2025-2026 College Football Thread

[DVDFreaker]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

A lot of people think Paterno keeps coaching because he's afraid he'll die once he retires, which happened to Bear Bryant, who died weeks after he announced his retirement.

Ohh that makes sense

[wilky61]

Oklahoma's top tackler and preseason Big 12 Player of the Year broke his foot and is gonna miss at least half of the season.

Can someone tell me exactly why such a thing as Preseason Player of the Year even exists, though?

[Moviefan1203]

Source - http://espn.go.com/college-sports/st...ering-move-sec

Texas governor Rick Perry says his alma mater, Texas A&M, and the SEC are discussing the Aggies possible future membership in the league, according to a report in the Dallas Morning News.

Perry was asked by reporters from the paper on Wednesday about recent swirling speculation surrounding the move.

"I'll be real honest with you. I just read about it the same time as y'all did. ... As far as I know, conversations are being had. That's frankly all I know. I just refer you to the university and the decision makers over there."

Perry once served as a yell leader for the university, whose president, R. Bowen Loftin, recently acknowledged that there was "uncertainty" regarding the university's future membership in the Big 12.

Texas A&M released this statement to the Dallas Morning News: "President Loftin is committed to doing what is best for Texas A&M not only now, but also into the future. We continue to have wide-ranging conversations regarding all aspects of the university, including both academics and athletics."

Texas A&M discussed membership in the league last summer with the Big 12's future in doubt, but university leaders chose to remain in the Big 12.

Texas A&M leaders have expressed concern about the Longhorn Network's effect on the longterm stability of the Big 12, and rumors of renewed talks between the university and the conference have persisted in recent weeks.

I wonder if the Big XII is closer to extinction that I thought. Losing Texas A&M would hurt a lot.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

Source - http://espn.go.com/college-sports/st...ering-move-sec



I wonder if the Big XII is closer to extinction that I thought. Losing Texas A&M would hurt a lot.

Yuck, Rick Perry went there? Maybe he'll advocate A&M seceding from the Big 12 like he supported Texas seceding from the United States.

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Yuck, Rick Perry went there? Maybe he'll advocate A&M seceding from the Big 12 like he supported Texas seceding from the United States.

lol classic

[Chordata]

Not in favor of Texas A&M coming to the SEC since it'll necessitate another team coming, too, taking the league to 14 teams. I don't want Clemson or Georgia Tech or some other school.

Some cocky A&M fan was on the Sirius College Sports show this morning contending that right now each SEC team gets $17M/year (maybe for TV? I didn't catch that part), and if A&M comes each team will get $34M/year. Huh? How would A&M bring in $204M/year by itself, when the rest of the league makes that much combined?

[fatediesel]

Originally Posted by Chordata

Not in favor of Texas A&M coming to the SEC since it'll necessitate another team coming, too, taking the league to 14 teams. I don't want Clemson or Georgia Tech or some other school.

Some cocky A&M fan was on the Sirius College Sports show this morning contending that right now each SEC team gets $17M/year (maybe for TV? I didn't catch that part), and if A&M comes each team will get $34M/year. Huh? How would A&M bring in $204M/year by itself, when the rest of the league makes that much combined?

If Texas A&M joined the SEC's first target would be Oklahoma. There is no way Clemson or Georgia Tech would be invited because South Carolina and Georgia would fight it hard. Having another in-state team would hurt their recruiting efforts. It's the same reason Miami or Florida State don't get invited. Florida has fought any efforts to bring them to the conference. In addition when you expand you want to enter states you aren't currently in because it brings more TV viewers from new areas, and if the SEC starts a TV network, which is likely at some point, it will force more cable companies to carry the channel.

It's not out of the question Oklahoma would join because they are equally unhappy about Texas' TV network and could see the Big 12 imploding if Texas A&M left. If A&M left I could potentially see the remaining Big 12 north teams (Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Iowa State) joining the Big East. Bill Self said that scenario was discussed last year when the Big 12 almost disbanded.

[Chordata]

I hope neither come. As much as I love Nebraska joining the Big 10*, I hate the idea of teams that aren't in the southeast joining the SEC (as much as I hate Colorado being in the Pac 10).

Call me a geography nerd.

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by Chordata

I hope neither come. As much as I love Nebraska joining the Big 10*, I hate the idea of teams that aren't in the southeast joining the SEC (as much as I hate Colorado being in the Pac 10).

Call me a geography nerd.

I can't imagine you are crazy about TCU joining the Big East then? It seems geography isn't that important to conferences. I think we are headed towards a couple massive conferences instead of many smaller ones.

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

I can't imagine you are crazy about TCU joining the Big East then? It seems geography isn't that important to conferences. I think we are headed towards a couple massive conferences instead of many smaller ones.

Correct!

I agree, geography obviously isn't important. Only cash is.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by Chordata

I hope neither come. As much as I love Nebraska joining the Big 10*, I hate the idea of teams that aren't in the southeast joining the SEC (as much as I hate Colorado being in the Pac 10).

Call me a geography nerd.

Texas is an ex-Confederate southern state. I'd hardly A&M being located in Texas "not a southern school." Oklahoma on the other hand has never really been defined as part of that region.

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Texas is an ex-Confederate southern state. I'd hardly A&M being located in Texas "not a southern school." Oklahoma on the other hand has never really been defined as part of that region.

Chad, come on now. I didn't say southern. I said southeastern. If Texas is southeastern then Washington is in central america.

[Moviefan1203]

Source - http://eye-on-collegefootball.blogs....56338/31275207

With the back and forth regarding Texas A&M's possible jump to the SEC, there is one more piece of the puzzle worth considering.

If the Aggies do make the leap, who would be the primary target for spot No. 14?

The popular belief is that SEC expansion would first involve an increase to 14 teams, then eventually finish at 16. Because the shrinking Big 12 and their displeasure with Texas and the Longhorn Network, Texas A&M leaving would not be a huge shock. But once you start to look at candidates for that fourteenth spot is where things get messy. According to a report in the Palm Beach Post, the rumors of Florida State making the jump as well are "real."

Tom D'Angelo cited a source close to FSU who confirmed that the discussions are getting more serious. D'Angelo also writes that the other candidates being mentioned for SEC expansion are Clemson, Virginia Tech, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State.

Some believe that Florida would try to block the Seminoles from joining the SEC, and South Carolina would do the same for in-state rival Clemson. Adding the nearby foe to the SEC presents all kinds of new recruiting challenges, after the Gators and Gamecocks have been able to use the "all-mighty SEC" card in years past.

The Florida State-SEC rumors have swirled before, and when the Seminoles were owning the ACC it seemed like the program was too big for the conference. But Florida State, seeking their first ACC title since 2005, sputtered for a big in the last half-decade. Still, with head coach Jimbo Fisher at the helm there is a buzz in Tallahassee again. Seminole fans believe that they have big-time college football right in their backyard. You know who else has big-time college football in their backyard? The SEC.

A Florida State exit would be a crippling blow to ACC football, as would Clemson or Virginia Tech. Clemson and Florida State hang their hat on success from the 1980's and 1990's, while the Hokies have dominated the conference since their arrival in 2004. From the national perspective, these are some of the teams that give the ACC clout. Losing any one of them to the SEC would send the conference into an unexpected scramble to keep their membership at 12 teams for the ACC Championship Game.

[Chordata]

If this ridiculous conference expansion won't go away, then I'd love FSU to join the SEC. I just don't see it happening.

I wish the SEC would just get it over with and expand into North Dakota and Maine.

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by Chordata

If this ridiculous conference expansion won't go away, then I'd love FSU to join the SEC. I just don't see it happening.

I wish the SEC would just get it over with and expand into North Dakota and Maine.

I think in the end Virginia Tech, Clemson, and Florida State will stay in the ACC. The SEC will get their 13th and 14th teams from the Big XII. However, if one of the ACC teams jumps I wouldn't be surprised to see the ACC go on another Big East raid.




Source - http://eye-on-collegefootball.blogs....56338/31277404

It seems that if Texas A&M really is set on leaving the Big 12 to join the SEC, the Aggies better hope that the SEC's interest in them is mutual. According to our Texas A&M Rapid Reporter Brent Zwerneman, Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe has told Texas A&M that the Big 12 will survive without it. Which doesn't exactly sound like the words of a man who is trying to do everything he can to keep A&M in the Big 12.

Beebe also told Texas A&M that Texas is the school that holds the key to the Big 12's future, and that as long as the Longhorns don't leave, the Big 12 would survive. In fact, should Texas A&M leave then the Big 12 may just replace them with Houston.

Of course, that's if Texas doesn't decide to leave the conference as well. Something that isn't exactly set in stone according to The Oklahoman. In a story about Oklahoma believing that Texas A&M is going to leave, there's also this tidbit about what the future of Texas may hold.

[Texas athletic director DeLoss] Dodds said his preference is for the Big 12 to bring in another school to replace A&M, should the Aggies leave. He also mentioned Texas and Notre Dame joining forces to create a new conference, should the Big 12 disintegrate.

In other words, Texas doesn't really care if its in-state rival leaves the conference, but it just wants to make sure that the Big 12 remains a 10-school league, or the Longhorns will continue to cut their own path.

So if it wasn't apparent to you before, it should be now that the Aggies are merely just the first domino of what could be many to fall.

The arrogance of Texas is starting to aggravate me.

[Moviefan1203]

Source - http://espn.go.com/ncaa/conversation...s-options-open

The Southeastern Conference is not extending an invitation to Texas A&M to become its 13th member, but isn't ruling out adding the Aggies in the future.

University of Florida president Dr. Bernie Machen said the conference's presidents and chancellors met on Sunday and "reaffirmed our satisfaction with the present 12 institutional alignment."

"We recognize, however, that future conditions may make it advantageous to expand the number of institutions in the league," Machen said. ...

I imagine the SEC couldn't get another school they wanted as a 14th member, so they are holding put for the time being. But A&M going to the SEC is something that will happen in the near future.

[Terjyn]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

I imagine the SEC couldn't get another school they wanted as a 14th member, so they are holding put for the time being. But A&M going to the SEC is something that will happen in the near future.

I don't buy this as the problem. If the SEC is so selective that no school they'd want would be willing to listen to offers, then surely Texas A&M is below that line as well.

Texas A&M had its best season in ages last year, and they STILL finished 5th in the Big 12.

*EDIT* And yes, I'm aware of the lure of Texas that might make the SEC want to expand there.

[rwl04]

aTm will still end up in the $EC, its just a matter of time

Mizzou will likely join, the key question is who whill join to East if/when all of the above happens.

[fatediesel]

Originally Posted by rwl04

aTm will still end up in the $EC, its just a matter of time

Mizzou will likely join, the key question is who whill join to East if/when all of the above happens.

I don't know if the SEC would take Missouri. The Big 10 rejected them when they expanded and the SEC views themselves as superior to the Big 10 and might not want to take someone the Big 10 passed over. I think this all was happening too quick for the SEC. This went from no expansion talk to needing to make a decision in the span of a week and that didn't give the SEC enough time for due diligence on prospective members. I think the SEC will make a decision on expansion next summer and add Texas A&M and another school.

[Kev1080P]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

I don't know if the SEC would take Missouri. The Big 10 rejected them when they expanded and the SEC views themselves as superior to the Big 10 and might not want to take someone the Big 10 passed over. I think this all was happening too quick for the SEC. This went from no expansion talk to needing to make a decision in the span of a week and that didn't give the SEC enough time for due diligence on prospective members. I think the SEC will make a decision on expansion next summer and add Texas A&M and another school.

indeed, if they take AM the 14th school would be a marquee school like FSU or oklahoma, someone of that ilk...it wont be a mid tier big 12 school, they are already getting one of those with Texas AM if they do eventually join