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10 teams the Big 12 should consider pursuing as it navigates conference realignment

By Ethan Lee

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 03: DeJon Jarreau #3 of the Houston Cougars dribbles against Davion Mitchell #45 of the Baylor Bears in the first half during the 2021 NCAA Final Four semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 03: DeJon Jarreau #3 of the Houston Cougars dribbles against Davion Mitchell #45 of the Baylor Bears in the first half during the 2021 NCAA Final Four semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 28: Kayode Oladele #6 and Brady White #3 of the Memphis Tigers reacts after scoring a touchdown during the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Arlington, Texas (Photo by Benjamin Solomon/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 28: Kayode Oladele #6 and Brady White #3 of the Memphis Tigers reacts after scoring a touchdown during the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Arlington, Texas (Photo by Benjamin Solomon/Getty Images) /

The Memphis Tigers have become one of the best football programs in the AAC. Would that be enough for the Big 12?

It wasn’t that long ago that the Memphis Tigers found themselves in the Cotton Bowl, facing off and going toe-to-toe with the Penn State Nittany Lions in one of the most prestigious and legendary bowl games around.

That was under Memphis’ previous head coach, Mike Norvell, but the Tigers still project to be a solid team under current head coach Ryan Silverfield’s leadership. College football generates a lot of money and having a good football team can help a conference a lot.

Why this could work for the Big 12

In addition to getting a good football team that has plenty of potential, the Big 12 would be getting a pretty solid men’s basketball team that is led by Penny Hardaway.

While there’s still a level of uncertainty that should surround whether or not Memphis will continue to be solid at football, it’s very clear that Hardaway and the Tigers have something going right at the moment.

The Memphis men’s basketball team could very well be good for the next few years as they’ve been very solid over the past few seasons. Hardaway has only been at Memphis for three seasons and already has made it to the NIT twice, including an NIT championship this past season. Hardaway has a 63-32 record so far and looks to keep on winning.

Why this wouldn’t make sense for the Big 12

It’s a bit of a gamble to hope that the Memphis Tigers will continue to be good at football and keep on winning at a very respectable level. The Tigers very well could continue to thrive under Silverfield, but that’s not a sure bet.

At least at the moment. It’ll take a little more time before we find out just how good this football program can be in the long run. But, if we’re looking at the big picture here, how much time does the Big 12 really have?

They’re gonna have to gamble a bit here, right?

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