[cruzan_flame13]

Looks like Sly was unto something about Big 12 adding four schools .

[tyndal23]

Sly, what if BYU came in as Football only and kept their other sports in WCC ( due to Sunday play ).

P5s don't roll that way. Honestly the rest of the BYU atheltic department is a valuable even without football. They will be all or nothing which factors into whether they value joining the Big XII enough to give up independence.

Would some cash from LU be enough to get our other sports in Big 12? Meaning don’t even bother with trying to get football in at this stage, but we might be the only school willing to put the rest of our sports in Big 12. Thoughts ?

Wichita State sits in the footprint without football. While KU & KSU would fight their inclusion, they make much more sense than a school in Virginia. I don't see any plausible way we factor into Big XII.

Cash $ helps make the implausible plausible. BYU football only is real - they aren’t budging on Sunday Play ( per some on their message board).

[Sly Fox]

The only Sunday play they could have in the Big XII is the mens basketball final and possible baseball games. Those can be worked around in the Big XII contracts. This has been discussed ad nauseum on all the boards the past few weeks. The folks talking football only are thinking a pairing with Boise is in play. It is not. Boise is not getting into this deal. They are not a serious candidate.

[rmiller1959]

The article claims that the Big 12 will probably extend invitations to BYU, Houston, Cincinnati, and UCF during the 2021 season. I'm speculating that, by inviting four teams and making the Big 12 finally match its moniker with 12 teams, they are preparing themselves for a scenario where Texas and Oklahoma bail before 2025. However, from a monetary standpoint, it would be better for them to make the Longhorns and Sooners stay as long as possible because, by their own estimates, their potential TV revenue drops 50% after they depart. It's going to be an interesting standoff:

https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... es-confirm

[tyndal23]

The only Sunday play they could have in the Big XII is the mens basketball final and possible baseball games. Those can be worked around in the Big XII contracts. This has been discussed ad nauseum on all the boards the past few weeks. The folks talking football only are thinking a pairing with Boise is in play. It is not. Boise is not getting into this deal. They are not a serious candidate.

Rumor and reporting strong this afternoon about about BYU Football only invite. Sunday play hits a lot sports aside from football and basketball AND BYU can’t burn its last bridge IF Big 12 folds after next tv deal. No one left to take back all the non football sports. Bose isn’t the answer, Wichita State - eh. LU can fill that void - with $ subsidizing travel, hoops, softball, baseball all good new recruiting area for Big 12 - they don’t need Boise or Wichita for a recruiting footprint. This is a little angle LU can take and pull off - not much pushback if we simply take up slack for BYU non football sports, throw in some cash and position our football team down the road based on brand identity in the other sports. Ian could pull this off and save a lot of $ vs going the “ all sports follow football” route.

[cruzan_flame13]

@tyndal23 You don't think BYU would go full membership if asked? I think there will be some scenario established that would help out both parties. I'm not saying that I wouldn't mind our Olympic sports being associates of the Big 12, but I don't think it'll happen realistically. I do appreciate your statement of Big 12 getting some recruiting spots with the 757abd 703/571 areas. But of course, we wouldn't know any thing since Ian is a bit unpredictable when it comes to these kind of stuff. I'm sure this is on his mind like it's on ours along with connected media with LU.

[tyndal23]

@tyndal23 You don't think BYU would go full membership if asked? I think there will be some scenario established that would help out both parties. I'm not saying that I wouldn't mind our Olympic sports being associates of the Big 12, but I don't think it'll happen realistically. I do appreciate your statement of Big 12 getting some recruiting spots with the 757abd 703/571 areas. But of course, we wouldn't know any thing since Ian is a bit unpredictable when it comes to these kind of stuff. I'm sure this is on his mind like it's on ours along with connected media with LU.

BYU is the one wanting football only invite per their message boards, not the other way around. Their basketball fans are irate about it. They aren’t confident in Big 12 long term and can easily go back to Indie if it doesn’t work out. Not so with rest of their sports, but main driver is Sunday Play. It is a real issue for the Church. This is a sliver of a back door for LU and frankly only way we could get a toe hold.

[ballcoach15]

Big 12 should add Liberty and UCF. If they expand without adding Liberty, i hope conference folds.

As for Cincinnati, i don't believe Bearcats even have a softball team.

[flamehunter]

As for Cincinnati, i don't believe Bearcats even have a softball team.

They should be relegated to DIII for that travesty.

[olldflame]

@tyndal23 You don't think BYU would go full membership if asked? I think there will be some scenario established that would help out both parties. I'm not saying that I wouldn't mind our Olympic sports being associates of the Big 12, but I don't think it'll happen realistically. I do appreciate your statement of Big 12 getting some recruiting spots with the 757abd 703/571 areas. But of course, we wouldn't know any thing since Ian is a bit unpredictable when it comes to these kind of stuff. I'm sure this is on his mind like it's on ours along with connected media with LU.

BYU is the one wanting football only invite per their message boards, not the other way around. Their basketball fans are irate about it. They aren’t confident in Big 12 long term and can easily go back to Indie if it doesn’t work out. Not so with rest of their sports, but main driver is Sunday Play. It is a real issue for the Church. This is a sliver of a back door for LU and frankly only way we could get a toe hold.

BYU is more strict than LU in some areas. Even back in my day, we never had an issue with Sunday games if they did not conflict with church services. That was the big issue with Doc, who had no problem with hosting the BSC championship game in the Vines at 2 PM on Sunday, but did not want our teams to play on Wednesday nights because TRBC had prayer meeting.

[olldflame]

As for Cincinnati, i don't believe Bearcats even have a softball team.

They should be relegated to DIII for that travesty.

I always wonder how an FBS football school can be Title IX compliant without having softball. compare Cinci to LU, and the only women's sport they have that we don't is golf, which is fewer scholarships than softball. I guess they make it up by not having men's tennis or soccer, (but they do have swimming and diving.)

[rmiller1959]

That escalated quickly. I guess they're letting bygones be bygones in the case of Houston:

https://theathletic.com/news/big-12-eye ... ZvjXPK0mL1

[LUGrad2000]

If BYU joins the Big XII as early as 2022, that would likely impact our BYU home game.

[ballcoach15]

Every D1 school should be required by NCAA to field a softball team.

Hard to believe within Virginia, ODU, VCU, Richmond and Wm & Mary doesn't have . I think some schools fudge their Title IX numbers

[jbock13]

(never mind)

[Sly Fox]

With Austin out of the picture, there are no bones of contention between the league and UH. While they make the most logical sense, there will still be resistance from BU, TCU & Tech of allowing UH to have P5 status. All three recruit HEAVILY in Greater Houston. That's why I don't expect them to be in the first couple of invitations even though most of the rest of the world would expect it.

Back to BYU on Sundays, the only sports where the Big XII would determine scheduling that could impact BYU's presence on Sundays are the mens & womens conference basketball championship games and baseball. Baseball is easily solved by DHs on Saturday. That leaves only the timing of championship games with the networks. All indications are that the networks are willing to be flexible with the league on those to championship games if it mean bringing in an addition of true value like BYU to the league. So Sundays are close to a non-factor. Any BYU folks suggesting it is an issue on their boards just haven't given it their full attention. I can assure you their athletic department has.

[Sly Fox]

If BYU joins the Big XII as early as 2022, that would likely impact our BYU home game.

It potentially could. Since the game is in Lynchburg it would ikely involve Ian working the folks in Provo to reschedule it at different date likely in a year moving forward. They already are scheduled to play Baylor on September 10th and could easily buyout Dixie State on Nov 19th where they could slide somebody else. Obviously that date is rather important for us to maintain with the Hokies in Williams Stadium.

[LUaddict]

Big XII could extend all sports invites to BYU, Cincy, Houston, and UCF by end of the month according to a source.

https://www.actionnetwork.com/ncaaf/big ... this-month

[Sly Fox]

According to an old buddy of mine here in Houston with impeccable sources, it could happen by Monday:

"Scoop" Berman is exceptionally well connected to not only UH but the type of folks in the Big XII that call the shots from their Billionaire yachts.

With the possible exception of free agent BYU, these invitations would likely be for 2025 and beyond ubless there is a settlement on the UT/OU front.

Three AAC departures would leave that league with the following lineup:

• East Carolina

• Memphis

• Navy (Football Only)

• SMU

• Temple

• Tulane

• Tulsa

• USF

• Wichita State (Non-football)

That leaves the league with 8 members in football & the olympics as ong as Navy stays put. There is a strong chance that Navy bails on that alignment to go indy once again. Those remaining members will be very much like the former Big XII R8 in that they will be sitting on a boatload of tourney credits and a very friendly partnership with Disney. They likely would looking to add two more teams at a minimum and possibly four or even five more to get even divisions.

The most likely candidates are easily UAB and Rice. There are shared histories ith those schools who check the boxes that the league is likely considering. That's why I have stated before that we really need them to be looking for 3 or 4 teams for us to have a shot. A short list of other candidates likely begins with Marshall, ODU, FAU/FIU, App State and Army (if they would have any interest). I believe we stand a fighting chance of scoring a slot with comparisons to any of those schools as soon as the ADs starting taking loser look at facilities and quality of programs.

[ballcoach15]

Big XII could extend all sports invites to BYU, Cincy, Houston, and UCF by end of the month according to a source.

https://www.actionnetwork.com/ncaaf/big ... this-month

I hope not.

[tyndal23]

With Austin out of the picture, there are no bones of contention between the league and UH. While they make the most logical sense, there will still be resistance from BU, TCU & Tech of allowing UH to have P5 status. All three recruit HEAVILY in Greater Houston. That's why I don't expect them to be in the first couple of invitations even though most of the rest of the world would expect it.

Back to BYU on Sundays, the only sports where the Big XII would determine scheduling that could impact BYU's presence on Sundays are the mens & womens conference basketball championship games and baseball. Baseball is easily solved by DHs on Saturday. That leaves only the timing of championship games with the networks. All indications are that the networks are willing to be flexible with the league on those to championship games if it mean bringing in an addition of true value like BYU to the league. So Sundays are close to a non-factor. Any BYU folks suggesting it is an issue on their boards just haven't given it their full attention. I can assure you their athletic department has.

Softball Is the tough one. ( ball coach is going to get LU in the Big 12 after all )
https://www.sbnation.com/college-footba ... ule-big-12

[Ill flame]

According to an old buddy of mine here in Houston with impeccable sources, it could happen by Monday:

"Scoop" Berman is exceptionally well connected to not only UH but the type of folks in the Big XII that call the shots from their Billionaire yachts.

With the possible exception of free agent BYU, these invitations would likely be for 2025 and beyond ubless there is a settlement on the UT/OU front.

Three AAC departures would leave that league with the following lineup:

• East Carolina

• Memphis

• Navy (Football Only)

• SMU

• Temple

• Tulane

• Tulsa

• USF

• Wichita State (Non-football)

That leaves the league with 8 members in football & the olympics as ong as Navy stays put. There is a strong chance that Navy bails on that alignment to go indy once again. Those remaining members will be very much like the former Big XII R8 in that they will be sitting on a boatload of tourney credits and a very friendly partnership with Disney. They likely would looking to add two more teams at a minimum and possibly four or even five more to get even divisions.

The most likely candidates are easily UAB and Rice. There are shared histories ith those schools who check the boxes that the league is likely considering. That's why I have stated before that we really need them to be looking for 3 or 4 teams for us to have a shot. A short list of other candidates likely begins with Marshall, ODU, FAU/FIU, App State and Army (if they would have any interest). I believe we stand a fighting chance of scoring a slot with comparisons to any of those schools as soon as the ADs starting taking loser look at facilities and quality of programs.

UAB seems like a great fit but I think adding rice would be a mistake. I hope conferences have learned their lesson that adding small schools in big markets don't move the needle during tv negotiations. Also don't sleep on Georgia State. It's a massive school in Atlanta that I can see having a bright future long term. AAC is going to need to take some risks if they want to stay above the pack in the G5

[Sly Fox]

League decisions are not based on softball as important as it may be for certain posters. Here are the current AAC schools that sponsor softball:

• East Carolina
  Houston
  Memphis
  Tulsa
  UCF
  USF
  Wichita State

The ones bolded are likely gone. It wouldn't be much of a softball league unless the right additions come into play.

As for Rice, they would be easily the most prestigious school in the AAC. That means something to university presidents particularly in Dallas, Tulsa and New Orleans who are key to making these decisions. That's why they seem to be the name on nearly everyone's lips should the dominoes start falling along with UAB.

[jbock13]

Maybe BC could become the commissioner of a collegiate softball superleague? That way, he can show the NCAA who's boss.

[rmiller1959]

When it comes to realignment this summer, the pattern has been the same. Once the news leaks, things move very quickly:

https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... es-confirm

https://theathletic.com/news/big-12-exp ... Wf5RxCqu7k