The linch-pin is now moving ! The Mizzou Tigers have all but given notice that they will become the fourth school in 2 years to leave the Big 12 ! The official announcement should come this week . Meanwhile the Big East Conference has been fighting for it's football life(their basketball league remains very strong). Two teams,Pitt and Syracuse, have accepted invites into the ACC starting in 2014 which brings the league's remaining football membership to six. All of this will force movement in the following Football Conferences; Big 12,Big East, SEC, MWC and C-USA ! Here are my forecasts:
SEC - Said to be College Football's premier conference will add Mizzou to it's Eastern Conference as it's 14th member in time for the 2012 season/schedule.
Big 12- will be down to nine schools with Mizzou's defection. They will have to move fast by adding either BYU or Boise State in time for the 2012 schedule. Rice could be a fallback choice ! Additionally their long range plans call for the league to offer membership to several existing Big East teams who would not become available until the 2014 season(BE 27 month departure rule).
The Big East - has been regrouping after the loss of Pitt and Cuse(in 2014). It appears they have targeted BSU,Navy,and Air Force as new Football Only members and SMU,Houston and UCF as new all sports members. The biggest concern continues to be possible other defections, but the Big East Commish has stated he will enforce the nasty 27 month departure rule(hoping it will discourage possible defection).
MWC- A good Conference who has lost key schools(Utah & BYU) could under go further pillage if the BE grabs both AF and Boise State. There is talk of a merger with C-USA forming a 20 team football only league !
Conference USA( C-USA) - Is in the exact same situation as the above MWC . The Big East could snatch 3 of it's member schools, SMU,Houston and UCF !
The "UBER Conference"- Just this weekend both the MWC and C-USA have pleaded with the Big East to join them instead of pillage them and help build a MEGA conference of 32 teams ! Stay tuned on this one !
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So as you can see the state of College Football is about to change in a very dramatic way in the next 7- 10 days !
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