Texas Longhorns president Gregory L. Fenves released a statement in support of the Big 12 conference staying at 10 teams, citing “competitive balance.”
The Big 12 announced on Monday evening that it has tabled its decision to conference expansion. There were talks that as many as four mid-major programs could be getting bids to join the Big 12 in 2017.
The three teams that were shafted by the Big 12 were the BYU Cougars, the Cincinnati Bearcats, and the Houston Cougars. All three schools have great academics and strong football programs, yet the Big 12 is dead set on continuing on with its 10 member institutions.
University of Texas president Gregory L. Fenves released as statement being in full support of the Big 12 staying at 10 schools. It really just comes across as his university strong-arming the other nine Big 12 members.
Full statement from Texas President Gregory L. Fenves on Big 12 expansion. pic.twitter.com/TKTBajN36s
— Brian Davis (@BDavisUT) October 17, 2016
Fenves’ statement was, “I was pleased to join my fellow presidents in today’s unanimous decision to keep the Big 12 at ten teams. Ten is the right number. It promotes competitive balance…This is the right way to ensure a strong conference moving forward.”
Round-robin play is great and all, but until Longhorns football isn’t a joke, the Big 12 isn’t getting a team into the College Football Playoff with one-loss any time soon. They’ve eliminated getting the benefit of the doubt.
The Baylor sexual assault scandal that cost Art Briles his head coaching job didn’t help. Neither does playing no defense to speak of in football games. The two most important brands in the Big 12 are Texas football and Kansas Jayhawks basketball.
More fansided.com: 50 Greatest College Football Rivalries of All-Time
It seems those two schools got their way by coercing the other eight member schools to vote with them. All the Big 12 did with their press conference was complain about television money.