Where BYU Fits in the Latest Conference Realignment Puzzle
By Mitch Harper
Fall Camps are in full-swing at campuses across the country. As all 120 FBS programs lay the ground work for what they hope turns into a successful season. Needless to say, the moods this time of the year are that of a happy one. That doesn’t appear to be the case however in College Station, Texas.
The hot rumor in the College Football world right now is Texas A&M could potentially be heading to the Southeastern Conference (SEC). On the heels of being very upset with how the Big XII is handling the much publicized Longhorn Network. Owned by the Aggies’ rival, University of Texas.
A&M to the SEC has been a rumor in the back of everyone’s mind since last summer, where A&M looked to be headed out the door to become the 13th member of College Football’s best conference. The Aggies backed out and remained in the Big XII, practically saving the league, in hopes that the tv deal and revenue sharing would improve. Improvements haven’t happened in A&M’s mind. Texas scored the Longhorn Network, partnering with ESPN that goes through the year 2030. The contract is worth $300 million. That’s for Texas alone. Then add in the element that Texas was going to air high school games of recruits on the network with no backlash from Big XII officials. Commissioner Dan Beebe was put on notice, and feeling some heat from the other institutions about the move. Then Beebe said Texas could no longer have plans to air high school games. Too little to late for the Aggies, they were fed up and ready to move on.
If Texas A&M does in fact end up in the SEC as rumored, the Big XII would only have nine members. Many are speculating that a nine-team Big XII is not lucrative enough going forward in the future landscape of College Football. The league has a new 13-year agreement in place starting in 2012 with FSN, FX, and Fox College Sports. But pales in comparison to the recent Pac-12 TV contract, and the Longhorn Network owned by a league member. So let the expansion rumors fly.
A program that continues to be mentioned as a possible program in the Big XII if the league was to extend invitations, is BYU.
Many BYU fans are giddy for joy over the thought of possibly joining the Big XII. My question is simply, why?
It is flattering that BYU is thought of so highly by many when it comes to the Big XII. The two parties have had a history since the league was created in 1996. If you remember BYU was going to be one of the original members of the Big XII. I know it comes as shocking news that Larry Scott didn’t invent the concept of conference realignment, but yes it was taking place 15+ years ago, and years before that. BYU was going to be in the Big XII along with schools from the Big 8 and Southwest Conference. Then Baylor grad, and Texas Governor Ann Richards stepped in and said the Texas schools could not leave Baylor behind if they were going to form this league. If they did, state funding could have been cut. Enter Baylor in the Big XII.
BYU being turned down from the Big XII was one of the main reasons BYU wanted to play Texas A&M in the 1996 Pigskin Classic. The Cougars wanted to show the nation that BYU deserved to be in that league. And the Cougars did just that, making a statement to kick-off the 1996 College Football season with a 41-37 win over the 13th ranked Aggies. BYU that season went on to set an NCAA record with 14-wins in a 15-game season. The first time a program has ever played that many games in a D-1 schedule, and that record still stands to this day. While Baylor was finishing 6th in the Big XII South. A spot they held in the league for the first 10 years of the conference’ exisistence, until they finally could move up to 5th in the South Division in 2005.
Back to 2011 though. BYU for the first time since 1996 has valid options in terms of realignment. And one could argue that is a testament to the move of Independence. Going Independent has put BYU in the national headlines more than ever. Every time BYU nails down a scheduling agreement, people are talking. TV announcements come out on a regular basis, the twitterverse is tweeting away about BYU. People were scratching their heads when BYU first announced Independence, now those same people are starting to become in awe.
That “awe” factor doesn’t carry over if BYU is a member of the unstable Big XII.
BYU in the Big XII simply doesn’t make sense. What benefits does the Big XII offer that BYU can’t acheive as a football Independent? The only thing that they offer is guaranteed BCS access. People need to take that with a grain of salt though.
Only three teams in the current Big XII have won the regular season conference title. Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas State (once). Many of you are saying, well what about the conference championship game the league used to have? Only one team in current league membership won it, Texas A&M in 1998. That didn’t come with much fanfare as it gave undefeated Kansas State their first loss of the season. Had the Wildcats won that game, they would of played in the first National Championship game under the BCS formula against Tennessee.
The Big XII has had five years where two teams have participated in a BCS Bowl in the same season. In all but one of those years, Oklahoma was one of the two teams. 2001, Colorado and Nebraska went to the Fiesta and Rose Bowl (National Championship) respectively. But neither of those programs are in the conference anymore.
The likes of Kansas, Iowa State, Baylor, and Missouri (until recently) have wallowed in mediocrity. Missouri’s banner year in 2007 vaulting up to #1 in the polls, entering the final week of the regular season, saw them left out of the BCS to a team in Kansas, who they beat, and had a stronger strength of schedule than. Guaranteed access? Far from it if you ask me.
Programs like Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Kansas State, and Texas A&M have had glimpses of success in the first 15 years of the league. Nothing noteworthy on a regular basis on the national landscape though. These are the type of programs that I would lump BYU in with if the Cougars were to enter the league. Every five to seven years there is a chance for a remarkable season, but most of the time it is a lot of 7-5 and 8-4 campaigns that no one nationally recognizes or honestly would even care about. Playing your games on regional FSN, and on occasion a 2:30 P.M. ABC broadcast if their lucky.
Then you enter Oklahoma who is one of the crown jewels of the College Football landscape, and has dominated the Big XII since Bob Stoops took over in 1999. The Sooners have been one of College Football’s premiere programs for the past six to seven decades.
And finally, there’s Texas. They have a tradition that is second to none. The burnt orange longhorn on the white helmets is iconic. Texas has the market (Austin & Dallas), money, and power. Oh lots of that power. Ultimately seperating the ‘Horns from the Sooners when it comes to the Big XII power structure.
Will say that if BYU was added to Big XII, the conference would be gaining a program with many more resources than Texas A&M has ever had. Honestly, don’t know what the SEC sees in A&M, other than the Texas market is now in their league. Thus making LSU and Arkansas much more angry. I would fully expect the SEC to eventually go to 14. But let’s stay on task.
So does BYU really want to jump into a situation (if offered) where their voice isn’t being heard and acknowledged? In Independence BYU charts their own path of success, and works with ESPN and ESPN’s Dave Brown. Two parties that have BYU’s best interest in mind. Then in the other sports, the West Coast Conference has opened their doors to BYU with wide open arms. A league that hasn’t made any changes to league membership since 1979. They have accomodated BYU in every way possible from No Sunday Play in the WCC Championships to increased exposure with ESPN on Men’s Basketball and BYUtv in other sports. Sounds like a terrific situation. Why mess it up?
The thought of Malibu, Moraga, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Franciso and other great cities in the WCC sound a lot better in the months of January and February than Lubbock, Texas; Norman, Oklahoma; Lawrence, Kansas; oh don’t forget Manhattan! Not New York baby, but Kansas. Geographically BYU makes no sense in my opinion to the Big XII. Those are not markets that BYU recruits on a regular basis. For every Ross Apo (Arlington, TX; Texas offered) the Longhorns get the other nine players in the Top 10 from the state. BYU is not going to make Texas and Oklahoma their primary recruiting grounds. Also add in the fact that BYU doesn’t have nearly as many fans and alums in the Big XII states compared to cities within the West Coast Conference. Cougar fans won’t be jumping at the thought of Stillwater, Oklahoma after awhile. I’m sorry but nostalgia of playing these teams runs thin after awhile. Independence keeps things fresh. Allows for the possibility of seven to eight home games, which is a pleasant change.
I would hate for BYU to mess up the great relationships and excitement they have built to be in a league where BYU has no say, or control how they feel things should be done or handled. Then add in the element that the entire Big XII could be vaporized within five years, that doesn’t help matters.
BYU Head Coach, Bronco Mendenhall has always stated that if BYU was to win as a Independent it could be revolutionary to the sport of College Football. As stated earlier, many were scratching their heads over this move to Independence and now as BYU continues to carry a wave of momentum into the most anticipated season in the history of this proud program, now it is time to produce. If the Cougars win, and win often it could transcend the sport. If BYU is 11-1 or 12-0 they are going to be considered for a BCS bowl game. With the schedules Tom Holmoe and this Athletic Department are piecing together, BYU if they win will be in the national spotlight.
