Oklahoma to Pac-10, Big Ten, SEC: Where Should the Sooners Go?

News of conference realignment appears to spell doom for the Big XII Conference. Nebraska is ready to commit to the Big Ten and Colorado has already committed to the Pac-10. Now, many wait to see how the dominoes will fall specially as it relates to Big XII powers Texas and Oklahoma.

It appears the other BCS conferences, specifically the Big Ten, Pac-10 and SEC, are all jockeying to get a shot to add the Sooners. Oklahoma will have the chance to listen to pitches and offers and then decide what move will best serve the university and its athletic department. First, we take an early look at what move will be best for the Sooners.

Rumors

The initial rumors is that the Sooners will join the rest of the Big XII South with a move to the Pac-10. However, ESPN reported that Oklahoma has turned its eyes east and contacted the SEC about joining that conference.

As of now, there have been no discussions between Oklahoma and the Big Ten. Now, the Sooners must decide which league best suits the university's needs

Television Revenue

The Big XII's television contracts have in the past frustrated its schools. Limited times lots and limited national exposure on ABC/ESPN have irked schools like Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma which by no coincidence are looking for new conference homes.

Much of the Pac-10's desire to expand to 16 teams is to lock up a new, lasting television deal which it currently lacks. The lack of contract has served as a major void of cash flow for the conference. Nothing has been guaranteed so far vis-a-vis the Pac-10 and a television deal.

The SEC has an existing mega-deal with ESPN which airs at least five SEC games per weekend. The SEC Network is the second largest grossing TV contract in the sport and would provide Oklahoma guaranteed national exposure.

The Big Ten Network has been a major hit for the conference. Big Ten Network revenue, the largest of all conference TV deals, is split equally among Big Ten teams. That is guaranteed cash in hand for Oklahoma. The only drawback is that the Big Ten network is still fairly limited in its national reach.

Best for Oklahoma?:

1. SEC
2. Big Ten
3. Pac-10

Geography

In the Big XII, Oklahoma went no further north than Iowa and Nebraska and no further south than Austin, Texas.

A move to the Pac-10 will send Oklahoma on annual games to the Pacific Northwest and Northern California. It will push the budget for already significant travel expenses. The same can be said for a move to the Big Ten which would send Oklahoma on the road to central Pennsylvania and Ohio.

A move to the SEC makes the most sense. Lateral geography and neighboring states make this math add up the best.

Best For Oklahoma:

1. SEC
2. Pac-10
3. Big Ten

Competition

This is where it the rubber hits the road for the Sooners. The Sooners obviously had great success in the Big XII. Now, the Sooners look east, west and north at what may possible lay ahead across the line of scrimmage.

The Pac-10 offers USC, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, California and a host of teams that will raise the bar above many of the secondary Big XII teams.

To the east lay serious muscle in LSU, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and others in the nation's best conference.

To the north, Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Wisconsin, Iowa, and cold weather games.

If this comes down to a desire to win at a high rate, the Big Ten best suits Oklahoma's needs. If this is about gaining the best competition and in turn higher television revenue, the SEC is the way to go.

Best for Oklahoma:

1. Big Ten (for winning)
2. SEC (for dollars)
3. Pac-10

Recruiting

Recruiting, the bloodline of college football. Oklahoma is in for a fight regardless of which conference it goes to.

To the Pac-10, Oklahoma will have to up the efforts in recruiting Southern California. To the east, Oklahoma will have to gain a greater foothold in Florida, Georgia and other football power alleys. To the north, Oklahoma would really have to break new ground in Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Unlike its smaller Big XII brethren, Oklahoma has nationwide brand recognition that will carry weight in any living room in any region. Nevertheless, Oklahoma will have to open in-roads in new areas. With all these new mega conferences, recruiting battles will likely become all wars.

Best for Oklahoma:

1) SEC
2) Pac-10
3) Big Ten

Where To Go?

In the end, it is very unlikely Oklahoma will join the Big Ten seeing as the conference has not even made a rumble regarding the Sooners.

Therefore, it is down to the Pac-10 and the SEC. The Pac-10 is already spinning its wheels towards a mega-conference. Meanwhile, the SEC is acting in a reactionary manner not wanting to be left out in the cold of the Big Ten and Pac-10 expansion. The SEC knows that to gain the most out of college football's impending realignment, it needs a power broker like Oklahoma.

The SEC has the massive television contract in hand already while the Pac-10 needs its new entrants as a bargaining chip to get the big TV deal it needs and wants.

The existing TV contract, geographic proximity and competition level make the SEC the match for Oklahoma. Will the university follow suit? That will be a significant story line in coming months.