Creed

Another B12 bashing article by OU's beat writer. Wonder if OU admin is promoting any of this to Trammel to lay the groundwork for OU's move announcement? http://newsok.com/big-12-expansion-why-nebraska-missouri-and-am-arent-returning-to-the-land-of-the-longhorn-network/article/5438498/?page=2

So if the OU/KU thing is real, that's 16 - does the B1G stop at 16? If that happens b12 is severely weakened so what does Texas do? B1G will have to be attractive to them especially with marquee B12 teams on board which makes travel better. So if Texas comes I guess you need 3 more, right? I mean it's either 16 or 20, correct?

Small sample size but from what I have seen from Missouri posters on football forums is they would not want to leave the SEC for the B1G. A. Money B. Money C. Football Competition D. Pride So what's everyone's prediction on when any movement is announced: End of year, 12 months, 18 months, 8 years?

Hopefully Beckman is gone along with Purdue's coach. Not sure why these programs got coaches on the cheap. You can have some success at both these schools with the right coach as both have made it to the Rose Bowl this century. Also didn't like how Beckman went after Penn State's kids. B1G schools like Illinois, Purdue, etc need to start investing in their programs and going after quality coaches.

That is interesting. You think Trammel would be in the know more than your average blogger throwing out CR predictions. Also given that the B1G is generally the easy target for criticism, that he now is showing the B1G in a positive light. It seems there's some coordination going on with OU's athletic dept with Boren's comments and some key media reports. Something might be happening in the next 12-18 months given the B1G's TV contract is up in 2017 (I believe).

My typical pecking order of who I'd root for: 1. OSU 2. PSU 3. MSU, Wisc, Neb 4. Rest of B1G 5. OOC favs - Oregon, ND 6. PAC 7. OU - I like stoops 8. ACC except FSU 9. B12 - Non Texas Schools 10. B12 - Texas schools cept Baylor 11. FSU 12. Baylor 13. Missouri 14. A&M 15. SEC

The stars aligned at the end of the season for OSU and MSU/Wisc played well in their bowl games but the rest of the league needs to step up its game particularly Mich, Penn State, Nebraska and Iowa. IMO the reason the B1G was torn down the last few years were A. It's marquee teams were either in a down cycle and/or NCAA issues (OSU, PSU) B Marquee teams and some 2nd tier teams crapped the bed in big/bowl games. The B1G has had the most difficult bowl alignments thanks to Delaney and when the conference is down you get parings higher ranked SEC/PAC teams playing much lower ranked or unranked B1G teams. Recipe for disaster. I think the new format will have much better bowl parings. Now let's not have another terrible OOC season this September. It would be nice to have more than 3 teams in the Top 25

Appease them with a satellite office just like Rutgers. B1G's universities like OSU, Mich, Penn State, Wisc will not drop their britches like many in the B12. The disparity in size, dollars, etc aint there with B1G schools

You mean ESPN can spin the SEC story? BS, I don't believe you.

Anyone know how much the line moved?

Having watched OSU for the last 25 years it seems when they are loaded they lose AT HOME to a team they should have beaten handily. One of the most talented teams in my memory was the 1998 team that lost to a Saban MSU team. 2007 Illinois and a few times to Michigan in the mid 90s but those Michigan teams were decent. I am afraid of the MSU game this year at the shoe.

Has this ever happened Nebraska, Texas, Michigan, Penn State, A&M not being in the pre season 25?

I think L'ville is pretty far down the line, just not a big following and are not even the #1 team in Lville (UK is). It's gotta be OU/Kansas - makes too much sense assuming the suits can figure out the GOR thingy. And if OU/KU are in, UT only has 3 options: 1. Independent - not sure that is a smart move given the that 4 mega conferences will rule CFB. ND is going to get pressure to join, can already see that occurring. 2. B12 - B12 is dead or a gussied up CUSA with schools like Memphis, UCF, Cincy as potentials. 3. New Conference - UT wants in a like-minded academic conference so SEC is out. Also would never tuck tail follow A&M to their new home. ACC/PAC/B1G - all have pro's & cons but with OU, Kansas, Nebraska in the B1G the move to the B1G makes more sense. So the B1G needs OU/KU in place in order to convince UT. If that happens, back up the Brinks trucks.

From Landthieves site. Kinda int resting Just to document. http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N789HU Norman to Chicago today and almost back now. it's Bob Moore's Auto Group, a fairly decent sponsor for OU medical and i believe we lease the majority of university vehicles First flight to chicago in 4 months if that. , usually flies in the Southern US only two outliers are a trip to Omaha Nebraska in June and this Chicago trip.

The B12 is dying on the Vine. Yes, the B10 west is not that more attractive than some of the old B8 schools and NU's 2016 B1G schedule is a snoozer aside from away games at Wisc and OSU. Illinois, at NW, at Indiana, Purdue. I guess the positive is you get visits in Chicago and Indy as opposed to Ames and Manhattan (ks). I really have a feeling Delaney and other B10 suits have OU and Kansas teed up which is great for NU. They got the markets out east in the last round and now they need content with historically top tier programs for football & basketball. Big TV markets can't drive expansion alone and you need content (good teams) to increase the value of the conference, BTN and other intangibles.

Neat Conference Realignment site http://res.dallasnews.com/graphics/2011_09/realignment/

For a school with more national titles and heismans, their fans sure think they can't do anything alone or big brother in Austin might get mad... Probably has to do with their recruiting in Texas more than anything. The OU board talks about the loss of Texas recruiting if they join the B1G and point to the Nebraska's fall off. Really? They border Texas and if you get the right head coach who has a focus on Tx then I don't see a drop off. Didn't Osborne focus on California a lot? OU can keep the RRR in Dallas plus schedule one of those "neutral" sites games in Dallas.

Seems to be a lot of smoke according to the OU board "I would expect some more insider information this week. I agree. The SEC is where it seems to be leaning from our insiders. These "reputable" sports journalist seem to pointing to the B1G. Looks like there will be a tug of war for OU between the B1G and the SEC." http://www.landthieves.com/board/showthread.php?91985-CR-Part-X-Sure-Why-Not/page19

Fair amount of chatter now about KU and OU to the B1G. Very solid IMO

Not sure if you're implying the Big 8 was bad or we were just that good, but the Big 8 was good in the 90s. In 1995 Kansas, Colorado, and Kansas State all ended up in the top 10. The only teams they lost to were each other and us. They all won their bowl games. I forgot how strong Colorado was in the early to mid 90s. I think OU was down then tho. Kansas might have had a good year in 1995 but were putrid otherwise. K-state was a top 15-ish team with some solid bowl wins over Colorado State and Syracuse,

IMO to win a title, you need: Talent - CHECK --> OSU is loaded and Jalin Marshall and Curtis Samuel (both true freshman in 2014) who were pretty much non factors in the run last year could be the most talented players on offense. Coaching - CHECK --> a little nervous about replacing Tom Hermann tho. Scheduling/Pathway - CHECK ---> every team is going to have an off weak or two and is ripe for an upset but you can overcome this with Rutgers, Indiana, Maryland, Illinois on the schedule. Luck/Good Fortune - ??? ---> look back in the BCS era and see what has happened for NC team to stay undefeated or back into a NCG due to a higher team losing an unexpected game. Also throw injuries in here.

Of course time will tell in a few years but how many of you think OSU will win 2+ titles in the next 5 years? They are absolutely loaded this year and may have the #1 recruiting class in 2016. I think Urban is building something special. Also given that there will be few road blocks with B1G being very average right now. Of course a bit of good fortune is needed in winning titles - see 59-0 win in CCG and getting in. See Alabama's wins over a QB-less Texas team, a putrid ND team and the laughable rematch game vs LSU. SEC & media can talk about the SEC murderer's row schedule but it will keep some teams from making the playoffs or being too beat up come January. Correct me if I am wrong but didn't Miami have a pretty cream puff schedule during their dynast? I don't think the Big 8 aside from Oklahoma presented any real challenges for Nebraska in the 90s.

Remember NU it's a marathon, not a sprint. Still think long term especially when NU is 100% vested, much better place in B1G vs B12.

One theory floated on another site is KU, OU and UT to the B1G which is the best scenario imo. Travel is not too bad for those teams in the west. Far better football and basketball schools than raiding ACC's UVa and UNC. But the suits appear to have eyes set on ACC teams.

What do you have as the B1Gs record for the top (10) non conference games? Hopefully it goes better than Sept 2014 and we keep the momentum from bowl season going but it could be another bloody September. Mich. St vs. Oregon (Even) Wisconsin vs. Alabama (L) OSU vs. VT (W) Michigan vs. Utah (L) Nebraska vs. Miama (W) Minnesota vs. TCU (L) NW vs. Stanford (L) Maryland vs. WVU (L) Iowa vs. Pitt. (Even) Nebraska vs BYU (Even) Assuming B1G gets 2 out of 3 even games that is only a 4-6 record. Need one of the others to pull an upset to get to .500. and also hope B1G doesn't have any embarrassing MAC losses.