NCAA Conference Realignments opinions

The NCAA is going through some conference realignments as of late. All signs point Nebraska to leave the Big-12 Conference and sign with the Big Ten Conference. The University of Colorado earlier today has announced that they will join the Pac-10 Conference starting in 2012, also leaving the Big-12. One reason why Colorado signed with the Pac-10 is because they are in the Denver TV market. Another says it will make a big improvement in the conference, which could make the it better. The Pac-10 already includes USC, Arizona, Oregon, California and Arizona State. Colorado makes the 11th team in that conference, which is weak but it could get better if Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State could also join. If Nebraska joins the Big Ten, they will become the 12th team in that league, which also includes Penn State, Ohio State and Michigan. The question is what will happen to Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa State? Those teams would be left without a conference. They could join the WAC or the Mountain West.

The Big-12 is the second-best conference as it comes to football, only coming behind the SEC. For the last few years, most of the Big-12 teams including Texas (lost to Alabama in the BCS Championship Game in Jan) and Oklahoma have played very well but losing Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford to the NFL may be different for next season.

Another issue regarding conference realigning happened a few months ago when Rutgers, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame were mentioned as possible teams that could be invited to the Big Ten. Right now, Rutgers & Pitt are Big East teams while Notre Dame is independent (more later). The Big East is an awful conference as it comes to football, but are dominant in basketball, which also could be an issue later.

Speaking of Notre Dame, they are the only major football team (besides Army and Navy) that is not in a conference, even a BCS conference. They associate with the Big East for basketball. In my opinion, with these conference moves may force Notre Dame to sign with the Big East or the Big Ten. Although they will get hurt with the NBC deal by carrying home games if they decide to sign with a conference, this could be something else to look out for within the next few months or year.