If the reports are true, the Texas A&M drama is about to kick the Big 12 into action.
The Big 12 board of directors met Saturday regarding A&M’s anticipated departure, and one league source told The Associated Press the conference expects the Aggies to announce within the next week that it plans to leave.
The source, who was given anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the talks, said although A&M officials didn’t specifically say they were leaving, their message was heard loud and clear: Start looking for replacements.
So if the conference realignment shuffle heats up this week, where does this leave the Big 12?
If Texas A&M does cash in its Heartland chips for Southern glory, Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe will be left with a nine-team league after losing Nebraska and Colorado last year — not exactly a sign of stability.
From Internet rumors to athletic directors, everyone seems to have an opinion about not only who the conference should invite, but how many teams the league needs to regain a position of power in the college football landscape.
Personally, I would like to see a return to a mathematically correct conference, but sifting through the potential candidates, I have a hard time convincing myself there are three teams worth adding.
That being said, I am a fan of keeping the Big 12 together — as long as it is viable for Oklahoma — so it appears the conference will have to welcome at least one school to its ranks.
Here’s a rundown of six schools rumored to be on the Big 12’s radar or who are anxiously waiting for Beebe’s phone number to appear on their caller ID.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Why: Notre Dame is a national brand with a devout following from the Roman Catholic Church. Sure, the Fighting Irish have only won two bowl games in the past 10 years, but the addition of Notre Dame would be an immediate boost to the Big 12’s image.
Why not: As many problems as the Longhorn Network has caused, Notre Dame’s partnership with NBC (which began in 1991) could complicate things with the other league members.
Distance from Norman to South Bend, Ind.: About a 15-hour drive.
Probability: Quit dreaming. There’s a .001-percent chance the Fighting Irish forgo their independence to join a Big 12 that’s missing Nebraska and Texas A&M.
Arkansas Razorbacks
Why: As a member of the Southwest Conference until 1991, the university has deep ties to this area. Arkansas has never enjoyed much national success, but the Razorbacks are a competitive team that would help stabilize the Big 12.
Why not: There are 17 million to 20 million reasons why Arkansas is not a candidate, and it’s all about the dollars. The SEC is a profitable league for the Razorbacks, and they are comfortable in their current position.
Distance from Norman to Fayetteville, Ark.: About a four-hour drive
Probability: Keep moving. You’re looking at a 1-percent chance Arkansas ends up in the Big 12.
Brigham Young Cougars
Why: Like Notre Dame, BYU’s religious affiliation with the Mormon church would bring national — and worldwide — interest to the Big 12. The Cougars also have one national title (1984) and 23 conference championships to their name.
Why not: The Cougars have their own TV network — BYUtv — that could further fracture relationships around the conference. Also, BYU doesn’t play sports on Sundays, which could cause scheduling headaches for smaller sports.
Distance from Norman to Provo, Utah: About a 19-hour drive.
Probability: Pretty good. I’d say the Big 12 has a 90 percent chance of luring the Cougars, who left the Mountain West Conference to become independent this year.
Southern Methodist Mustangs
Why: SMU athletic director Steve Orsini believes the Mustangs are ready to join an automatic-qualifier BCS conference, and he is making his case to Big 12 officials.
Why not: SMU offers nothing new to the Big 12. The university is in Dallas (a market the league already owns), and the program is not extremely competitive.
Distance from Norman to Dallas: About a three-hour drive.
Probability: Better than I’d like it to be. Saying SMU has a 50-percent chance might be about right. The Big 12 doesn’t appear very interested, but the Mustangs could be an option if the league decides to return to 12 teams.
Houston Cougars
Why: The Texas Legislature could play a big role by advocating for Houston in order to replace Texas A&M with another Texas university. The Cougars would help keep the interest in the Big 12 Conference high in Houston, which is a big market for Texas A&M.
Why not: Again, what have you done for me lately? Houston has an all-time record of 365-326-15 (.528 winning percentage).
Distance from Norman to Houston: About a seven-hour drive.
Probability: Keep an eye on the Cougars. There is enough appeal in holding on to the Houston market that it could be a 75-percent chance the university gets an invite to the Big 12.
Air Force Falcons
Why: The conference would like to re-expand its footprint out west (which it lost when the Colorado Buffalos moved to the Pac-12), and if the league adds BYU, Air Force would be a geographic partner. The Falcons are located in Colorado, a market that is familiar with the Big 12.
Why not: The service academies aren’t driven by money like other universities, instead focusing on increasing enlistment.
Distance from Norman to Colorado Springs, Colo.: About an 11-hour drive.
Probability: There might be a 40-percent chance that Air Force starts making regular trips to Norman, Stillwater and Austin.