Missouri Leaving BIG 12?

The BIG 12 may be in trouble! The issue of revenue sharing continues to heat up as the haves and have not’s take sides. Nebraska, Oklahoma and naturally Texas don’t want to do revenue sharing when it comes to the conferences TV contract.

Missouri sounds ready to pull the trigger and leave for the BIG 10 and who could blame them. The BIG 10, like the SEC, does revenue sharing. Step back and take a look at TV revenue between the BIG 12 and BIG 10. When you compare Texas, which benefits the most from the current TV deal, to say Illinois it’s not even close. Illinois gets $21 million a year to Texas’ $12 million. If Missouri was a member of the BIG 10 they too would get around $21 million instead of the $9 million they currently receive.

If NU, OU and UT would do the right thing the conference should benefit and every school’s TV revenue could increase. If they would work with the other nine schools they should be able to land a much more lucrative TV deal for the conference. Instead they do only what is best for them and say to heck with the other BIG 12 schools. They don’t seem to understand that holding down the other schools does indeed have consequences. Sure it makes it near impossible for the others to compete with the big three but it also makes the little nine begin to look elsewhere.

The BIG 10 and PAC 10 have both said they are looking into possibly expanding to 12 teams each. The BIG 10 already has 11 teams so they only need one more and Missouri would be a logical choice. However the PAC 10 would need two more teams to reach 12. The question is who would they go after?

I know this would be a long shot but I think the PAC 10 should consider going after Texas Tech and Colorado. I believe that both CU and Tech would rather be in the PAC 10 if given the choice. Considering the current discrepancy in revenue between them and NU, OU & UT they would be insane not to jump ship if asked to do so. The benefit to the PAC 10 would be exposure in parts of the country they don’t normally get it and recruiting should benefit.

So if Missouri, Colorado and Texas Tech all leave for greener pastures what does it mean for the BIG 12? They could either dissolve, move forward with nine teams or replace them with weaker athletic programs. If they chose the latter I’m sure UT and company would not mind. It would mean an even easier path to championships.

After reading this if you still think that no one would be crazy enough to leave the mighty BIG 12 then click on the link below. It’s an interview with Missouri’s Athletic Director. From his tone the Tigers are as good as gone if the BIG 10 comes knocking.

http://www.tigerextra.com/news/2009/dec/20/frustration-and-temptation/