Horns247 Board

According to the insiders here, Dabo Sweeney's rant last week should end any and all expansion talk with Clemson. So you can scratch them off the list.

Hookem's sources are going to be tied to UT's side of things (and reflects OU's position as well) and all we're going to hear is "we're happy at 10." The only sources that keep mentioning expansion are WVU's guy and Baylor's guy who both have maintained the same position since January that FSU and Clemson are in.

Here's another update form a WVU board

Notre Dame had made tentative deals with both the ACC and Big 12. They were waiting to hear from the BCS about the new format before they made a decision about which conference they were going to join. Notre Dame received guarentee yesterday that BCS oversite committee would include Notre Dame in new BCS playoff format. Notre Dame has no reason to join conference in football and will renew NBC contract in 2015.

Clemson BOT is still leary about making move but are willing to go forward with FSU. Bowlsby told Clemson to sit back and wait until Big 12 was ready to move. Big 12 pressured Clemson into decision stating they would move on without them and had other options waiting if they did not decide soon. Notre Dame has been the deal breaker from the beginning. Texas made it clear that Notre Dame had to be included in this round of expansion in order for them to accept FSU and Clemson. Could also be reason expansion rumors seemed to stall (or die) last week. Big 12 waiting on ND who was waiting on BCS.

FSU has been willing to leave the ACC since Pitt and Syracuse were announced as future members of the ACC. Swaim was not 100% incorrect in reporting that UL had a shot at the Big 12. He was being used as a ploy to let Clemson know that if they did not make a decision the Big 12 would move on without them. The only other school which was being considered was BYU but were a long shot from the beginning. they were at the urging of Notre Dame. Arkansas was never being considered. Lawsuits are real possibility from Tobacco Road.

This is considered final death blow to the ACC as they are losing FSU, Clemson, and Notre Dame (essentially). Watch for other ACC schools to start to (again) explore other options.
Lastly, this information has been verified by both my sources as well as "the Dude" who I consider to be a good friend. He and I pass information back and forth on a daily basis, he is just more willing to put himself out there than I am."

If FSU is possible, Bobby, then who do they come with?

This is what I've been hearing, too.

Texas and OU believe adding teams will make a bigger conference but equate to smaller pie pieces for everybody.

I know Texas has also been clear that playing a conference championship game is something they don't necessarily favor. They see it as another obstacle to potential trip you up on the way to a national championship.

Doens't change the fact it would increase the payout for each team involved. Also, the ACC expanded last year with Pitt and Syracuse and were able to get all teams to $17mm from $13mm. FSU and Clemson or Gtech could command at least that much of an increase. Maybe more if ND is involved in football scheduling.

This is going to be Bowlsby's decision. Not Deloss or Castiglone's. He has to do what's best for the conference long term.

I think the WVU and BU people have a better pulse on this because they're getting better information from their sources.

Has anyone read what I posted and what another poster followed up with from The WVU guy? He's been on this since Jan.

It gives the Big Cigars something to do in the off season.

This stuff is amazing - what a roller coaster.

As a fan, I have no idea whose "inside" info is correct, or even who the hell half these guys are. Many have been correct, and many have been full of it - it's simply impossible (for me at least) to discern what's what and who's who and who is right.

I'm sure some guys are legit, and even then, their sources might not be correct or things change. I'm sure on the other hand, some people just like the attention of supposedly being connected.

With all that said, I find this all intriguing and I'm anxious to take some cool road trips.

I just don't see ND coming in - I never thought the big boys would allow a BCS format with conference champions because of the relative weakness of the ACC and Big East, hence I never thought ND would have any reason to join a football conference.

But what the hell do I know - I don't have any insider info.

But I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night....

I don't believe anything.
It is worse than NFL Draft disinformation.

Very true.

I hope they stick with 10 teams myself. I love the fact that every team in the conference gets an opportunity to play each team in the conference. And the Big 12 North was so weak in the past that it hardly made sense to have them representing the conference if they didn't beat (or play) the best teams in the South.

Bunch of lawyers padding their bills for the conferences...realignment isn't that difficult to figure out, unless the lawyers get involved

Think he was saying that a couple of months ago too (smile).