Texas Football: Move to the ACC Would Show Devotion to Longhorn Network

If the rumors are indeed true, it sounds as if Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are headed to the Pac-12 at some point in the near future, but we’re just waiting on the Sooners to make a final decision.

If Oklahoma leaves, the Big 12 conference is likely going to dissolve and that means Texas will be left searching for a new home and there are sure to be a number of suitors for the big brand name school.

If the Longhorns choose to join a conference instead of going the independent route, the three most likely destinations are the Pac-12, the ACC and the Big Ten.

Those three conferences appear to be the leaders in the new super conference movement and all are appealing landing spots.

Geographically, the Big Ten would be the best fit but it could be difficult for Texas to squeeze the new $300 million Longhorn Network through without a hitch.

The same goes for the Pac-12.

The Longhorn Network is a tough negotiating chip to bargain with and it’s unlikely that Texas would give up such a big revenue producer to join a conference like the Big Ten or the Pac-12.

If Oklahoma and Oklahoma State join the Pac-12, conference commissioner Larry Scott would obviously send an invitation to Austin but it will be difficult to figure out how to balance out the Longhorn Network issue.

Texas could decide that, when it comes down to it, the Pac-12 just isn’t worth the trouble.

Right now, the competition in the Pac-12 isn’t exactly stellar.

USC has dwindled over the last two years, Oregon has taken over and Stanford has sprung up over night, but every other school seems like they’ve basically been standing still the whole time.

California, Washington, Washington State, Arizona, Oregon State?

There aren’t too many Pac-12 schools that are trending upward at a remarkable rate right now.

You could make the case that Texas is best off in the ACC.

Since the ACC is in bed with ESPN, there would be no problem keeping the Longhorn Network up and running, and in the end, that’s really the top priority for Texas.

Geographically speaking, it’s not the greatest fit, seeing as the closest school would be Florida State, about 900 miles away.

It would be an adjustment playing teams mostly based on the east coast, but that adjustment’s a little easier to make when you’ve got incoming revenue from a monster television deal.

If Texas’ top priority is to keep the Longhorn Network, then the ACC would be the best new home.

Right now, though, it’s all speculation.

The last thing Texas wants to think about is finding a new home and possibly having to give up the Longhorn Network, but unfortunately, that’s a reality they might soon have to face.