Oklahoma Football: Predicting How the Chips Must Fall To Get Sooners Into Pac-12

Numerous recent reports have indicated that, at this point, it’s almost a certainty that Oklahoma is going to join the Pac-12.
 
The question isn’t if, but when.

Sure, the Sooners could still backtrack and prove all those rumors wrong by staying put in the Big 12, but unless some type of unforeseen drastic change occurs soon,  that just doesn’t seem like the wise move for the future.

It sounds like Oklahoma wants the Pac-12 and the Pac-12 wants Oklahoma.

It may very well be a match made in college football heaven, but what chips have to fall before it becomes a reality.

Texas A&M Bolts for the SEC

The first chip has already fallen.

Texas A&M leaving the Big 12 for the SEC is what really set this whole process in motion.

The Aggies’ departure was a major blow to the Big 12 and it forced Oklahoma to really consider the viability of the conference for the future.

Without Texas A&M, the Big 12 is down to nine teams, and as we head closer and closer towards a superconference structure in college football, you have to question whether or not the conference would be able to survive in that type of landscape..

Oklahoma could stay in the Big 12 and make things work but it’s going to take some strong reassurance to convince them.

Texas Fails to Sway the Sooners to Stay

Texas is the one school that clearly wants the Big 12 to stay intact.

If the conference stays together, Texas would have no problem holding on to it’s new cash cow, the Longhorn Network, but if the school had to move to another conference, the network becomes a problem.

That’s why Texas officials have met with Oklahoma and tried their hardest to convince the Sooners to stay in the Big 12 and keep things intact for the future.

At this point, however, the effectiveness of those talks is unknown.

Oklahoma looks at the Big 12 and sees a conference that’s losing one of its top names in Texas A&M, they see a declining former powerhouse in Texas and they see a field of teams that is otherwise largely mediocre.

Obviously, Texas doesn’t have an easy sell.

Oklahoma State has to Agree to Join

It’s unlikely that Oklahoma would leave the Big 12 and head for the Pac-12 without Oklahoma State.

It’s been reported that the two schools are basically a package deal and famed Oklahoma State booster T. Boone Pickens even alluded to that in and interview with Reece Davis during the Arizona game.

If Oklahoma is headed to the Pac-12, the Sooners will need the Cowboys to come along.

The Pac-12 Has to Show Stability for the Future

With the richest television contract in college sports, right now, the Pac-12 is the most desirable landing spot for any big time program.

Oklahoma likes what it sees when it looks at the Pac-12 conference and what’s not to like.

Once considered to be a solid fourth or fifth in the BCS pecking order, this conference is a now a budding giant.

The Pac-12’s platform is intriguing and it’s foundation for the future is certainly stronger than the Big 12’s.

Oklahoma Weighs the Options and Makes the Decision.

Oklahoma has its finger on the first domino, ready to possibly set off a train reaction that will drastically alter college sports. It's a decision that will have huge ramifications.

If Oklahoma makes the move to the Pac-12 and brings Oklahoma State along for the ride, it will start the era of a superconference arms race unlike anything we’ve seen before.

Tradition will be stomped on once again and greed will ensue.

If Oklahoma is looking for security, the Sooners will head to the Pac-12.

If Texas can pull some type of hypnosis voodoo on Oklahoma, then the Sooners will stay in the Big 12.

Either way, things are about to change in college football.

Big, sport-altering moves are about to be made.