The state of the Big XII

Tonight I have decided to write about the state of the Big XII conference.  Yes, I realize that what I'm primarily going to write about happened months ago, but I was not a blogger then, and was in the middle of a busy wheat harvest.  But, after the first of the year we usually have a state of the union address, state of the state address, etc.  So, why not have a state of the conference address.  So, here goes...
The state of the Big XII conference is BAD.  This summer saw some of the biggest changes since the inception of the Big XII from the former Big 8.  When the Big XII was formed, there were many people who said it was a bad idea.  It would never work.  The Big 8 was stronger than the Big XII will ever be.  Think about this though.  In the modern world where we try to super size everything we can, how do you think the Big 8 would compete with a soon to be 12 team Pac-10, which i believe the name will be changed to Pac-12, a 12 team Big 10, which I believe will retain the same name, a 12 team ACC and SEC.  The Big East has only 8 teams in football, and 16 teams in basketball.  So of the power conferences, how would 8 teams be able to compete with that?? Take Colorado and Nebraska away from the Big 8, then what do you have??  Absolutely nothing.  The Southwest Conference (where the Texas teams came from) likely would have taken OU and OSU.  That leaves 4 teams with nowhere to go.  That would have been disastrous.
Looking back on it now, the Texas teams have been a good addition to the conference.  Texas is a contender for a national title in football and basketball every year. Baylor has emerged from the basement in the past few years.  Texas A&M is returning to the spotlight.  These teams, are the glue to the conference, and proved last summer that they are holding to conference together.  They kept the Big XII entact.  Nebraska was upset that Texas was taking the spotlight away from them.  Thats what it amounts to.  Sounds like a little kid on the playground.  He doesn't get his way, so he takes the ball and goes somewhere else.  Colorado has just become awful.  As far as I am concerned good riddence to both of them.  Colorado won't be missed at all.  Nebraska might hurt, but they can be replaced.  That brings me to my point.  Why haven't they been replaced??
Starting next fall the Big XII will be sitting at 10 teams.  They are going to play a round robin schedule, and eliminate the conference championship game.  How is this going to work??  Not well at all.  There was a joke when all this happened about switching names.  But, why not??  The way this is going to play out, they might as well.  The Big XII is going to be the new Big 10.  All the bad things that have been said about the Big 10 will apply to them now.  Let's give a for instance.  Under the current system and format.  Let's say there are 3 undefeated teams fighting for 2 spots in the BCS championship game.  Let's say that Florida State, Auburn, and Ohio State are all undefeated.  Who will be picked to play in this game? The BCS will pick Florida State and Auburn every time.  Why? Because they play in a conference championship game.  There have been a few years that the Big XII has put 2 teams in a BCS bowl.  That will not happen again.  The Big XII will not have a team in the BCS championship with this format.  The Big XII is too competitive and right now too even.  They beat each other up last season.  Under this format the conference winner will not escape 9 conference games with less than 2 losses.  2 losses will never get you into that BCS game.  Since Miami and Virginia Tech went to the ACC the Big East has not put a team in the BCS game.  Ohio State has been the only representative out of the Big 10 and up until this season USC the only out of the Pac 10.  The Big XII has had 3 different teams in 7 different times.  The SEC has had 5 different teams in 7 different times as well.  7 out of 13 is over 50%.  Well, say good bye to that.
What upsets me about this more than anything is the lack of action by the conference.  I realize they don't want to make a quick decision, have it be wrong and backfire.  But They will have had well over a year by the time the football starts next fall.  This lack of action has already cost them 2 teams that would have been a VERY welcome addition to the conference.  Utah and TCU both would have been great additions.  If TCU played in the Big XII this season, they are playing Auburn in that BCS game.  Guarranteed.  The new Big 10 and Pac 12 is not the end.  By any means.  This will continue.  It's not a matter of if, but when.  There will be a 16 team superconference.  And when this happens, they will raid the Big XII for these teams.  It's going to happen unless they do something about it.  There are still plenty of teams out there as replacements.  Boise State, BYU, SMU, and Memphis have been suggested.  I have not heard Tulsa mentioned but I think they would be a good fit as well.  They have been very successful in Conference USA.
Texas may have saved the Big XII but it's only for now.  It's just a bandaid.  A temporary fix.  If they don't do something, and soon, it will spell the end for the Big XII.  Wait and see.

To be continued...