A source told Sporting News Wednesday that both Texas A&M and Oklahoma are so concerned about rival Texas gaining a recruiting advantage with the newly-formed Longhorn Network, the two institutions could turn to the SEC if the problems can’t be figured out. The core issue: The Longhorn Network will televise live high school football games in the state of Texas, an obvious recruiting advantage for Texas
SEC commissioner Mike Slive said Wednesday that he will
“continue to do what is in the best interest of the SEC.”
“It is my job to make sure the SEC is the premier league,” Slive said. “For me to exclude any action that would preclude that from happening would be inappropriate.”
Texas A&M and Oklahoma were both in talks with the SEC last summer when Texas was contemplating a move to the Pac-10. The Big 12 eventually made it work in the 11th hour, in part, because of heavyweight Texas’ deal to pursue its own television network outside of the league assets.
From there a domino effect will take place, where larger conferences will pry teams from mid-major conferences. SEC growing to 14 teams would trigger a radical shift for major conference realignment in the NCAA. There is also speculation that the ACC has their eyes on West Virginia and Pittsburgh from the Big East, which already has their sights on pursuing Conference USA schools UCF and Houston who would create natural and local rivals to already Big East members USF and soon to be member TCU starting in 2012-13.
I am all for conference realignment; especially if it can lead to the development of a college football playoff.