Big 12 Reportedly Considering Merger With Another Conference

A general view of Oklahoma State's football stadium ahead of a Big 12 game.
A general view of Oklahoma State's football stadium ahead of a Big 12 game.

The race to form super conferences within college football is on. Texas and Oklahoma are headed to the SEC, so where does the Big 12 go from here? The Pac-12 isn’t just an option, but is involved in ongoing discussions among conference leaders.

On thursday, conference leaders discussed “reaching out” to the Pac-12 to form a 20-school super league. The merger would combine its eight remaining programs with the Pac-12’s 12 schools.

“Reaching out to the Pac-12 about a potential 20-school merger was discussed during Thursday’s Big 12 leadership call,” Feldman wrote via The Athletic.

The league would be wise to merge with the Pac-12 as opposed to trying to add Group of 5 programs to up its conference members total. The Pac-12 needs a facelift as well. This almost makes too much sense as both Power Five conferences need to do everything possible to remain relevant, in the face of an even more powerful SEC.

From a pure financial perspective, it probably wouldn’t make too much sense for the Pac-12 to add the eight remaining programs to the conference. Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, TCU, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and West Virginia don’t exactly move the needle for the Pac-12.

A merger would bring attention and relevancy to the potential super conference, though. And both conferences are in desperate need of attention.

The SEC has been, is and will be the king of college football for years to come. Everyone else is fighting for second. Perhaps the “Pac-20” can claim the stake with another new super conference.

The post Big 12 Reportedly Considering Merger With Another Conference appeared first on The Spun.

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