I was looking at this weeks college football playoff poll and noticed that after winning a close one against Auburn, Texas A&M found it’s way back into the top 25. This was noteworthy to me because of the beating TAMU took at the hands of Alabama (59-0). One would think that getting beat like that would put your chances at getting back into the top 25 right around the same as the number of points TAMU scored on the Alabama game.
The reality though is that regardless of what anyone thinks about the teams TAMU has played in a winning or losing effort, playing in the SEC has given them an opportunity to redeem themselves. With a schedule that includes brand names like LSU, Auburn, Alabama…and now we’ve been convinced that even Ole Miss, Miss. State and South Carolina are not only good but also valuable brand names…there are so many opportunities at redemption.
After that Alabama game, TAMU looked like they were in disarray and many were certain that the recruiting vigor they’ve demonstrated would wane. But a couple weeks later they were given another chance to prove themselves and wash away their sins.
This occurred to me, of course, because OU was dealt a pretty painful loss this past weekend. But unlike TAMU, there is no bowl game level competition on the horizon. There is no team OU can beat to re-energize the fan base or the recruits.
In fairness, tt must be said though that in a more traditional year (recent tradition) Texas Tech and OSU would appear to be more formidable opponents and would provide a more noteworthy match-up. This is especially true of Oklahoma State who has been in the Big 12 championship mix much more often in the past few years than we’re used to.
But still, with the way ESPN has branded the SEC and the teams in the SEC, there always seems to be potential for excitement just around the corner…potential for hope no matter how bleak the previous week may have appeared. They say the path to the playoffs is easier in the Big 12 and that may very well be true (though I can it see it argued both ways) but if you’re not one of the four teams that’s headed towards the playoff, the path in the SEC looks a hell of a lot more fun.
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Biggest mistake ever was signing the deal for the short term big money of Fox. ESPN promotes their games, and shuns all others. Rightfully so, you don’t see FX promoting Walking Dead. 2nd great mistake was doing the Longhorn network vs the Big 12 network with ESPN. Obviously this caused A&M and Mizzou to leave, but beyond that it hasn’t helped the brand of TCU and Baylor. Everyone feels like they’re just a flash in the pan, but Nebraska and A&M have staying power. I think if we can win out we’ll be in position to be ranked in the mid teens by our bowl game. If it works out the way it looks right now that could be in a lower tier bowl against a top tier opponent in ND. That could prop us into the 10-13 range if we won. That sounds like a sweet end to a bitter season to me.
yeah saw someone tweet that OU was projected to play ND or UCLA. Those would be fun games for me. Something I could get excited about. Plus OU recruits against UCLA. And getting a chance at chipping away at the ND overall record would be nice.
Nebraska & ATM didn’t leave over longhorn network. I will say it again, Doss killed the big 12 with “his” vision of pulling other schools in the fold. In addition, money was not shared evenly due to how “Doods” worked the contract. When Nebraska & ATM left, Big 12 finally gave each school the same. Nebraska isn’t better off and ATM will never sniff a championship but hey, they are in SEC and will get the pub. As you can tell, I’m so frustrated with the Big 12 over the years as it could’ve been a special place for football and attracted the ESPN’s of the world. But, I digress.
With all that said, OU was in contention to do big things and shhh the bed when it matters. OU’s brand will always carry weight but OU needs to finish and stop stepping on their meat.
OU should reconsider the SEC whenever the grant of rights is up. I know the Pac 12 is the more desirable league but the SEC has espn backing, is closer for games, still gives us a Texas footprint, and strength of schedule would be off the charts with ooc game against Texas every year ( I believe OU could leave Texas and still play them, we have more tact and a better rivalry to preserve.) Bring OSU that’s a stronger 16 team conference.
The grant is not as iron-clad as the public has been led to believe, but challenging it would require far more vision than the OU administration has recently displayed for athletics.
maybe you guys can answer. i used to be on landthieves and this was one of the only threads i could stomach. what is the deal with being tied to ok st? i seem to remember those guys talking about we could get away from texas but with politicians and such we would be hard pressed to pull away from ok st. problem is, nobody wants ok st. is there truth to this? would they bring us in and drop somebody? would they add us and someone from another conference? would they bite the bullet and just add ok st to get our brand? oregon seems here to stay and usc is usc, ucla fluctuates, everybody else fluctuates more or just flat out stinks out there-would that be a better move or would the sec? i feel that the whole big 10 and smart school research stuff(can’t remember what its called-aau or whatever?) would be great but would we get it? i hate the sec, but i’m not one of those idiots that thinks they suck. there’s good football down there, but there’s good football everywhere
The Oklahoma regents will not on a move by OU that doesn’t include OSU. They want to make sure O-state doesn’t turn into Cincinnati relevance wise.
who do you think would take em? personally, i think we’ll be fine here. texas has to get back to relevance. what i’m really hoping for is to sorta regionalize everything. would love to get rid of the conferences and intermingle teams from different areas. i think that would be pretty cool. probly about a (-5%) of that happening but pipe dreams are cool too
…….on tv, for better or worse, the game is opposite the biggest game of the week, bama/ms…….
Good thoughts K, but also feel Oklahoma will always have great blue blood draw no matter conference. I hate the SEC, but inside got to admit it would be fun as hell to go play all those teams too. We’ll be fine over long haul, but would love to see Texas/ESPN somehow decide together someday that the Longhorn Network isn’t in best interest overall – compared to B12 Net. I would argue the effect of SEC is hurting OU most in that the Miss/Miss States of conference are now drawing more players due to perception – more than TCU/OSU/Baylor. We’re still getting considerably better talent IMO than them overall (albeit not getting most out of it) – but it’s the Treadwell talented players we have a shot at that we aren’t landing as much of late..& they aren’t going to TCU either.