Why SEC expansion makes sense for 14 teams

Mar 12, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; SEC logo at center court inside Bridgestone Arena prior to the championship game of the SEC Conference Tournament between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Arkansas Razorbacks. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; SEC logo at center court inside Bridgestone Arena prior to the championship game of the SEC Conference Tournament between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Arkansas Razorbacks. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
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Sep 4, 2016; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns new mascot Bevo XV during the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 4, 2016; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns new mascot Bevo XV during the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Texas
I can’t imagine that Texas would even consider joining the SEC; it’s the Southeastern Conference, for a reason. Texas is not a southeastern state. I digress, geography doesn’t amount to much. See Mizzou and Texas A&M as two SEC examples.

To me, Texas seems like another program that would probably ry to hold its own and stick to its Big 12 roots. It has a pretty sweet gig going with ESPN and its own Longhorn Network, but even that has cost ESPN a significant loss of $48 million.

Once again, agreeing with our friends at GG, Texas A&M welcomed the opportunity to escape the shadow of “big brother” Texas, and joined the SEC. Similar to Florida not encouraging the likes of Florida State to join the SEC, Aggies fans won’t fawn for Texas to jump to the SEC.

Once again though, should Texas realign to the SEC, it would make for another annual rival game between A&M and the Longhorns, which would be exciting for any fans who have missed the rivalry.

If the Big 12 was to dissolve, I would imagine that Texas would go independent before joining another conference. If you consider how Notre Dame plays its cards, the Longhorns have enough pride–see ego–to believe that they can do the same without the assistance of a conference.

Schedule

Schedule