Late Sunday night we received word from a trusted source in the midwest that Louisville received an offer from the Big 12 on Friday afternoon. And while the Cardinals are the only program we know for sure has an offer, we know there have been informal talks with BYU and Cincinnati as well, and offers could be coming their way, if they haven’t already.
Of course there has also been rampant speculation from the Kansas City Star that Missouri is still very interested in the SEC, but sources who cover that conference tell us that there has been no formal offer made to the Tigers, and most don’t believe an offer will be extented. Many of those sources also feel that Missouri may be using this talk as leverage to get what they want in upcoming Big 12 negotiations.
If Mizzou were to stay, and the conference picked up three more they’d be back to the twelve teams they were at last year, and from what we’re hearing the conference presidents really want to be at twelve by the 2013-14 season.
It’s doubtful that Louisville, Cincinnati, BYU, or any other major conference member could be a part of conference play next year, but until the new BCS and TV contracts come up in a few years, that doesn;t seem like a crucial point.
West Virginia is another school on the radar, but apparently Texas, Texas Tech and Baylor have balked at bringing in any other Texas schools, such as TCU, and despite reports that Boise State is interested, we can’t yet find any credible sources who’ve been able to link Boise with the Big 12.
Stay tuned on this fast moving story, and we’ll have more on the Greg Swaim Radio Show.
What repurcussions could this have on realignment across the nation?
Anytime a team makes a move it’s going to have a ripple effect. I still think we’re moving to the superconference format.
How solid are the talks/ possible invite for UC?
All I’m getting right now is that talks are happening with the Bearcats, but not much more yet. Sounds like they’re waiting for the Cardinals to go with the offer first.
What about USF? WVU and USF are the top 2 national names in football in the Big East. USF is located in a major media market and gives the Big 12 access to FL, which is arguably the best talent pool in the nation. It just seems odd that in all of these “rumors” USF and WVU and even TCU are left out of the discussion. TCU, WVU, and USF are big time football programs. What am I missing?
I’ve heard USF mentioned in some circles, and obviously WVU, but Texas is apparently saying no way to TCU/
An additional comment. The USF/WVU game in 2007 is still the highest rated Friday night football game in ESPN history. They draw huge TV #’s every time those 2 school match up because since 07 usually both are ranked pretty high. In 2007 both were ranked as high as #2 in the nation. I would think many conferences would love to bring is WVU and USF as a pair to keep those match ups going. Also Louisville’s president has always been a big USF fan. I can’t see him going to a conference w/o USF. Lets also not forget Judy Genshaft (USF’s President) was unanimously voted the Chair person of the NCAA Board of Directors last year. The most powerful woman in the NCAA doesn’t have the political pull to get USF in? It just doesn’t make any sense.
I’d love to have them both…think they’d add a lot to the Big12.
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Thursday, UC’s interim athletic director claimed there was a back up plan in place in case the Big East was no longer a viable conference, then Big 12 officials supposedly showed up at the game that night. They’ve been in the same conference as Louisville since 1975. There’s no way this is all coincidence, is there?
I wouldn’t think so…UC has been mentioned as a package with UL.
If u of l and uc get invited to the b12 there is a very good chance memphis will also. The b12 probably wont make the same mistake as that dumbass be. Those 3 would instantly make the b12 one of the top 2 bball leagues. And also give the b12 another top 50 market as well as a foot hold in the middle sec country.