As we turn the corner into 2018 and move a year closer to the Big 12 GOR expiration date I have a question for the off season. Once the GOR of the Big 12 expires and assuming some of its better teams leave for greener pastures which league will absorb the other?
To get the answer we will need to make some assumptions.
First, lets say Aresco gets the AAC some better bowl contracts when the current deal expires and our tv deal goes up way beyond what has been bantered about due to our tv ratings and on the field results. That would eliminate a huge negative. What ever happens to the tv and bowl contracts we can be assured it will be so much better than our current deal.
Next, lets assume that OU/OSU go together along with UT and maybe Kansas or TT. That would eliminate two of the three Big 12 schools that finished in the final AP rankings this year. Sure, things can change going forward. But the AAC has 3 schools that are in the final rankings. Lets say that the AAC is going to retain its power schools before the GOR ends for the conferences while the Big 12 loses it better clubs to other conferences.
At that point would the AAC stick together? Would it be better to form a new league and jettison the bottom feeders? Would the AAC be greater than what would be left in the Big 12? Would the Big 12 go away altogether? And will the P5 conferences absorb the better teams from the AAC before the GOR expiration comes about?
The first step to seeing what is going to take place is our next tv deal for the AAC. We should start hearing something about the direction this will take this year.
To get the answer we will need to make some assumptions.
First, lets say Aresco gets the AAC some better bowl contracts when the current deal expires and our tv deal goes up way beyond what has been bantered about due to our tv ratings and on the field results. That would eliminate a huge negative. What ever happens to the tv and bowl contracts we can be assured it will be so much better than our current deal.
Next, lets assume that OU/OSU go together along with UT and maybe Kansas or TT. That would eliminate two of the three Big 12 schools that finished in the final AP rankings this year. Sure, things can change going forward. But the AAC has 3 schools that are in the final rankings. Lets say that the AAC is going to retain its power schools before the GOR ends for the conferences while the Big 12 loses it better clubs to other conferences.
At that point would the AAC stick together? Would it be better to form a new league and jettison the bottom feeders? Would the AAC be greater than what would be left in the Big 12? Would the Big 12 go away altogether? And will the P5 conferences absorb the better teams from the AAC before the GOR expiration comes about?
The first step to seeing what is going to take place is our next tv deal for the AAC. We should start hearing something about the direction this will take this year.
