Big 12 Teams That Need Conference Stability ASAP

It was only a few short years ago that the discussion was whether the Big East had any chance of surviving as a power conference and who it had to add in order to protect the future of its members. The parallels between the Big East and Big 12 have been discussed here many times before, like the infighting about expansion and a public perception of fading strength having an impact on stability.

As we all know the Big East had members with different interests arguing over basketball and football. The Big 12 has infighting over third-tier TV rights since Texas started the Longhorn Network with ESPN, killing any chance of a Big 12 Network. And we already know the Grant of Rights the league has isn't worth the paper it's printed on if two teams opt to leave.

Now everyone from ESPN to FOX and CBS Sports have pointed out how bad the situation is with the Big 12. And despite hopeful fans in the Big 12 wishing it would not expand (yes, they exist for some reason), even respected coaches like Bill Snyder know expansion by now would have meant a conference championship game and a seat at the CFB Playoffs.

So what happens if the Big 12 dissolves like so many think it will? With the ACC, Big Ten and SEC at fourteen teams and the Pac-12 close behind, the fact is they won't tolerate Big East 2.0 trying to survive with only 10 teams. And now the Big 12 is the only conference besides the Sun Belt without a championship game after the American gained Navy as a 12th member, joining the rest of the FBS conferences in having a CCG.

West Virginia: The Mountaineers were once on the verge of becoming a national brand and even saw some success while a member of the Big East, winning two league titles between 1993 and 2011 on top of multiple shared Co-Championships. Before leaving the Big East, WVU tried desperately to get into the ACC and SEC, being rejected by both repeatedly. The most likely situation for the Mountaineers is a reunion with former Big East members in the American Athletic Conference if the Big 12 can't stay afloat.

Texas Tech: The Red Raiders call Lubbock home and if you don't know where that is, you're not alone. That's a big reason Tech should be doing everything it can to nudge the league towards expansion and stability. The Double T sits over 5 hours west of Dallas in what equates to a desert, with sand storms and everything. Things have gone downhill since Mike Leach was run out of town and if the Big 12 can't expand and survive, the Red Raiders will likely take one of the biggest hits and could land in the MWC. That's an optimistic outlook.

Oklahoma State: Unlike WVU and Tech, the Pokes have some things working in their favor. T. Boone Pickens is one of the most well-known and wealthiest boosters in the Big 12, ensuring "big time" facilities and support. There is also speculation that oSu may be able to tag along with Oklahoma wherever the Sooners decide to go - as long as the Big Ten isn't where OU lands. The situation in Stillwater isn't nearly as dire as Morgantown or Lubbock, but there is still plenty of reason for concern at "the other Oklahoma school" if the Big 12 folds.

Kansas State: Much like Okie State, the Wildcats shouldn't be freaking out yet. With speculation that the other four power conferences will each expand to 16 teams when the Big 12 implodes, there are essentially ten spots available (2 each in the ACC, Big Ten, SEC and 4 in the PAC). However, much like the Pokies from OK State, K-State has to hope for a package deal with its in-state partner, Kansas. And if speculation of KU and OU going to the Big Ten and reuniting with Nebraska is at all accurate, the Wildcats could end up in the same boat as oSu - looking for a home.

From there, things get a little dicey. Texas and Oklahoma are national brands with recognition in almost every region, ensuring landing spots wherever the two want to go. You can go to a mall in almost any metropolitan area and see people wearing and buying Longhorns or Sooners gear.

TCU and Baylor have both seen big time success lately with the Frogs out-pacing the Bears on the national stage, especially when it comes to winning big games and postseason bowls. Both deliver an academic boost to any conference they land in, but with small enrollments, some suitors may be put off by the small size of the institutions (actual schools and enrollment). Much like the Cincinnati Bearcats of the now defunct Big East, these two non-traditional powers could get left behind despite conference championships and short-term success. Power conferences are more interested in brands they can sell then success on the field. See Boise State (3-0 in the Fiesta Bowl) as an example of that.

That leaves Kansas and Iowa State - two schools with completely different outlooks on the horizon. Iowa State offers little success on the football field, but did manage to win the Big 12 tournament title in basketball last season. On top of that, the Cyclones have the third best football attendance in the Big 12 - which says a lot about the state of Big 12 football. ISU doesn't deliver much to other conferences. The Hawkeyes won't want them in the Big Ten and every other conference is too far to make sense. Kansas is in a different boat. Jayhawks football is non-threatening, but the basketball program can deliver a boost to the Big Ten. With AAU (academics) status in hand and no chance of upsetting Ohio State or Michigan on the gridiron, KU is practically a shoe-in for the Big Ten.

Where does everyone land? That is hard to tell. But with a worthless Grant of Rights that can't hold up if two or more teams leave and security waiting just around the corner for the top teams in other leagues, there should be a lot of phone calls happening around the Big 12 right now.