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Conference realignment never sleeps, and that was evident during this week’s Big 12 media day event. The league, which just added four teams from the crumbling PAC 12, is reportedly “still open for business.”
Commissioner Brett Yormark made his pitch to potential suitors while in Las Vegas, promoting his conference’s brand as best he could.
That included grouping the Big 12 with the SEC and Big Ten, while also pointing to the league’s social media popularity in comparison to other P4 conferences.
“We’re on of the three best conferences in America, and we’re getting better,” he exclaimed while speaking with the media. “I will not stop until we’re the No. 1 conference in America. That’s my ambition.”
Part of ‘getting better’ will include finding ways to bridge the revenue gap between the SEC and Big Ten, as well as potentially adding some heavy hitters in further expansion.
Clemson and Florida State, who are desperate to leave the ACC, would certainly fit the mold. According to Ross Dellenger of Yahoo! Sports, early conversations between the parties have already begun.
Dellenger sat down with John Kurtz on Wednesday to discuss the possibility of the ‘Noles and Tigers jumping ship for the Big 12.
“I think there is at least early conversation between the Big 12 and those schools about the possibility,” he said. “I don’t know that it’s anything serious yet, because they do have to get out of the ACC…
Dellenger then noted that Clemson and Florida State would need more money from the Big 12.
“Not only would you have to help them get out [of the ACC], but you’d then have to pay them in distribution when they get to the league an amount that is at least close to the Big Ten or SEC… The Big 12 gets mid $30Ms… The SEC and Big Ten are at more like $70M per year…
“Is the Big 12 okay with unequal revenue distribution? Would they be okay with paying Florida State and Clemson $10-20M more a year?”
Essentially, they could become the new Texas and Oklahoma!
Now, the league took an obvious hit when it lost Texas and Oklahoma earlier this offseason as those were the conference’s two top brands. Still, a number of rival fanbases were happy to see the schools leave – most notably the Longhorns.
Much of that is due to the “step-sibling” treatment given to those “lesser” affiliates.
The league previously catered to its top dogs! It’s the reason Texas A&M bolted for the SEC more than a decade ago.
Would the Big 12 sacrifice the happiness of its affiliates to land replacements for the Sooners and Horns? It would probably need the approval of school presidents, which could provide a roadblock.
This, of course, would only be a fallback plan for the Tigers and Seminoles, who have sights set on the SEC or Big Ten. But with those leagues on the fence about adding FSU and Clemson (SEC is already represented in those states, B1G may not want to go south), the possibility of a Big 12 move remains on the table.
Never say never in conference realignment, but this move would ruffle some feathers!