In the mega-conference shuffle, Texas has thrown everyone for a loop hole by deciding to stay in the Big 12.
After Nebraska left for the Big 10 and Colorado the Pac 10, Texas’ departure would have been the final nail in the Big 12 coffin.
Texas’s decision to stay in Big 12 creates challenges for the Pac 10s and Big 10s plans to merge into mega-conferences by luring teams away from the Big 12…. but with Texas staying that won’t be happening.
The purpose of the mega-conferences were to make more money, but Texas found away to do that without joining the Pac 10. Texas was able to negotiate TV revenue where the Longhorns would receive $20 m and the other schools would get between $14-17m.
Many are speculating how long it will last and believe the Big 12 will only fall further back in TV rights. But for now, Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State are all staying put.
Alas the most confusing part of the mega-conference shuffle is that the Big 12 now has 10 teams, while the Big 10 now has 12 teams!
