Ripple effects of Texas, Oklahoma leaving for SEC are positive, but not perfect

College soccer has at all times been outlined by its love of custom and a willingness to reside up to now so long as potential.

Change was unhealthy; establishment swell. Life didn’t come at you quick, it got here in tremendous slo-mo. Hey, nationwide signing day did extra to maintain the fax machine trade alive than the rest.

When it did occur, even probably the most commonsense evolution was seen as revolutionary. A four-team playoff! Players having the chance to capitalize on their title, picture and likeness!!

Now faculty soccer is confronted with one thing completely alien to its system for 2024 — true and main change actually not seen for the reason that leather-helmet days. And the Lone Star State goes to be a significant half of all the massive doings.

Texas and Oklahoma are headed to the SEC a 12 months early, for the 2024-25 athletic season, and it solely price $100 million. The Longhorns and Sooners had been finally going to wind up there, one thing we’ve recognized for a pair of years. It’s the timing now and the concept it may be realistically measured in months.

It’s past two main blue bloods realizing that Texas A&M might have been onto one thing a decade or so in the past. It’s a significant shift in convention energy. In proof that irony might be fairly ironic, the tradition-shattering transfer will really revive long-simmering rivalries.

Everybody with a pulse is aware of about Texas and Texas A&M getting again collectively once more (And it’s a must to consider Commissioner Greg Sankey is manner good sufficient to discover a technique to have these two play yearly).

Arkansas-Texas is not far behind on the animosity scale, one more reason why the SEC wants three everlasting opponents on the schedule. OU-Missouri has old skool Big Eight vibes. ESPN may have all of it beneath its new contract.

In a transfer which may be much more jarring geographically and culturally than Texas and OU to the SEC, USC and UCLA will start play within the Big Ten with Fox because the dominant TV provider. It is mindless, which is why it was a genius transfer for the Big Ten and Fox.

If that was all, it might be greater than sufficient. The thrill experience might not be over. There’s the Pac-12, nonetheless attempting to recuperate from the USC-UCLA intestine punch and seeking to cobble collectively a TV deal, is now within the enlargement market.

How does SMU within the Pac-12 for 2024, together with perhaps San Diego State, sound? Speculation obtained a jolt of actuality when Pac-12 Commissioner George Kliavkoff confirmed up at SMU’s basketball recreation final week, within the worst disguise this aspect of Inspector Clouseau.

Even with BYU, Central Florida, Cincinnati and Houston coming aboard in 2023, the Big 12 could also be removed from completed, particularly if some present Pac-12 colleges develop a case of wanderlust.

At this charge, Google Maps could also be the most well-liked app for faculty followers.

It will all culminate in a 12-team playoff that may devour a good portion of December. Think first-round video games on campuses and all of the New Year’s Six video games (together with the Cotton Bowl) having quarterfinal or semifinal video games.

The huge boy conferences may have lots of alternatives for a number of groups. But with spots for six convention champions, the Group of Five is assured illustration as nicely.

It might not be perfect, but it’s a quantum leap past the present system.

It’s all coming your manner in about 19 months.

Twitter: @ChuckCarltonDMN

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