Quote:
Originally Posted by MJ4H
Bargaining power. If the big 10 thinks they will go to the pac 10, they can get more out of the big 10.
edit: and no I don't think it's a little much. I think it's patently obvious that at least something like this is going on based on the conflicting reports.
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That doesn't make so much sense to me. An element of Texas wants to go to the Big Ten, in spite of all the logisitical reasons it doesn't work, and I can see that. I can see that being a fairly strong desire.
The Big 10 on the other hand is already in a terrific spot. They already have plenty of candidates to go to 16, with or without Texas, and they will likely end up with Notre Dame, too. They already have the best conference network deal. They are in a position to like the idea of adding Texas--but they don't need it.
If Texas plays a game where they try to leverage a possible Pac 10 deal against Big 10 membership, I think the Big 10 shrugs its shoulders, says "enjoy the West Coast" and keeps its money and power. I don't think the gain in revenue from adding Texas to an already significant pot is enough enticement for the Big Ten to take Texas's Pac 10 threats seriously.
It makes a lot more sense to me that the opposite of what you say is happening--Texas is leaking the Big 10 rumors to leverage its position in negotiations with the Pac 10, which is in a much weaker position than the Big 10. The Pac 10's footprint and profile would be significantly improved by adding Texas, and they only add the other schools (the ones to get to 16 that is; they'll go to 12 regardless) if they add Texas as well. Unlike the Big ten, the Pac 10 doesn't have a network in place yet and their TV contract is up next year. The Pac 10 needs Texas to make a big move.
But if the Pac 10 is convinced the Big 12 is falling apart and Texas has nowhere else to turn, Texas's position is neutered. They need the threat of another conference possibility to regain the power edge.
In short, on top of the logistical reasons I have listed above, Texas also stands to have signficantly more influence in its new conference in the Pac 10 than in the Big Ten, and the reports I have seen have indicated the money in each scenario is roughly the same (TV contract-wise).