^I am dreading a Pac-16 where we have to play Texas all the time again (unless it was last year's Texas... That might be okay.)

In any case, I'm looking forward to the first year in the Pac-12. C-O-L-O-R-A-D-O! Go Buffs!

http://images-mediawiki-sites.theful...9440733914.png

^^^^Welcome to the Pac uh....12, yeah, that's it 12 (hard to keep track these days). I grew up in Denver and my father was a CU alum (just took a call for him from the alum association this evening actually), so I spent HS wearing a Buffs t-shirt to bed (when I wasn't decked out in my beloved Bronco gear). You'll now replace WSU as the school I root for after the Ducks.

I wouldn't worry about UT - we don't want them. Now HS Texas running backs on the other hand...

Pearlbubbles! I'm going to the CU vs Ducks game! Will you still be in Boulder?

Ugh Pac-12 is hard enough to say. I'm ignoring at Pac-16 or any other version henceforth.

AXOmom: But does Larry Scott want them? I think he still does and that worries me. Thankfully it sounds like the SEC gave A&M the boot for now, so this is all speculation anyway.

WCsweet<3: I'm living in Denver right now, but don't you worry, I definitely have season tickets!!! Most of the people I know prefer calling it the 12-Pac anyway, which sounds like a tailgate party in the making. :)

Two teams that I feel are flying under the radar are Missouri and Wisconsin. Yes, Mizzou lost Gabbert and Aldon Smith, but they return virtually everyone else (especially on offense-great group of backs and receicers and a solid o-line). Gary Pinkel is one of the best coaches in the country, and it doesn't seem like he gets enough credit. James Franklin, who will step in for Gabbert, is a terrific duel-threat qb and Mizzou always has good quarterbacks directing the offense. I think they can win 10 games again. Wisconsin loses a lot (Tolzein, Watt, Clay, Carimi, Moffett, etc.) but also returns a lot. They have a great pair of backs in Ball and White, underrated wideouts and always one of the top o-lines in the nation. I think that the addition of Russell Wilson makes them big 10 favorites. For you bulldogs fans in GA out there, if they can go 1-1 or 2-0 out of the gate, I can see them winning around 10 games. The old ball coach down in Columbia should also have a very solid team.

I liked you from the Auburn and UGA threads. Now, I might just dump my future husband and marry you. :D

Where did you confirm this?

I saw this link today and it looks to have been last updated on the 14th.
http://www.secdigitalnetwork.com/NEW...ie-machen.aspx

It was a link from earlier in the day; saying that very reliable sources basically told Doug Gottlieb that A&M was pretty much set to join the SEC.

There was an announcement, but it was later rescinded.

Ah! That makes sense then.

Pearlbubbles - Well, I'm sure the tv viewership he thinks they will bring in is attractive, but based on the choices they've made since the Big 12 broke up - he has to know that Texas would be unlikely to ever agree with the revenue sharing system we currently have set up, and I doubt our AD's would go along with anything else, so I just don't see it working. I know the majority of Pac-12 fans don't want them, but that, of course, has very little to do with decisions Pac-12 officials will make.

Wareagle93-I'm not qualified to make a comment on Mizzou, but since Wisconsin is ranked in the preseason top 10 in most polls (10th generally), I'm not sure you can say they are flying under the radar. Usually any team ranked in the top 10 is considered a potential national championship contender (flying under the radar would be a team that isn't ranked in the top 10 preseason and wins a national championship anyway - unusual, but I think a team did that last year. Sound like any team you know? LOL).

FWIW, the A&M BOR met yesterday and gave the A&M President the okay to explore other opportunities as far as conferences go. Whether or not that means they'll look to join the SEC this year, next year or never is anyone's guess. They're definitely not happy in the Big XII and permanently under Texas' shadow - especially with the development of the LHN. I am concerned what this will mean for my own alma mater; we're quite often ones mentioned as possibly being left out if the whole four 16-team superconference comes to fruition (as it is looking more and more likely).

As far as my team goes, I'm very much looking forward to Coach Paul Rhoads' third season as the Cyclone head coach. We've seen slow, but steady improvement (both on field and in recruiting) under him every year, with one notable win each season. I'm hoping we'll hit .500 and make another bowl game, but there are still a lot of variables that have to be taken into consideration. Things are looking up as long as the Big XII doesn't implode in the next two years.

I do agree that the regional networks are different from what Texas wants to do with the Longhorn Network.

And in any case, I think Texas would be a bit sorely disappointed anyway if the Pac-12 model was similar to the one the Big 12 had (still has?) since an unequal revenue wouldn't necessarily be in their favor over here (if that ever was a viable choice for the lower market schools anyway; clearly a big "if'"). Hopefully the Big 12 can right itself enough to stall the superconferences.

ISU, Iowa was a big dissapointment last year, given the players they had returning and their preseason hype. They lost a TON of talent. I would not be surprised if ISU pulls the upset this year.

The fact that Iowa's OLine is almost all new, our D has improved greatly over the past two years AND the game is in Ames does increase our chances. But I've learned in my 30 years as a Cyclone fan never to get my hopes up too high.