Arkansas Razorbacks To the Big 12: Could It Really Happen?
by Allen Wahlstrom Contributor Written on June 17, 2010 Ronald Martinez/Getty Images Vote Now! - Author Poll
Will the Hogs
Leave the SEC for the BIG XII Stay in the SEC Leave and Take TCU with them Leave and be replaced by TCU vote to see results Is this a picture of a future conference game between the Aggies and Hogs?
Maybe...just maybe.
If my sources are correct, Arkansas and an unnamed Ft. Worth School are going accept bids to the Big 12 on Friday.
Crazy, right?
Not so fast there Batman!
A couple big-dollar players are involved, and they could be pulling the strings that lead to a reformed SWC. Not a new conference, but as close to the original one as is possible today.
So what is driving this deal?
The first name that comes up is Jerry Jones, an Arkansas alum and member of the 1964 National Championship team.
He has this shiny new facility in Arlington that craves big events, and what better way to fill it than by adding Big 12 games at Jerry's World? Besides, if the Big 12 loses its title game, that will take a big event away that would have brought in millions not only to the facility, but also to DFW as a whole.
Now throw in the fact that Jerry wants the Hogs playing their old rivals again, and we have some primordial soup brewing here.
The Aggies, Tech, and Baylor are all ready playing games there, as is TCU this September.
So this brings us to the TCU question...
What could possibly persuade the powers at UT to allow the little Froggies to play on their court?
Money, and a sticky little thing called recruiting.
If the Hogs come back to the fold, that still leaves the Big 12 at 11, not enough for a title game. But...what if TCU is a part of the package? Great sports, academics, and location. The sticking points are alumni and student population.
So Jerry offers up Cowboys Stadium to host home games against Texas, A&M, OU, and Arkansas. Now the Frogs have a second home field (albeit 15 miles east of campus) that teams want to play in.
Or there could be an even more reasoned explanation...the SEC.
With the Aggies backing out of a marriage with the SEC, could it be that they have made overtures that Texas could not handle?
TCU to the SEC?
Never...right?
Haven't we learned that never is just "until it changes" in the world of BCS football?
Call me crazy, but "the times, they are a'changin."
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bleacherreport.com/articles/407613-arkansas-to-the-big-xiicould-it-really-happen
