Auburn football and the rest of the SEC have two pillar programs making their way to the southeast to form new rivalries, settle a lot of questions, and ultimately make a ton of money doing so.
The Big 12, on the other hand, is losing its backbone and may see its foundation crumble to dust as vultures (like the AAC) circle their decaying carcass. Schools are looking at the conference as prey at the moment, and it could only be a matter of time before it dissipates completely.
Then again, perhaps Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns taking for the hills–or more accurately, the Bayou, the Plains, Stark Vegas, Rocky Top, and all of the charming college communities in the SEC–will slap some sense into the Big 12.
As the SEC, ACC, Big Ten, and Pac-12 all got their own networks, the Longhorns took more action than the entire Big 12 governing body. No wonder UT felt there were better opportunities elsewhere, they out-maneuvered their own conference in the television rights market.
It’s a bad look for the Big 12, but not all hope is lost. Right now, realignment is hot. Group of Five schools could be breaking through to the Power Five and reshaping the game. New powerhouses could spring from any team jumping to any other conference.
Perhaps there’s a reality that includes the Big 12 doing some poaching of their own. The Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Auburn football programs might not be the only schools rolling out the welcome mats in the coming years.
Just maybe the Big 12 will make a power play and end up with these two schools:
Nebraska returns to an easier Big 12 than the one they left
The Big Ten welcomed Nebraska with welcome arms back in 2011 after amassing 29 wins in their previous three seasons. Unfortunately, things took a turn for the Cornhuskers in the years since, and they are now a regular social media punchline among the college football world at large.
And it isn’t undeserved. They’ve had one winning season since 2015. Stepping up to the best of the Midwest truly hasn’t paid off.
*Obligatory mention appeasing pissed off Nebraska fans that Auburn football is 1-3 all-time against the Cornhuskers.
Going back to the Big 12 at this moment in time could be a game-changer. With the conference falling behind their peers, you’d think Nebraska would have a more favorable experience this time around. The public backlash should force an improved experience for the conference.
That better be the result of the losses of their two cash cows. You’d think this would be a wake-up call after getting a second chance.
At this point, Nebraska is well behind the likes of Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Penn State in recruiting. Having a much easier path to a College Football Playoff auto bid–if that is where the college football world ends up with following a 12-team expansion–is as good of a reason as any to shake things up.
Jalen Harris’ post-Auburn football graduate landing spot rejoins the Big 12 too
How about that for a name. Jalen Harris, a backup tight end for the Tigers from 2015-2018, ended his career at Colorado as a grad transfer and caught seven catches in his one season in Boulder compared to just four catches total on the Plains.
Harris is the lone link between Colorado and Auburn besides a three-score trouncing back in 1972 at the Gator Bowl. I didn’t feel like going the hater route in the headline because Colorado doesn’t deserve that.
Anyway, the Buffs could find a return to the Big 12 fruitful at this point in time. That was the conference they represented when they last won a bowl game back in 2004 under Gary Barnett. Outside of the 2016 season, which resulted in 10 wins but also an Alamo Bowl loss to new Big 12 elite Oklahoma State, the Pac-12 hasn’t been kind to Colorado.
As we often like to remind our readers, the geographical fit here is one that relieves travel stress on college students and has the Buffaloes reigniting their historical rivalry with Nebraska, assuming the Big 12 becomes whole again (at 10) with both teams on board following the departure of OU and UT.