Big 12 Remains in Flux

The Big 12 remains in flux, but we're getting some ideas of where things may be heading. Texas Christian University (TCU) looks like it will be joining the Big 12. This means that TCU will be leaving the Big East before it has even played a game in that league. TCU, temporarily at least, will bring the Big 12's number of teams back to 10, after Texas A&M's move to the SEC.

Another Big 12 school, Missouri, seems to be in a holding pattern regarding whether it will join Texas A&M in moving to the SEC. According to this article: "The Missouri Tigers are still on the fence if they want to stay in the Big 12 or pack up and head to the SEC. However, Missouri may not have the necessary votes to join the SEC."

A Missouri departure (assuming no glitches with TCU's arrival) would take the Big 12 back to nine members. Who might be leading contenders for a new tenth team? Brigham Young University (BYU) seemed likely to join the Big 12 at one point, but the chances seem to be fading at the moment.

Louisville continues to be mentioned, with the possible demise of Big East football giving the Cardinals reason to look elsewhere. A move to the Big 12 would also create for Louisville a basketball rivalry with fellow elite hoops program Kansas. On the downside, however, Louisville is geographically distant from the existing Big 12 schools, between roughly 500-1,000 miles away, according to Travel Math. Louisville, being a city school, would also seem to lack cultural ties to the other Big 12 schools, many of which are in more rural/agricultural areas.

Houston might also be a possibility (at least in the minds of Houstonians).