Texas A&M SEC Expansion: 7 Bold Predictions for Aggies Move to SEC

After an extended wait due to the threat of legal action from Big 12 schools, Texas A&M is finally set to join the Southeastern Conference next summer. It's the first time in nearly two decades that the nation's top football conference has added new schools.

Joe Schad, a college football insider with ESPN, provides the details.

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The Southeastern Conference says Texas A&M is set to join the league next year.

The SEC announced Sunday that the move will be effective next July, and says Texas A&M will participate in all sports during the 2012-13 academic year. That gives the SEC 13 members and its first addition since South Carolina and Arkansas in 1992.

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After losing to Oklahoma State on Saturday, the news will be a nice consolation prize for Texas A&M supporters. There is still a chance that Baylor or another Big 12 school could file a legal grievance against the move, but that doesn't seem likely at this point.

So, what will happen once the move is completed next July? Here are seven bold predictions for the Aggies' move to the SEC.

Football Will Become National Power

The Aggies football team has been on a steady rise after a slow start under head coach Mike Sherman. They went 9-4 last season, including a loss to LSU in the Cotton Bowl, and were the eighth-ranked team in the country this season before losing to Oklahoma State.

The SEC is widely regarded as the best football conference in America, and by making the jump, Texas A&M will be able to be in the National Championship conversation more frequently. They were able to attract talent as a mid-level Big 12 team; that will only improve in the SEC.

Losing Ryan Tannehill might mean their first season in the new league will be a rocky road, but within a couple years, they will use their home-state advantage to secure recruits and become a legitimate threat. It might not happen right away, but the football team will become a national power.

Basketball Will Take a Step Back

While the SEC is the premier football conference in the nation, the same can't be said for basketball. It is in the third tier of round ball conferences, along with the Pac-12 and Mountain West. The Big 12 is in the second tier with the ACC.

That may actually help the Aggies sneak into a couple extra NCAA Tournaments due to the lack of competition, but it will negatively affect their seeding. The SEC East does have some good programs in Florida and Kentucky; the West is basically devoid of any basketball talent.

The move doesn't completely kill the basketball team by any means; it just makes it tougher for them to earn a good seed and make deep runs in the tournament.

Secondary Sports Will Thrive

Often lost in the shuffle when conference realignment occurs are the secondary sport athletes. Whether it be women's sports or men's sports such as baseball and soccer (sports that don't get the same media attention), they can be put in some bad spots due to changing conferences.

However, that shouldn't be a problem for the Aggies. Texas A&M always seem to have a good women's basketball team, and that should continue. The same can be said for individual sports like track and field, where Texas A&M has become competitive as well.

Revenue Will Increase Dramatically

The SEC has a very lucrative television deal, and by bringing Texas A&M's large fanbase into play, it stands to become even more profitable. College sports television deals have exploded over the past decade and are serious money makers for the institutions.

And the university can then reinvest (at least some of) it back into the program and help it grow into one of the best in the nation. The Aggies wouldn't have made the move unless it made financial sense, and it most certainly does, especially in the long run.

Recruiting Will Become Easier

Texas A&M has had to spend a lot of time explaining to athletes why it was a better option than in-state rivals Texas and Texas Tech. While the Aggies have become more competitive in recent seasons, the move will allow them to use the SEC to their advantage.

That's especially true for football. So many big-time recruits come out of Texas, and with the SEC advantage over the Longhorns and Red Raiders, the Aggies should be able to bring in some monster classes within the next four or five seasons.

Fans Will Love Move

The supporters of Texas A&M had a party planned when it was first announced their favorite school would be moving to the SEC. Baylor's threat of legal action put a damper on the excitement, but not for much longer.

Getting a fresh start is almost always a good thing and will allow the Aggies to get out of the shadow cast by Texas. While it might be a tough transition for a few seasons, it will be looked upon favorably in the long run.

But They Will Miss Rivalries

Getting away from Texas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma will benefit the Aggies over time, but the fans will miss getting to face off with their rivals so frequently. While non-conference games are likely in basketball, the same probably won't be the case in football.

With a rough conference schedule to navigate in the SEC, the football team will probably follow the lead of their new foes by scheduling cupcakes. That will give them the best chance to make a BCS bowl game. Who knows; maybe Texas will be waiting for them there. Now that would be a game to see.