Texas A&M back to the Big XII?

[UteThunder]

It’s no secret A&M left the Big XII in large part to get away from the Longhorns. If the report is true that the SEC has been negotiating with Oklahoma and Texas for 6 months or longer behind A&M’s back, what are the chances the Aggies decide to leave the SEC and go back to the BigXII?

The Aggies would instantly become the top dog in the depleted Big XII.

They would get to stay away from Texas.

With A&M, the Big XII would almost be guaranteed to keep their P5 status, assuming nobody else leaves. 

Or, if they can talk Nebraska, Missouri, and Arkansas into going back to the Big XII, it would definitely guarantee they keep P5 status.

The only downside for A&M is the paycut, but it might be worth it to them to avoid reuniting with the Longhorns. Nebraska, Missouri, and Arkansas haven’t exactly been great over the last decade. Maybe the paycut would be worth it to all of them as well, if it means getting out of the B1G & SEC and into a P5 conference they can actually compete in.

[RedLine]

Not happening.  Aggies are more than happy in the SEC.  They’re the ones with tenure in the coveted SEC, they’re the ones reaping finacial and social benefit from SEC.  And they didn’t run away from Texas.  They capitalized on an opportunity to move to a better league. 

That like reading Utah ran away from playing BYU by moving to the PAC-12.   <insert finger nails on chalk board sound effect>

 

[UteThunder]

Except, all 13 of their conference partners have supposedly been secretly negotiating with Texas and Oklahoma while keeping A&M completely out of the loop. There’s no way the Aggie’s leadership and boosters were happy to wake up a couple of days ago and get blindsided with the rest of the country by this potential realignment. Betrayal is probably putting their feelings on the matter lightly.

Also, it was well reported at the time that A&M left the Big XII in large part to get out from Texas’ shadow and to no longer have to deal with the Longhorns. They saw the SEC as a way to not only get away from the Longhorns, but also to elevate themselves above their in-state rival. This is validated by the fact the two schools have not played each other since 2011 and are not scheduled to play each other any time in the foreseeable future. And it’s not because A&M is lining up nothing but cupcakes either. They have played ASU, UCLA x2, and Clemson x 2 in recent years and are scheduled to play Colorado, Miami x2, Notre Dame x2, ASU x2, and Louisville x2 in years to come.

Make no mistake about it, A&M wants nothing to do with Texas. 

[RedLine]

Back stabbing or not, what prestige, or finaical gain do Aggies gain by leaving SEC?  I just don’t see it happening.  Fanbase is happy in SEC and do not fear the shadow of Texas. 

 

[UteThunder]

I already mentioned they would have to take a paycut, but the prestige they would gain is being the top dog in a P5 conference as opposed to being behind Alabama and a few others most years in the SEC. And their fans may be happy in the SEC, but will they continue to be happy once Texas and Oklahoma come aboard and they are now behind Alabama and a few other SEC schools PLUS Texas and Oklahoma most years.

I realize A&M going back to the Big XII is a longshot, but it’s not out of the question. 

[Central Coast Ute]

I highly doubt that everyone has been negotiating behind their backs. TAMU leaked the story to slow it down as a last ditch effort to scrap the deal before it becomes final. I don’t know how they can leak something they know nothing about.

No way they go back to the BIG 12. That conference will die if UT and OU leave. TAMU will still want a spot at the big boy table.