All the Big 12 sites in the Rivals network were asked to give their top two picks and top four picks (if going to 14). I did more research on numbers before I submitted my picks.
I picked my choices based on schools who are not in Power Five conferences.
I also picked the schools based on the fact a conference network is still up in the air.
I also weighed the fact from what I have been told by people in college athletics remember who is making the decision. It is presidents/chancellors. Not ADs. That means they look far beyond athletics into their decisions.
I made my decision based off factors that chancellors would look and just not from the view of sports fans. This was much different than the way I have done it. I started looking at other things I haven't thought about like endowments, academic rankings, endowments, enrollment, etc.
Going with 12 teams
1. BYU- In terms of bringing national attention to the conference they probably bring as big of stick as anybody available. They have a national following. They are competitive in sports and have good academics. Their largest alumni base east of Utah is Texas. One of the drawbacks is playing on Sunday. If the NCAA can work around that part then so could the Big 12. The only sports that really compete on Sunday are baseball and softball. The Big 12 will often start series on Thursday and end on a Saturday. That isn't a big drawback as some make it out to be.
In the US News and World college rankings only Texas ranks ahead of BYU. They have a $1.4 billion endowment and would be one of of six Big 12 schools with an endowment over $1 billion.
2. Cincinnati- Finding number two was tougher but when start getting into size of school, academics, endowment, population, athletics Cincy wins out as the #2 pick. In the USN and World Report Cincinnati ranks #71 overall among public schools finishing ahead of Kansas State, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech. They trail KU by 16 and Iowa State by 19 spots.
When you look at Big 12 endowments over a $1 billion Texas is rated as a state system. KU would rank second and then OU, TCU, Cincy, Texas Tech, and then Baylor.
When you look at research dollars spent by school Cincinnati is ranked ahead of Iowa State, KU, Oklahoma, and the others below them.
The bottom line when you start to put time and research in Cincinnati grades out much higher for a conference member than what most people would think. When you combine that along with their athletic teams and traveling distance they come in at pick #2.
If you expand to 14
1. UConn- Taking a gamble here with travelling distance because that is an issue. But UConn has what college presidents would look for. They would be the highest rated academic school in the Big 12. Their research dollars are comparable. If you move to 14 teams they would add a third team in the region with West Virginia and Cincinnati. They are a flagship school and would bring the type of overall package as a university that would fit in the Big 12.
2. Colorado State- Another gamble here because there is a fear that Colorado State doesn't have the money or resources to compete at the Big 12 level. But it would give the Big 12 a gate back into Colorado and be a bridge school between BYU and the rest of the Big 12. Colorado State has shown a strong interest publicly trying to get into the Big 12. You can make an argument for other schools but I rolled the dice and went with the Rams.
Other schools considered but didn't make the cut for going with 14:
Memphis, Houston, Tulane, SMU, Boise State, UCF, and USF
I picked my choices based on schools who are not in Power Five conferences.
I also picked the schools based on the fact a conference network is still up in the air.
I also weighed the fact from what I have been told by people in college athletics remember who is making the decision. It is presidents/chancellors. Not ADs. That means they look far beyond athletics into their decisions.
I made my decision based off factors that chancellors would look and just not from the view of sports fans. This was much different than the way I have done it. I started looking at other things I haven't thought about like endowments, academic rankings, endowments, enrollment, etc.
Going with 12 teams
1. BYU- In terms of bringing national attention to the conference they probably bring as big of stick as anybody available. They have a national following. They are competitive in sports and have good academics. Their largest alumni base east of Utah is Texas. One of the drawbacks is playing on Sunday. If the NCAA can work around that part then so could the Big 12. The only sports that really compete on Sunday are baseball and softball. The Big 12 will often start series on Thursday and end on a Saturday. That isn't a big drawback as some make it out to be.
In the US News and World college rankings only Texas ranks ahead of BYU. They have a $1.4 billion endowment and would be one of of six Big 12 schools with an endowment over $1 billion.
2. Cincinnati- Finding number two was tougher but when start getting into size of school, academics, endowment, population, athletics Cincy wins out as the #2 pick. In the USN and World Report Cincinnati ranks #71 overall among public schools finishing ahead of Kansas State, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech. They trail KU by 16 and Iowa State by 19 spots.
When you look at Big 12 endowments over a $1 billion Texas is rated as a state system. KU would rank second and then OU, TCU, Cincy, Texas Tech, and then Baylor.
When you look at research dollars spent by school Cincinnati is ranked ahead of Iowa State, KU, Oklahoma, and the others below them.
The bottom line when you start to put time and research in Cincinnati grades out much higher for a conference member than what most people would think. When you combine that along with their athletic teams and traveling distance they come in at pick #2.
If you expand to 14
1. UConn- Taking a gamble here with travelling distance because that is an issue. But UConn has what college presidents would look for. They would be the highest rated academic school in the Big 12. Their research dollars are comparable. If you move to 14 teams they would add a third team in the region with West Virginia and Cincinnati. They are a flagship school and would bring the type of overall package as a university that would fit in the Big 12.
2. Colorado State- Another gamble here because there is a fear that Colorado State doesn't have the money or resources to compete at the Big 12 level. But it would give the Big 12 a gate back into Colorado and be a bridge school between BYU and the rest of the Big 12. Colorado State has shown a strong interest publicly trying to get into the Big 12. You can make an argument for other schools but I rolled the dice and went with the Rams.
Other schools considered but didn't make the cut for going with 14:
Memphis, Houston, Tulane, SMU, Boise State, UCF, and USF
