Big 12 Update...Where will Texa$ Go?

I am reading a lot of mixed tweets about the future of Texa$ and the PAC-12.  The ACC and the PAC-12 both have an equal revenue sharing model, which means that the Longhorn Network will be out of the picture.  The PAC-12 needs a unanimous vote to expand, and tweets from reliable sources...like the San Jose Mercury News state that Texas will have to give up the LHN to join the PAC 12.  If you have to give up the LHN, why not keep the Big 12 together?  Word is that Colorado may not vote to include neither Texas nor Oklahoma.  The reason they joined the PAC-12 was to get away from these schools.

If Oklahoma and OK State join the PAC-12, the Big 12 is finished.  But it appears that no one wants the Longhorns.  The ACC and SEC have equal revenue sharing models.  The Big East may collapse under their own weight if they add more programs.  Therefore, the Longhorns are left to either keep the Big 12 operating without Oklahoma and OK State, go independent or start a new conference.

With a new conference, or a continued Big 12, new schools are needed to ensure access to the Big Cash System, or Bowl Championship Series.  As an independent, Texas likely would get the same BCS treatment as Notre Dame, which means an at-large bid if they finish in the Top-8.  But Texas, as a member of the Big 12, get's BCS money every year.  Notre Dame only gets BCS money when they make it to the BCS.  But ND does not have to share that pie with anyone else when they get to go.  Notre Dame has made the BCS 3 times, and Texas 4 times.

If Texas decides to go it alone, the most difficulty it will have is building a schedule.  Look at how difficult it has been for BYU.  None of the old Big 12 buddies will want to schedule them.  Many tweets are predicting the death of the Red River rivalry if OU and UT are in different conferences.  It may take an act of the State Legislature to keep Texas and Texas A&M playing every season.  Notre Dame will not have room for them until 2014 and the Service Academies are booked through 2015.  BYU is already on the Longhorn schedule.  Sure, other big schools have non conference games to schedule...in September.  Filling out a schedule in October and November with quality opponents is very difficult...ask Tom Holmoe (BYU Athletic Director).  The fans who are used to seeing quality Big 12 schools late in the season may not be happy about seeing Arkansas State and UTEP in October.  (Not a problem at BYU...They replaced late season games against New Mexico and UNLV with New Mexico State and Idaho...probably an even trade.)

The best bet is for Texas to form a new BCS-worthy conference.  Based upon performance from the last 10 years, it would need to include TCU and Boise State, who currently have 5 BCS appearances between them.  It would help to add BYU, even though they have never been to a BCS bowl.  From there, you can build a conference by coloring in all of the states between Idaho and Texas and have a nice conference.  There will be plenty willing to join.