Big 12 football: What teams should the Big 12 look to bring in if they decide to expand?

The Pac-12

The Pac-12 is currently in shambles. Both their Basketball and football programs are playing at an all time low. That and a flawed television deal with the Fox and family networks has the conference falling behind all the other power-5 conferences.

An article on Hookem.com by Joe Harrington talks more in depth about the Pac-12’s struggles

Here’s what the Arizona State athletic director Ray Anderson said in the article:

"“The gap between us and the other (leagues) continues to grow, We’ll be competitively disadvantaged even more so. … That’s real money in terms of being able to compete, support facilities, support coaches and support programs.”"

Speaking of money, Joe also included this in the article as well in regards to the conferences TV revenue:

"“Pac-12 schools earned an average of $30.9 million in television revenue per year, according to Dodd, about $20 million less than Texas and OU earned individually.”"

So with some Pac-12 teams aggravated at the conference’s recent history, which Pac-12 teams could the Big 12 poach and add?

Arizona

Teams prestige: 8/10

Teams marketability: 7/10

Teams location: 5/10

Teams recruiting ground: 6/10

Total: 26/40

Arizona would be a HUGE get for the Big 12 conference. It’s not a football program, but is a blue blood. CAN YOU IMAGINE A CONFERENCE GAME OF ARIZONA AND KANSAS?? Adding Arizona would all but cement the Big 12 as the best basketball conference in college basketball. The football team has former Texas A&M coach in coach Kevin Sumlin, and should be able to at least compete football wise.

Arizona State

Teams prestige: 5/10

Teams marketability: 6/10

Teams location: 5/10

Teams recruiting ground: 6/10

Total: 22/40

Arizona and Arizona State coming in a package deal would be huge for the Big 12. Not only does the two teams add onto the conferences already unmatched rivalry’s, but Arizona State (Who is also more of a basketball school) will be  competitive in both Football and Basketball.

Why would the Arizona’s leave the Pac-12 for the Big 12? For starters the team gets out of a shaky conference, and will be pulling in more money in the Big 12. The team will also get more exposure, as they will play in more central time zone games. People don’t talk about that much, but I think part of the flawed TV partnership in the Pac-12, is that nobody wants to watch their teams play until midnight. Going to the Big 12 will solve that problem and generate them more exposure.

The Big 12 would get two very solid teams and a very good rivalry. The move would also push the conference further out west, and take full control of the Arizona football market.

Colorado

Teams prestige: 5/10

Teams marketability: 6/10

Teams location: 10/10

Teams recruiting grounds: 3/10

Total: 24/40

Another former Big 12 league member who jumped ship, that potentially could come crawling back. Colorado would probably love to come back to the Big 12 to earn more money, and the Big 12 would get the state of Colorado back as theirs on the recruiting trail.

If Colorado came back to the Big 12, I have another school that could join with them. Check out the next slide: