Big 12 Conference

[Bill Robertson]

Agree on the playoff. Plus, we claim we don’t like Texas, but we damn sure know that Texas doesn’t make any conference move without OU. We are secretly proud that UT and OU are now joined at the hip and embrace the economic power that comes with it.

Accepting that it's a valuable thing yes. Proud, no way!

[Dob Hooligan]

Accepting that it's a valuable thing yes. Proud, no way!

The richest public university in America decides they need to partner with Oklahoma before they make a move that throws college football into conference chaos doesn’t make you proud of the power of Sooner athletics?

[Bill Robertson]

The richest public university in America decides they need to partner with Oklahoma before they make a move that throws college football into conference chaos doesn’t make you proud of the power of Sooner athletics?

No. Even putting that way sounds like UT was calling the plays but needed a partner. At least somewhat putting OU in a follower position. I'd never be proud of my school being a follower. I'm also not convinced that's the way the decision to go to the SEC was made.

[Dob Hooligan]

No. Even putting that way sounds like UT was calling the plays but needed a partner. At least somewhat putting OU in a follower position. I'd never be proud of my school being a follower. I'm also not convinced that's the way the decision to go to the SEC was made.

Golly. Let me go at this another way.

I think that for, at least, the last half-century OU has been a visionary school at the forefront of college football. My version includes the OU-Georgia TV lawsuit that broke the NCAA stranglehold on TV appearances and paved the way for today's TV sports explosion.

In the 1980s, Arkansas tires of Texas and being in an all Texas SWC and jumps to the SEC. They make money, but become irrelevant and win about as much as Mississippi State.

In the early 1990s, The SWC is drying up and Texas is looking for a way out. OU helms a negotiation where the Big-8 keeps all their teams, takes in the 4 best SWC schools (Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Baylor) and rejects Rice, Houston, SMU and TCU. While also rejecting the proposed new name Big Southwest Conference.

In the early 2010s, Colorado leaves for the PAC. Where they make a little less money, become irrelevant and win about as much as Vanderbilt.

Missouri leaves for the SEC. Where they make good SEC money, become irrelevant and win about as much as Mississippi State.

Texas A&M decides they can no longer co-exist with Texas "running the conference" and also goes to the SEC. Where they add the good SEC money to the ton of money they already have, become irrelevant and win about as much as (or maybe a little more than) Mississippi State.

Nebraska decides they can no longer co-exist with Texas "running the conference" and flee to the B1G. Where they make better B1G money, become irrelevant and win about as much as Mississippi State. While also yearning for the days of OU Thanksgivings.

OU is at the center of all this. Every school that left OU is less successful. Even Texas has been less successful in football than OU during their time together.

Texas is also smart enough to stay tied to OU.