College Football Realignment: Is Oklahoma Eyeing the Pac-12?

While much of the media hubbub has concentrated on Texas A&M's impending move to the Southeastern Conference, it has been noticeably silent up in Norman. Now we get word that the Sooners may have something up their sleeve.

Judging by David Boren's comments, the Sooners are seriously considering moving to the Pac-12 immediately, or they are attempting a power play with ESPN.

It is not a secret that OU wants their own television network. With a statewide population smaller than the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, there is no way that Oklahoma could command anywhere near the money that Texas received for their network.

OU is a proud school and their alumni would be the first to point out to you that they have had much greater success on the football field than Texas since the Big 12 was formed. It does not sit right with them that they would only receive a smidgen of the compensation that Texas receives.

ESPN wants the Big 12 to remain. Texas wants the Big 12 to remain. ESPN and Texas are business partners, and this threat to move to the Pac-12 may simply be a ploy to get ESPN to finance the Sooner Network in a similar fashion to the way they support the Longhorn Network.

I know Bob Stoops liked the idea of the Pac-16 last year. He would not have to face a murderers' row in conference, and would be able to expand the Sooners' recruiting in California.

The Sooners also know that they cannot survive without playing Texas every year in Dallas.

The game means too much to Oklahoma's recruiting in the state of Texas. Oklahoma has more Texas-born players on their roster than in-state players. Their program would crumble without Texas recruits. 

That is why I was not surprised to hear that OU was talking to the Pac-12 along with Texas. I think it is much more likely you see a move with Texas than on their own because they do not want to risk the annual game in October at the Texas State Fair.

I believe Deloss Dodds and Texas want to remain in the Big 12 for now. I think you will see ESPN come through with an offer to finance the Sooner Network on a much smaller scale than the Longhorn Network.

I do not see ESPN and Texas molding their network into a regional version with Texas Tech in the Pac-12. ESPN has proven they will do anything in their power to make the LHN a success. I do not think you will see them give up on the project before it really gets off the ground.

Expect OU to remain in the Big 12, and for the conference to limp along for a couple more years.