BYU and the Big 12, Time to Make This Relationship Permanent

BYU and the Big 12. No one knows where each party stands. The league has just invited TCU, and many are waiting to see if BYU will finally get its chance to join the BCS party instead of trying to crash it.

Here are some reasons that BYU should join the Big 12 as soon as possible if or when an invite is extended.

Big 12 Needs a School in the West

With the loss of Colorado to the Pac-12, the Big 12 lost a presence in the West. The Denver Market is now firmly in the in the Pac-12, and the Big 12 needs a western based TV market.

The Salt Lake City market is 31st largest media market in the United States. It may not be Denver, but it is a lot of households that are now outside the Big 12 footprint. By establishing itself back in the Western TV Markets the Big 12 would have a recruiting pipeline to Western States, especially California, where there is a lot of Mormon talent waiting to be tapped.

It would also allow the Big 12 to overlap its footprint with the rival Pac 12 and create some good match ups for the future in addition to the annual Holy War with Utah.

The Cougars Are a National Brand

BYU is known throughout the Mormon world. And with Mormons in all 50 states, that would mean a lot more TV sets than just the Salt Lake City market. BYU has played on a national level for years, and the league would have no problem with the name recognition of the school.

Conference Membership Stability

BYU was a founding member of the Western Athletic Conference in 1962 and stayed in that conference until 1999, when it bolted to form the Mountain West. It was in the Mountain West until this last season and has won more conference championships in all sports than any other current Mountain West School, including former league member Utah, now in the Pac 12.

BYU Has a Built in Rivalry with TCU

BYU and TCU have a rivalry going. With TCU almost surely in the Big 12 now, that rivalry could be solidified. TCU and BYU were members of the Western Athletic Conference together  from1996 to 1999. 

TCU joined the Mountain West Conference in 2005, and the schools have had many competitive contests since then, in football especially.

Private Religious Schools Find Safety in Numbers

Baylor is currently the only private and religious affiliated school in the Big 12. With TCU coming on board, that would make two. BYU would make that three. That would give the smaller religious schools some balance. BYU also has a large student body rivaling those of the state schools in the league. The school would be a good counterbalance on both fronts.

Cougars Add Quality to League's Olympic Sports

Schools are always seeking good competition for basketball and other Olympic sports. The Big 12 needs a good, solid Olympic sport school, and BYU is it. The Cougars have excellent women's gymnastics, men's and women's volleyball, competitive baseball and softball programs and women's basketball. Did I mention they have a good men's basketball team?

Cougars Have Tradition and History to Add to the League

The Cougars won the 1984 National Football Championship under coach Lavell Edwards. They have been to numerous bowl games and been on national TV as much as many other major college sports programs in football and men's basketball. Now they have BYU TV, which, unlike the Longhorn Network, only has BYU sports as part of its programming. Most other programming is PBS styled shows and BYU non-sports productions.

Lavell Edwards Stadium Most Always Full

When considering schools to join, the football stadium is a must. Lavell Edwards Stadium is as good as any college football stadium in the country.

BYU fans will clog the freeway and surface streets en masse to get to the 65,000 seat stadium. This is just for the cupcake games; the bigger fish will bring more people cramming in to see the show.

Cougar Fans Are a Love-Hate Bunch

Every school has its unique fan base, and Brigham Young University is no different. Fans are passionate about their Cougars.

Local media sports talk shows are almost always clogged with BYU fans calling in to give kudos to or whine about how their team is doing. This unique fan base, also known as "zoobies," would be a great addition to any league. And since some schools' fans are disliked more than their sports teams are, well BYU will fit right in.

The Cougars Are Ready for a BCS League

BYU has earned the right to play in a BCS league. BYU has been around the college sports scene long enough to show that it can compete in a BCS league. Since the Pac-12 is not currently interested in the Cougars, the Big 12 should snatch them up, because the name recognition schools not in the Ivy League are running out. BYU is competitive against BCS schools since the BCS was formed in the late 1990s.

The Holy War

The annual "Holy War" between BYU and archrival Utah is among the most heated in college football. Some of the most memorable trash talking to outright Max Hall hatred has been expressed. On most years, regardless of the home team, both teams make it a close game. And when two teams have been playing almost annually since the late 1890s, nothing more than tradition. 

With inclusion in the Big 12, this would pit the Big 12 with BYU and Pac-12, with Utah against each other every year. Even though both schools would be in different conferences, the bragging rights for who has the best school and therefore best conference would be at stake. Not to mention that both schools will always be regulars in the hunt for a BCS berth. Why not add some "Grey Pupon" to the game?

Independence Only Works for Notre Dame

BYU as an independent in football, and West Coast Conference for other sports was best for the school in the short term. But football is the bread and butter of most major athletics programs, and only Notre Dame is truly a conference unto itself.  Just about everybody else, including the Cougars, belong somewhere. BYU is not only a good fit for the Big 12 athletically, but academically also. 

BYU boasts a great national reputation academically in many areas, including research, though it is a "teaching" university. Regardless, BYU, if invited, will stay around for awhile in the Big 12 and can hold its own against any school now playing in the league. They may not sell caffeine drinks or beer at their games, but everything else is there. So Big 12, get the lawyers on the phone, sign the paperwork and get BYU in your league.