Arkansas Puts Out Feelers About Joining Big XII

[UNHWildCats]

ust when it looked like realignment in college athletics might be winding down, multiple sources in the Big 12 told Orangebloods.com Arkansas has put out feelers about a possible move to the Big 12 to reconnect with former Southwest Conference rivals like Texas and Texas A&M.

Those sources said Arkansas currently doesn't have the votes among the Big 12 schools to join the league. But those sources said they would need to see how the television money would work if adding a school or two to know if they'd vote for expansion.

Tom Keegan of the Lawrence Journal-World reported Thursday, according to sources close to Cowboys owner and Arkansas alum Jerry Jones, that Jones wants Arkansas and Notre Dame in the Big 12.

The Big 12 title game is under contract to be played at Cowboys Stadium for the next four years. But after the departure of Nebraska and Colorado, the Big 12 will no longer qualify for a title game after the 2010 season. Under NCAA rules, a league must have 12 schools to qualify for a championship game.

So it would make sense that Jones would want two more teams in the Big 12 so the league would be able to play its title game in Cowboys Stadium for years to come. Jones also helped win a national title at Arkansas in 1964 along with teammate Jimmy Johnson and then-Hogs assistant coach Barry Switzer.

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[dbackjon]

Notre Dame????

Keep dreaming

[bluehenbillk]

The Jones family may want Arkansas in the big XII.

Agreed on Notre Dame, why?

[GannonFan]

That's just funny, Notre Dame to the Big 12.

As for Arkansas, it's really an easy matter - just find out how much Texas wants and pay them. The Big 12 is a pretty easy thing to read. Just show Texas the money (even if that means you don't any yourself).

[CitadelGrad]

It's unlikely that ND will join a conference but if they do, it will be the Big Ten. They have a long history with a lot of Big Ten schools and are located in a state that already has two Big Ten schools.

[slycat]

The only reason ND would consider is because they could keep their TV deal.

[BlueHen86]

It's unlikely that ND will join a conference but if they do, it will be the Big Ten. They have a long history with a lot of Big Ten schools and are located in a state that already has two Big Ten schools.

Agreed. A few weeks ago I read that if the "super conferences" come to be, Notre Dame might become the 16th member of the Big 10, otherwise I think they will stay independent.

I think that we are headed for 4 or 5 "super conferences". The Big 10 and Pac 10 seem to be in the best shape. The SEC also looks to be okay. If the SEC loses a team to the Big 12 then they will likely raid the ACC, which will in turn raid the Big East.

I don't see the Big East lasting much longer as a football conference. The current Big East football teams will end up in the Big 10 or ACC.