Continuing our Texas to the Big Ten Talk

On Saturday during the noon hour, Nick and I talked about the rumors from the Lawrence Journal World about Texas bolting the Big 12 in order to join the Big Ten. This would represent a monumental change in the economics of College Athletics. Today's times have prioritized monetary gain over scholarly achievement.

Here are my main points for Texas to join.

- The Big 10 has it's own TV network which grosses over $200 Million per year. With adding Texas to the Big Ten it could expand its viewership into Dallas and Houston (both are top 10 population markets). With more viewership leads to more money from sponsors from national corporations.

- Texas would gain more exposure because ESPN broadcasts a lot of Big Ten football on all of their networks including ABC. Big 12 games are usually hard to find on basic cable unless it is a Red River Shootout (against Oklahoma) or Lone Star Showdown against other rival Texas A&M. The Big Ten markets are situated as far east as Philadelphia (which covers Penn State Football). As you go East, you increase the amount of money.

- The Big 12 has a lot of teams that typically will receive only local media coverage (Baylor, Texas Tech, Kansas State, Iowa State, Colorado). These aren't traditional powerhouse teams in either football or basketball and thus don't have a national following like Ohio State or Michigan or Penn State. Could you imagine having Ohio State vs. Texas every year?!

- The argument against Texas going to the Big Ten is that it will ruin the Red River Rivalry vs. Oklahoma. My argument for that is USC and Notre Dame play every year and aren't in the same conference. Prior to 1996 Oklahoma and Texas weren't in the same conference but yet they still played each other every year.

- The other argument is that Texas is far away from other teams in the Big Ten, yet Hawaii and Louisiana Tech are in the same conference (WAC) and neither school has as much money to provide travel costs for athletics.

When it comes down to it, it's all about the Green for the Burnt Orange. In this case Ten is better than 12.