Texas A&M is tired of living in the shadow the University of Texas and the Longhorn’s 20-year, $300 million TV network that starts this fall. A move to the SEC would give the Aggies more money and the ability to move to the top football conference in the country. And it would give the SEC access to Texas — as well as two top-10 television markets in Dallas and Houston to add to the conference telecast portfolio. Conference expansion could put Virginia Tech in the SEC mix. Meanwhile, sources in the Big Ten say they would remain interested in Maryland if Virginia Tech would move to the SEC. Then, the Big Ten would also look to add Virginia.
This remains a money issue. Moving from the ACC to the SEC means an additional $9 million a year, and a move to the Big Ten would add $10 million per year to a school’s budget.
So the Big Ten is watching the SEC to see if they expand.
If Texas A&M moves to the SEC, the conference would look to add at least one more school to make it 14. Florida State, Clemson, Missouri, Oklahoma and Virginia Tech all have been rumored to be targeted by the conference.
Sources say Florida State and Virginia Tech are both happy in the ACC, but that the pull of the SEC is something that both Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher and Hokies coach Frank Beamer find interesting.
At the moment, Florida is not standing in the way should the Seminoles wish to go to the SEC. Meanwhile, at least for the moment, Georgia is blocking Georgia Tech and South Carolina is blocking Clemson.
The Big 12 is looking at Houston and BYU as possible replacements for Texas A&M should the Aggies leave. As long as the conference has Texas and Oklahoma, the Big 12 will have a BCS Bowl bid.
Examiner columnist Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this!
