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Topic:  Which conference would you pick if they reached out?

Topic:  Which conference would you pick if they reached out?
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ExCat21
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  Message Not Read  Which conference would you pick if they reached out?
   Posted: 9/30/2025 10:34:04 PM 

Which conference would you pick if they reached out?
 
 
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Hypothetically speaking, if you were in charge at OU and was approached by the conferences above, who are you choosing?

Initially on another post, I chose AAC. But now, I really believe we could compete for a Big 12 Championship. As another person stated, the Cincy and WVU area games would be a phenomenal experience and lighter on the wallet.

Last Edited: 9/30/2025 10:35:58 PM by ExCat21
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TWT
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  Message Not Read  RE: Which conference would you pick if they reached out?
   Posted: 9/30/2025 11:59:15 PM 
The assumption is if all those conferences are interested who would you pick. I'll add another assumption is that money grows on trees and spending would not be a factor in the decision. If that was the case I'd go for the ACC as it has the more attractive games overall. Then convince Cincinnati and West Virginia to join it. Up the budget to $200 million and place academics on the back burner.

https://sports.yahoo.com/article/virginia-tech-board-appr...

If I'm thinking where Ohio could with its existing budget and have the best chance of a conference championship then I'd vote for the MWC. Bring Miami and Toledo along and have all 3 join the MVC for other sports. Ohio could stay at the top in the MWC because there is limited talent out west. The midwest schools (NIU, Toledo, Miami, Ohio) would dominate in most years practically bringing the MAC title race to the MWC. Then access to all those west coast destination bowl games would be attractive to pitch on the recruiting trail. I like bowling in Florida with the MAC but I don't enjoy bowling in Alabama or Lousiana.

AAC doesn't have as much room for MAC schools and would be more difficult to win with some programs having borderline P4 recruiting classes and more access to talent in general. Memphis leaving would reduce some of that problem but it won't be as easy to stay on top. Then you'll end up playing SBC teams in a bowl game anyway which is let down from playing all season in a higher profile conference.

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Andrew Ruck
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  Message Not Read  RE: Which conference would you pick if they reached out?
   Posted: 10/1/2025 8:17:33 AM 
I'd consider the Big 12 especially if Marshall joined with us and we established a "pod" with Cincy, WVU & Marshall.

But honestly I don't like any of them and still would prefer to somehow stay in something that has geographic sense to it.

Andrew Ruck
B.B.A. 2003

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M.D.W.S.T
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  Message Not Read  RE: Which conference would you pick if they reached out?
   Posted: 10/1/2025 9:04:18 AM 
Andrew Ruck wrote:
I'd consider the Big 12 especially if Marshall joined with us and we established a "pod" with Cincy, WVU & Marshall.

But honestly I don't like any of them and still would prefer to somehow stay in something that has geographic sense to it.


I'd play in Fallujah if they were paying ACC money.
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OhioCatFan
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  Message Not Read  RE: Which conference would you pick if they reached out?
   Posted: 10/1/2025 3:59:45 PM 
Hmm . . . I just heard a rumor today that there have actually been some discussions, I assume top secret and extremely preliminary, between some officials here and the Big 12.

Another poster posited the possibility of a pod with Ohio, Cincinnati, Marshall and WVU. That would be interesting. The big stumbling block there would be for WVU to swallow its pride and admit that Marshall actually is the second university in West Virginia. When I was at Marshall, even some people in Huntington, still referred to WVU, as "The University." And, this concept was even stronger in other parts of the state.

The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA

"It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right."

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colobobcat66
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  Message Not Read  RE: Which conference would you pick if they reached out?
   Posted: 10/1/2025 4:59:44 PM 
ExCat21 wrote:
Hypothetically speaking, if you were in charge at OU and was approached by the conferences above, who are you choosing?

Initially on another post, I chose AAC. But now, I really believe we could compete for a Big 12 Championship. As another person stated, the Cincy and WVU area games would be a phenomenal experience and lighter on the wallet.


I’m just curious what has changed your mind about the B12-recent wins over them or?
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STVCastle
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  Message Not Read  RE: Which conference would you pick if they reached out?
   Posted: 10/1/2025 5:13:58 PM 
I voted for the Big XII. It's not a perfect choice, but it has the right mix of things we would need. A block of Ohio-WVU-Marshall-Cincy? Sign me up for that tbh.

I want no part of the backstage politics that infect the ACC. It's not a stable Power Conference and won't be after some schools leave for the B1G/SEC. And if we know anything about how they handle a Grant of Rights... No thanks.

The Mountain West is a non-starter mainly because of geography and travel. Too far out west for us.

The American isn't stable and historically hasn't been. Schools are always coming and going. Why do schools keep leaving if the American is a stable conference? Some of their newest additions came from C-USA.

Surprised the Sun Belt wasn't even listed here because that is somewhat possible.
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ExCat21
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  Message Not Read  RE: Which conference would you pick if they reached out?
   Posted: 10/1/2025 7:42:10 PM 
TWT wrote:
The assumption is if all those conferences are interested who would you pick. I'll add another assumption is that money grows on trees and spending would not be a factor in the decision. If that was the case I'd go for the ACC as it has the more attractive games overall. Then convince Cincinnati and West Virginia to join it. Up the budget to $200 million and place academics on the back burner.

https://sports.yahoo.com/article/virginia-tech-board-appr...

If I'm thinking where Ohio could with its existing budget and have the best chance of a conference championship then I'd vote for the MWC. Bring Miami and Toledo along and have all 3 join the MVC for other sports. Ohio could stay at the top in the MWC because there is limited talent out west. The midwest schools (NIU, Toledo, Miami, Ohio) would dominate in most years practically bringing the MAC title race to the MWC. Then access to all those west coast destination bowl games would be attractive to pitch on the recruiting trail. I like bowling in Florida with the MAC but I don't enjoy bowling in Alabama or Lousiana.

AAC doesn't have as much room for MAC schools and would be more difficult to win with some programs having borderline P4 recruiting classes and more access to talent in general. Memphis leaving would reduce some of that problem but it won't be as easy to stay on top. Then you'll end up playing SBC teams in a bowl game anyway which is let down from playing all season in a higher profile conference.


Love the reasons behind your picks. Throw in ACC basketball in Athens and it would be extremely exciting. While having the opportunity to play the real Miami sounds amazing, I'm not sure we could realistically recruit or compete in the next 5 years for a championship. It would definitely take about a decade to build our brand there.

Florida is definitely a great destination for bowl games, but the food is much better in Alabama and Louisiana. 😁

Majority thought NIU was crazy for bolting to the MWC, but it looks like they may have gotten overpaid during a time of panic. It's going to take a lot of energy to compete while mostly flying majority of the season. Hopefully MWC can accommodate NIU with a schedule that has several home games in between away games. Maybe later down the road, they can invest in some land in Utah and designate a small campus with practice fields and classrooms there for student-athletes during the season.

I agree with you about the wiggle room the AAC actually has, but I think we can beat Memphis so them leaving or staying wouldn't be a factor for me.

Appreciate your response!
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ExCat21
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  Message Not Read  RE: Which conference would you pick if they reached out?
   Posted: 10/1/2025 7:51:24 PM 
STVCastle wrote:
I voted for the Big XII. It's not a perfect choice, but it has the right mix of things we would need. A block of Ohio-WVU-Marshall-Cincy? Sign me up for that tbh.

I want no part of the backstage politics that infect the ACC. It's not a stable Power Conference and won't be after some schools leave for the B1G/SEC. And if we know anything about how they handle a Grant of Rights... No thanks.

The Mountain West is a non-starter mainly because of geography and travel. Too far out west for us.

The American isn't stable and historically hasn't been. Schools are always coming and going. Why do schools keep leaving if the American is a stable conference? Some of their newest additions came from C-USA.

Surprised the Sun Belt wasn't even listed here because that is somewhat possible.


Interesting take on the ACC. Respect it too! Even if we make $3 million less than the respective members, it can seriously upgrade OU in less than 5 years. But winning consistently would take time there. OUr picturesque campus does fit the ACC though and I wouldn't mind signing the GOR because there's no need to leave the conference that gave us an opportunity to become a P5 program. As far as the Sunbelt goes, I feel like there's no "win-win" to join them. It's who we most likely matchup with in our current bowl games anyway.
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ExCat21
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  Message Not Read  RE: Which conference would you pick if they reached out?
   Posted: 10/1/2025 7:55:20 PM 
colobobcat66 wrote:
ExCat21 wrote:
Hypothetically speaking, if you were in charge at OU and was approached by the conferences above, who are you choosing?

Initially on another post, I chose AAC. But now, I really believe we could compete for a Big 12 Championship. As another person stated, the Cincy and WVU area games would be a phenomenal experience and lighter on the wallet.


I’m just curious what has changed your mind about the B12-recent wins over them or?


I believe we could win the Big 12 within 5 years right now. We could beat Kansas, Kansas State, and Okla St (current meltdown) along with WVU and Cincy. The opportunity to play and beat Houston and win some recruiting trail points would be fantastic as well. With other former MAC coaches having success there, I feel like we could build consistently easier than the ACC.
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cbarber357
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  Message Not Read  RE: Which conference would you pick if they reached out?
   Posted: 10/1/2025 9:52:51 PM 
OhioCatFan wrote:
Hmm . . . I just heard a rumor today that there have actually been some discussions, I assume top secret and extremely preliminary, between some officials here and the Big 12.


Anything more to share about this supposed BIg 12 Discussion? Big jump from rumors about the Sun Belt to rumors about the Big 12.

Although, I guess just adding us to the conference would be a good way for the Big 12 to avoid the embarrassment of repeatedly losing to a MAC school.

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OhioCatFan
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  Message Not Read  RE: Which conference would you pick if they reached out?
   Posted: 10/2/2025 12:27:41 AM 
cbarber357 wrote:
OhioCatFan wrote:
Hmm . . . I just heard a rumor today that there have actually been some discussions, I assume top secret and extremely preliminary, between some officials here and the Big 12.


Anything more to share about this supposed BIg 12 Discussion? Big jump from rumors about the Sun Belt to rumors about the Big 12.

Although, I guess just adding us to the conference would be a good way for the Big 12 to avoid the embarrassment of repeatedly losing to a MAC school.



Nope, nothing more. My source had no details. As I said it was a rumor, so who knows about the accuracy, but I have a hunch that there's some truth behind it. It's the nature of rumors that things get distorted as they progress, but sometimes there are based on a kernel of truth.

The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA

"It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right."

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SBH
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  Message Not Read  RE: Which conference would you pick if they reached out?
   Posted: 10/2/2025 8:54:50 AM 
OhioCatFan wrote:
Hmm . . . I just heard a rumor today that there have actually been some discussions, I assume top secret and extremely preliminary, between some officials here and the Big 12.

Another poster posited the possibility of a pod with Ohio, Cincinnati, Marshall and WVU. That would be interesting. The big stumbling block there would be for WVU to swallow its pride and admit that Marshall actually is the second university in West Virginia. When I was at Marshall, even some people in Huntington, still referred to WVU, as "The University." And, this concept was even stronger in other parts of the state.


Somebody is having fun with you.
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M.D.W.S.T
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  Message Not Read  RE: Which conference would you pick if they reached out?
   Posted: 10/2/2025 10:40:04 AM 
SBH wrote:
OhioCatFan wrote:
Hmm . . . I just heard a rumor today that there have actually been some discussions, I assume top secret and extremely preliminary, between some officials here and the Big 12.

Another poster posited the possibility of a pod with Ohio, Cincinnati, Marshall and WVU. That would be interesting. The big stumbling block there would be for WVU to swallow its pride and admit that Marshall actually is the second university in West Virginia. When I was at Marshall, even some people in Huntington, still referred to WVU, as "The University." And, this concept was even stronger in other parts of the state.


Somebody is having fun with you.




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