Big 12 Expansion Scenarios

By: Alex Burks

Just for kicks!

Easy Pickings: These teams have contacted the Big 12 about joining

BYU

SMU

Wishful Thinking: The Big 12 would have to give up some delusions

Boise State

TCU

West Virginia

Worth a long look: These teams have some strengths, some wins

Houston

Louisville

Hyper Regional: Last resort, regional mentality fully pursued

Tulsa

Wyoming

Rice

UTSA

UTEP

Longshots: Hard sells, huge rewards

Notre Dame

Arkansas

Texas A&M

First step: Big 12 (10)

The most likely scenario has BYU joining the Big 12 with the mutual affection. However, if Texas A&M can be convinced to stay, which might require another longshot acquisition in Notre Dame or Arkansas, then BYU will still probably get the nod to round it out to 12. [Now that the SEC has accepted TAM it is an even longer shot.]

Second step: Big 12

After BYU, the Big 12 will have to commit to geographic expansion. The best bet here would be to go after TCU, West Virginia, or least likely Boise State. Or worst case: SMU.

Third step: Big 16

Here's where it gets tough. Let's say the most likely 10th team is BYU, the 11 and 12 are TCU and West Virginia. Then you still want four additional top 25 caliber teams. SMU is getting there. Boise State has been there for a long time. Houston has flirted with top 25 status recently and Louisville will do. If the Big 12 decides to go Hyper regional it would swap out Boise State and Louisville for two of the following three: Tulsa, Wyoming and/or Rice. If the Big 12 wants to get big it would forget about hyper regional and focus on Top 25 caliber teams. The Big 12 should tout programs with winning traditions. Period.

So what would 4x4 pods look like?

Texas pod

Texas

Texas Tech

Baylor

SMU

(Houston, TCU, OU, OSU in an 8 team pod)

Plains pod

OU

OSU

KU

KSU

West pod

Boise State

BYU

TCU

Houston

East pod

Iowa State

Louisville

West Virginia

Missouri

(BYU, Boise State, KU, KSU in an 8 team pod)

Or hyper regional Big 16 with two pods:

Texas Pod

Texas

Texas Tech

Baylor

SMU

TCU

Houston

Rice

Missouri

Plains Pod

OU

OSU

KU

KSU

ISU

WVA

BYU

Tulsa/Wyoming

Now if A&M would stay, Missouri switches over to the plains pod and Tulsa/Wyoming would be first out.

Either way, it looks like a competitive, strong conference. One can only dream about what this might look like with Notre Dame and/or Arkansas.