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The Extra Point

Conference realignment that nobody wants

Chris Siers
Posted 8/5/21

When Oklahoma and Texas secured their spot in the SEC with a unanimous vote for admission last week, it officially set in motion a cascade of events that will lead to a drastic change in the landscape of college football—a change that nobody seems to want...

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The Extra Point

Conference realignment that nobody wants

Posted

When Oklahoma and Texas secured their spot in the SEC with a unanimous vote for admission last week, it officially set in motion a cascade of events that will lead to a drastic change in the landscape of college football—a change that nobody seems to want.

This is purely a money-driven move, which unfortunately rules college sports these days.

The vast majority of SEC fans flat out don't want Oklahoma and Texas in the SEC.

Why should they?

What value, other than brand recognition, do the two Big 12 schools offer?

Sure, Oklahoma posts 12-plus wins and cranks out the best quarterbacks year after year, but what about Texas?

Since Mack Brown's departure nearly 10 years ago, the Longhorns have had a revolving door of coaches and have underachieved.

For Tennessee fans, who have also suffered through their revolving door of coaches and rebuilds for the better part of a decade, how can it be exciting to face two big schools like Oklahoma and Texas?

Will the traditional rivalries fade?

The Texas-Texas A&M rivalry died with the last round of realignment but looks like it will be revived once the move is official.

Will Bedlam still be a thing for Oklahoma-Oklahoma State?

What about the remaining Big 12 schools?

Word on the street is Kansas is bolting for the Big 10.

As a WVU fan, surely a move to the ACC makes sense on paper, but the conference has to make a vote for it.

By in large, the Big 12 schools and fans are absolutely furious at Oklahoma and Texas, and rightfully so.

Without the two biggest brands in the conference, payouts to each school will take a nosedive.

As it stands, the Big 12 looks to be falling to a Group of 5 caliber-conference.

Earlier this week, there was news the Big 12 was in talks with the Pac-12 at a possible merger—which again shows disregard for WVU and the other Big 12 schools.

Will Iowa State, a playoff dark horse favorite, be scooped up by the Pac-12?

What about Oklahoma State?

There are so many questions surrounding what the final alignments will look like, but one thing is certain, the college football brass just doesn't care what fans think.

At the end of the day, it's a money-driven business and no matter what the final moves look like, someone will be left out and fans will suffer because of it.

Rivalries will die and football will forever be changed in favor of something that nearly nobody wanted.

Chris Siers is sports editor of the Times-Gazette. Email him at sports@t-g.com.

Chris Siers is sports editor of the Times-Gazette.