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Should Texas Stay in Big 12 or Leave for Another Conference?

By James Caldwell

Oct 3, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; A view of the Big 12 logo on the field after the game between the Baylor Bears and the Texas Tech Red Raiders at AT&T Stadium. The Bears defeat the Red Raiders 63-35. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 3, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; A view of the Big 12 logo on the field after the game between the Baylor Bears and the Texas Tech Red Raiders at AT&T Stadium. The Bears defeat the Red Raiders 63-35. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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SEC
Mar 12, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; SEC logo at center court inside Bridgestone Arena prior to the championship game of the SEC Conference Tournament between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Arkansas Razorbacks. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /

(2) Move to SEC

Geographically, this move would make the most sense. They would have natural rivalries with old SWC foes Arkansas and Texas A&M and an endless supply of marquee matchups to fill DKR Memorial Stadium.

But, they would have to give up some power in a 15 or 16-team league with the likes of Alabama, LSU, and Florida.

Another drawback is giving up in-state games against Baylor, TCU, and Texas Tech. But, the series with Oklahoma should be fine since Texas and OU played out-of-conference for about 80 years when Texas was in the SWC and the Sooners were in the Big 8.

If Texas joined the SEC by itself, you could also draw up a 15-team conference with three divisions. The top two division winners would then meet in the annual SEC Championship Game.

SEC West

  • Texas
  • Texas A&M
  • Arkansas
  • LSU
  • Missouri

SEC Central

  • Alabama
  • Auburn
  • Ole Miss
  • Mississippi State
  • Kentucky

SEC East

  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Vanderbilt
  • Tennessee
  • South Carolina

Each division would play itself, select opponents from the other divisions, and their natural rivals, such as LSU vs. Alabama.

It’s an intriguing way to have an odd number of teams in a conference with balance throughout the divisions.

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