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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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FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - JUNE 7: Robert Moore #1 celebrates with Case Opitz #12 of the Arkansas Razorbacks after hitting a home run during a game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at the NCAA Fayetteville Regional at Baum-Walker Stadium at George Cole Field on June 7, 2021 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Cornhuskers 6-2. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS – JUNE 7: Robert Moore #1 celebrates with Case Opitz #12 of the Arkansas Razorbacks after hitting a home run during a game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at the NCAA Fayetteville Regional at Baum-Walker Stadium at George Cole Field on June 7, 2021 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Cornhuskers 6-2. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

The SEC has stolen a few programs from the Big 12. Could the Big 12 ever lure Arkansas away from the SEC?

Between the last round of conference realignment and the current iteration of it, it’s fair to look at the landscape of college football and have the opinion that the Big 12 has been plundered by the Southeastern Conference.

Texas A&M left for the SEC right before Johnny Manziel burst onto the scene and won the Heisman. Missouri was taken and then became the sort of team that could win double digit games in a season. That would have been very valuable for the Big 12 to have.

Why this could work for the Big 12

Arkansas has a very large and loyal following and there’s a ton of money backing the Razorbacks. Given that there aren’t many college football programs in the state of Arkansas and the University of Arkansas has the most prominent program there.

Oh, and there’s the fact that Arkansas is building a great men’s basketball program, has a great softball team, and boasts one of the best baseball teams in the country. Arkansas is well rounded and that overall level of success should be celebrated.

Plus, let’s be honest, revenge has to be a huge motivating factor for the SEC, right? And if we’re looking at everything, is there a better way to get revenge against the SEC than to find a way to court one of its current members and get it to move to your conference?

Why this wouldn’t make sense for Arkansas

The Big 12 is gonna have one heck of a hard time trying to convince anyone to leave the Southeastern Conference. That’s just a fact of life. Between the absurd amounts of money, the rich traditions, and the stability, the teams over in the SEC have it made.

When it comes to football, Arkansas hasn’t been great as of late, but this team has had its moments in the sun. It’s just been about a decade.

In other sports, the Razorbacks certainly are competitive with their fellow SEC teams. Arkansas is consistently dominant in baseball, a sport that may not mean much to some outside institutions but certainly means a lot to multiple members of the SEC.

The Razorbacks are currently making a ton of money in the SEC and have to be enjoying the stability that comes with that conference. It seems incredibly unlikely that they’d leave the nice conditions they currently have for what the Big 12 could offer.

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