WVU to Big 12

It finally appears to be happening: West Virginia has had one foot out of the door with its athletic program in the Big East and not it seems they are abandoning ship and swimming over to the Big 12.

By making the move, WVU will be leaving a doomed conference and entering one with more Bowl stability as well as a shared interest in basketball. WVU's stadium size is appropriate for the Big 12 conference, whereas WVU may have been undersized had they gone to the SEC or Big Ten.

Because there are two sides to every story, there are negative aspects to WVU's move. While the Big 12 is a decent conference, they certainly aren't the ACC or SEC, from a geographically standpoint anyway. Travel for fans will not be easy in the Big 12. Further, there is the potential for future conference movement (ingress and egress) for the Big 12. Who knows what will happen in the future? Finally, success in the Big 12 could prove to be more difficult.

What are your thoughts?

Big 12 Conference Changes

The Big 12 appears to be losing Missouri to the SEC in the next couple of days, but appears to already have a replacement in mind. The target team to replace the Tigers is West Virginia.

According to sources in the Big 12 and the Big East, the Big 12 expansion will hold at 10 teams for the time being. Though Missouri will leave for the SEC next season, West Virginia will not be available to the Big 12 until 2014.

The Big East is expected to offer invitations to Boise State, Southern Methodist, Houston, Central Florida, Air Force and Navy over the next several days.

Mizzou to Big Ten?

There has been some speculation about the Big 12 basically dissolving its schools into other conferences. One of the focusses of that discussion has highlighted Mizzou.

Where would Mizzou go? What conference fits the Tigers the best?

The Big Ten. Hands down. The Big Ten, whether it feels the need to expand or not, would be the best fit for Mizzou both athletically and academically. All signs point to the Mizzou fitting in well with the Big Ten.

As for the Big Ten? Anytime MU has nudged the Big Ten, the conference has politely ignored the team. Perhaps the Big Ten isn't open for expansion?

Star Watch: Landry Jones

Landry Jones is the starting quarterback for the Oklahoma Sooners. Jones is a 6-foot-4 220 lb beast of a quarterback. Jones went to Artesia High School in New Mexico. Jones was left as the backup quarterback in 2009 after the other back ups transferred. He was just a red shirt freshman when Sam Bradford separated his shoulder during the first game of the season. Jones went on to play most of the rest of the 2009 season. While replacing Bradford, he played admirably. In his first start, he completed three touchdown passes in a 64-0 win over Idaho State. During his junior year he led the Sooners to a Big 12 Championship and a Fiesta Bowl win over Connecticut.

For Jones' junior year, expectations are through the roof. Many expect the Sooners to be the best team in the country, as they rated first in many preseason polls. The pressure will all by on Jones who has the experience necessary to lead this team to a National Title game and contend for the heisman. He is a highly touted prospect for the NFL as many expect him to hear his name called during the first 10 picks of the 2012 draft. He's got a rocket arm and is very accurate.

Big 12 Percentage of Returning Lettermen

In a world where the Big Ten has 12 teams and the Big 12 has ten, sometimes things are not as they seem. I thought, in preparation for this upcoming football year, we could take a look at the ten teams in the Big 12 in terms of their percentage of returning lettermen. The number following their percentage is where that team is ranked on the national scene.

1. Texas A&M -- 80.26% (5th)
2. Missouri -- 79.37% (8th)
3. Oklahoma -- 75% (25th)
4. Texas Tech -- 71.23% (52nd)
5. Texas -- 71.01% (54th)
6. Baylor -- 70.27% (62nd)
7. Oklahoma State -- 69.81% (64th)
8. Kansas State -- 68.18% (78th)
9. Iowa State -- 64.91% (102nd)
10. Kansas -- 63.08% (109th)

You may be as shocked as I am, especially in terms of Kansas.

We got Gus Johnson

In the past 10 years no sportscaster has a voice so iconic, so memorable and so entertaining quite like Gus Johnson.

And with The Big 12's new television deal with Fox allowed for games to be broadcast on FX, a network owned by Fox. Fox's newest acquisition means one of college sports' most recognizable voices will be behind the mic for regular games this year, as well as the Cotton Bowl.

Gus Johnson always adds to the game without ever taking away from it. Boy, oh boy am I excited for some Big 12 Football!

Will You Miss Nebraska?

The Nebraska Cornhuskers are no longer in the Big 12. Last summer, there was much debate and controversy about what some of the schools were going to do for alligning conferences. The Nebraska Cornhuskers decided to leave the Big 12 for greener pastures in the Big Ten. So, as the season has wrapped up and the offseason around this time is usually quiet, I thought back and reflected on the Nebraska Cornhuskers leaving. The Nebraska Cornhuskers have been a mainstay in college football and I will miss them in the Big 12.

Oregon or Auburn?

I know, I know. These aren't Big 12 Teams. But let's be honest, they have played like the two best teams in college football. So my question is, who is going to win the BCS National Championship game? The Auburn Tigers and Cam Newton? Or LaMichael James and the Oregon Ducks? I think it will be a very good game but I have my money on the Auburn Tigers. Here are my 2 reasons:

1) Quarterback play. They have the Heisman Trophy winner in Cam Newton. nuff said

2) The Conference. They play in the SEC - the strongest conference in all of football. They have been battle tested nearly every week.

Week Four Games

Baylor @ Rice

Georgia @ Colorado

Northern Iowa @ Kansas State

New Mexico State @ Kansas

Miami @ Missouri

South Dakota State @ Nebraska

Oklahoma @ Cincinatti

Texas A&M @ Oklahoma State

UCLA @ Texas