The shocking news the PAC is announcing this week whether to expand may clear a pathway forward for KU and the Big 12. IF they decide to expand to 16 teams, AND the Alliance has agreed not to poach each other, AND the PAC is only looking at the remaining Big 12, then one of several pathways emerge.
First path. . . . KU joins the PAC. Obvious.
Second path . . . . If the PAC announces an expansion to 16, the BIG will rapidly decide to expand by 2 teams. There is no way they will be the smallest major conference. After all, they are the BIG. Assuming they stick to their guns and only take AAU schools, then the BIG will reach out to KU and Iowa St in short order. They won't want to lose either.
Third path . . . . PAC decides to stand pat. BIG and ACC probably also stand pat. This gives the remaining 8 Big 12 schools the signal to stay together, add 4 teams, "demand" Alliance membership and move forward winning games against other Alliance members and negotiating deals to get us in the best place possible. I think a reformed Big 12 under the Alliance banner could be more successful than the PAC. Which is why I believe the PAC will decide to expand. If they don't the Big 12 reforms and the PAC will be stuck with 12 teams for a long time. Their relevance will continue to suffer.
Conclusion . . . . Our chances of becoming part of the BIG go up exponentially if the PAC decides to expand this week.
BTW, the SEC may not stand by and let the Alliance continue to grow. They could reach out to additional schools and have no problem with poaching. This is another reason the PAC's announcement could cause everything to happen quickly.
First path. . . . KU joins the PAC. Obvious.
Second path . . . . If the PAC announces an expansion to 16, the BIG will rapidly decide to expand by 2 teams. There is no way they will be the smallest major conference. After all, they are the BIG. Assuming they stick to their guns and only take AAU schools, then the BIG will reach out to KU and Iowa St in short order. They won't want to lose either.
Third path . . . . PAC decides to stand pat. BIG and ACC probably also stand pat. This gives the remaining 8 Big 12 schools the signal to stay together, add 4 teams, "demand" Alliance membership and move forward winning games against other Alliance members and negotiating deals to get us in the best place possible. I think a reformed Big 12 under the Alliance banner could be more successful than the PAC. Which is why I believe the PAC will decide to expand. If they don't the Big 12 reforms and the PAC will be stuck with 12 teams for a long time. Their relevance will continue to suffer.
Conclusion . . . . Our chances of becoming part of the BIG go up exponentially if the PAC decides to expand this week.
BTW, the SEC may not stand by and let the Alliance continue to grow. They could reach out to additional schools and have no problem with poaching. This is another reason the PAC's announcement could cause everything to happen quickly.
