This is completely out of hand. ACC – NOT! Independent – NOT. PAC12/16 – Possible. But you can guarantee that Powers will do what DeLOSS has decided to keep the bucks flowing. Complete Idiots.
What happened with TX and the Big Ten? Anyone know anything about this at all? What’s the draw to the ACC?
The draw to the ACC is winning in Football (Duke, Wake, Clemson, Virginia, NC and NC State, etc. and losing in BBall. Also the games would start at a reasonable hour. Games in most of the PAC don’t start until 9:30-10:00 Texas time.
murraychadwick,
TX could keep LHN with ACC move.
There is a proposed NCAA Realignment, but it is said that Texas is a major deciding player, and they haven’t signed on.
The WAC, Mt. West, C-USA, Big East, SunBelt are all in on this realignment.
Texas fans are soooo pissy they’d actually pretend they’re on the Atlantic Coast because “technically” the Gulf of Mexico is part of the Atlantic Ocean rather than just admitting that would be a bizarre affiliation.
You know, my Steelers were decimated by the Ravens last weekend and I’ve spent all week owning that butt-whomping. I’m a lady, but at least I’ve got the cojones to admit it is what it is.
You Longhorns are a cowardly bunch.
Deb,
I am a lifelong Longhorn fan and did not appreciate what the University of Texas did in creating the Longhorn Network. I also think it is absolutely retarded that all of these schools are bolting for bigger money. However I must say that I don’t like being lumped in with “You Longhorns” comment. Totally unneccesary. I read and appreciate the comments you leave on PFT and CFT and I wouldn’t ever lump you in as a “typical” Steeler fan. Come on..you are classier than that.
Rod
@mulie63 …
You’re right, and I apologize. Having a bad day today and popped onto PFT for a little stress release. Often, without warning, the moderators there limit my word count to two lines. Everyone else can post paragraphs, but I’m capped at low word count and can’t exceed it or my post won’t go through. So I have to keep rewriting until I hit the magic number. If I try to post additional comments, they’ll remove them, but they’ll post my complaints–and since no one knows what I’m talking about, those get slammed. It’s a sick game they play because one writer has a personal issue with me. Just didn’t need that garbage today.
Was upset with them and took it all out on the Longhorns. Have felt bad ever since. Thanks for giving me the chance to apologize … and to vent
The power-trippers on PFT are the major reason I appreciate John and Ben. I’m not the only person who gets screwed around by their twisted moderators while trying to post sincere comments. It’s a shame Florio lets it go on. He worked too hard building that site to let petty apes run it. At least we can be thankful that here the audience (customer) is appreciated.
Texas could opt out…
Oklahoma could opt out…
Baylor’s lawsuit against TAMU get’s a little more ‘Sucky’ every day.
Is Baylor gonna sue everyone?
Just like any good motion picture, what’s coming
next is:
THE END
I kinda doubt ‘The Big 4′ will carry much water…