Texas A&M Likely Moving to the SEC, Where Will the Rest of the Big 12 Teams Go?

ESPN's Joe Schad reported Wednesday afternoon the Southeastern Conference presidents unanimously approved of the Texas A&M Aggies to become the 13th member of their conference. 

This announcement came as no surprise considering Texas A&M's adamant desire over the past month to leave the crumbling Big 12 Conference for greener pastures in the SEC. The SEC presidents were not ready to grant Texas A&M admittance to the conference a few weeks ago, but many believed the move could still happen before the end of the year. 

The only thing preventing Texas A&M from making their move to the SEC official is a potential legal hassle from Baylor, who are likely worried about their individual future if the Big 12 falls apart as it is expected to over the next few years. 

"Texas A&M made a commitment to the Big 12," a source close to Baylor said. 

Baylor is not the only school who should be concerned about their future though after the imminent demise of the Big 12. In fact, any Big 12 team without a reputable football program is in trouble if they have to find a new conference to join. 

Here is a look at where all of the Big 12 schools will eventually end up if the conference is broken up.

Baylor Bears

Eventual New Conference: Mountain West Conference

Many will be tempted to make an argument for the Baylor Bears to move to either the SEC or Pac-12 Conference, but they are merely a flash in the pan and will not be taken in by either of those conferences. 

The Bears are a measly 1-13 against ranked opponents since 2008 with their only victory coming in a 50-48 shootout with Texas Christian to open their 2011 season. In addition, Baylor made a bowl game last season for the first time since 1994 and were dismantled 38-14 by Illinois in the Texas Bowl. 

On the basketball side Baylor is still not all that attractive of an addition. The Bears made two NCAA tournament appearances between 2008-2010 and made it all the way to the Elite Eight in 2010, but their only other appearance before then was in 1988 and Baylor struggled to an 18-13 record in the 2010-11 campaign. 

The Mountain West Conference is an ideal fit geographically and competitively for a potential rising program, but until Baylor maintains its success they will not be accepted by one of the major conferences.

Iowa State Cyclones

Eventual New Conference: Mid-American Conference (MAC) 

Iowa State's football program has never been relevant in a national conversation for winning football games. The Cyclones have never won more than eight games in a season and only have one Big 12 North Division championship in school history. 

The Cyclone's basketball team only two Final Four appearances came in 2000 and 1944 and the last time Iowa State made the NCAA tournament was back in 2005. 

Geographically Iowa State fits in best with the Mid-American Conference schools and will give them a chance to win conference championships.

Kansas Jayhawks

Eventual New Conference: Mountain West Conference 

The Kansas Jayhawks are one of the most intriguing cases for conference realignment due to the dominance of their basketball program and weakness of their football squad. 

The Jayhawk's have never won a Big 12 championship in football and only played in the conference championship game once, but on the basketball side Kansas is always in the hunt for national championships. 

Football is the real moneymaker though and will keep Kansas out of the new power conferences, but the Jayhawks have a chance to make the Mountain West Conference one of the best in the country for basketball. 

Kansas could be the deciding factor in where Baylor and Kansas State both end up when realignment is finished.

Kansas State Wildcats

Eventual New Conference: Mountain West Conference 

Kansas State has compiled a decent football program and have a basketball program which is becoming a national contender.

The Wildcats have only won one Big 12 championship, but have made six bowl games since 2001. On the hardwood Kansas State has made three NCAA tournaments since 2008 and were being talked about as a top 10 team heading into the 2010-11 season. 

Where Kansas decides to make their new home will likely be where Kansas State ends up as well.

Missouri Tigers

Eventual New Conference: Big Ten Conference 

There has been a lot of chatter about Missouri potentially following Big 12 ally Texas A&M to the SEC, but the move would not make much sense for the Tigers, who are finally building legitimate basketball and football programs. 

Missouri fits in better with the Big Ten where they can face a more level playing field and be a contender as opposed to a middle of the road team year in and year out in the SEC. 

The Big Ten is not looking to expand at the moment, but if the power conferences begin to expand to 16 teams they will be forced to add more schools to their conference.

Oklahoma Sooners

Eventual New Conference: Pacific 12 Conference 

Oklahoma is probably the easiest school to predict among the disbanding Big 12 schools. 

The Sooners have always been associated with the Pac-12 conference during all of the realignment and expansion talks, but nothing has come to fruition quite yet.

Oklahoma State Cowboys

Eventual New Conference: Pacific 12 Conference 

Oklahoma State is much like Kansas State in the sense that they will go wherever they main rival decides to go. 

The Pacific 12 conference wants the Oklahoma schools and should have no problem getting either of them. 

The Oklahoma-Oklahoma State rivalry is too important and is too much of a draw for both teams to lose it during expansion. Look for Oklahoma State to be heading west and continue the Bedlem Game in the Pac-12.

Texas Longhorns

The Texas Longhorns greed and desire to act as if they were an independent by creating their own television network, The Longhorn Network, has likely caused the demise of the entire Big 12. 

The Longhorns most likely do not care though, because Texas is one of the only programs in the country who could disband from their conference and be successful as an independent, which is the route they will likely take if the major conferences do not all expand to 16 teams. 

Texas will not want to part with a portion of their television revenue, which the major conferences will more than likely make the Longhorns do before being allowed to enter the conference. 

In the end though, once the major conferences begin expanding to 16 teams and it becomes apparent independents will fall out of the national conversation the Longhorns will make the move out west to the Pac-12.

Texas Tech Red Raiders

Eventual New Conference: Mountain West Conference 

The Mountain West Conference will make out like bandits if the Big 12 falls apart as expected. Some believe Texas Tech will follow some of the other Big 12 teams to the Pac-12, but Boise State is a lot more intriguing than the Red Raiders. 

Boise State is the team who will more than likely determine the fate of Texas Tech. The Broncos have gone from Bowl Championship Series buster to national championship contender over the past several seasons. 

Meanwhile, Texas Tech has had one football season in the national spotlight and have not been relevant in the years since. 

Texas Tech is a great geographic fit for the Mountain West and would have familiar competition if Baylor, Kansas and Kansas State all join the Red Raiders.

Zach Dirlam is a Big Ten Columnist for the new website Sports at Work. Check out his blog, Dirlam’s Dirty Dugout Sports Blog, which features this story along with other articles and video reports on the major sports. You can also follow his blog on Twitter, which will provide you with the latest updates about what will be posted on the blog!