Missouri to the SEC: What Do the Tigers Offer the SEC That's so Appealing?

From all the reports we’ve been hearing the past few weeks, it appears Missouri is close to joining Texas A&M as it departs the Big 12 for the SEC.

The potential move is certainly sensible and one that would benefit both parties.

After bringing in the Aggies, the SEC is now in need of a 14th team to balance out the league and keep the two divisions even. Missouri looks like one of the best possible options out there.

The Tigers have been one of the most consistent teams in college football under coach Gary Pinkel, winning 40 games combined in the four seasons prior to this.

Pinkel has done a great job of elevating the talent level in Columbia, and Missouri has recently proven that it can recruit well and produce big-time pro prospects.

What makes the school so appealing to the SEC is not just that it’s a convenient geographically (it borders three states with SEC teams—Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee). The thing that SEC officials love about Missouri is the new market they provide.

The Kansas City and St. Louis areas are two of the top 30 television markets in the country, and they're prime real estate that the SEC would love to get its hands on. They're much bigger and better markets than current SEC stomping grounds like Columbia, Knoxville and Lexington.

Let’s face it, college football conference realignment is about one thing: revenue. From all indications, Missouri would be a wise investment for the SEC.

The Tigers have the talent to come in and compete, they would bring in two viable new markets, and they would provide balance for a league that needs to try to keep stability and evenness in both of its divisions.

It seems like it’s only a matter of time before the deal gets done. If it does happen, the SEC, which is already college football’s most powerful conference, would take a big step forward and position itself to remain atop the college football football food chain for the foreseeable future.