What is the next domino in conference realignment?

[Barley]

If the Big East is settled at 10 teams for "the near term" what happens next or are we done with conference realignment? The media grant of rights among the big conferences would make departing one a huge financial hardship so it seems unlikely that teams will get picked off like was happening. Do Uconn and Cincy end up in a BCS league? Will there be a push to get to four 16 member leagues still? Fascinating stuff and I loved watching the dominoes fall over the years and I wonder what happens next.

[BillEsq]

The big Domino is Texas... if texas decides to move itself and select 3 buddies to the PAC or select one buddy to the SEC that does it. As long as Texas remains in control of its independent media network... the big 12 lives. The schools left in the big 12 sans OK are too weak to challenge TX. A bad guess and your left on the outside looking in.

However things could go lots of ways... B12 could add 2 teams and raid the AAC (most likely) or MWC. either would lead to serious changes down the ranks... effect the non-rev situation with the BE and maybe goad one of the big 4 to absorb more schools.

The BE may just expand as originally expected to 12 this would have ramifications down the line to A-10 and to the next levels of basketball conferences as schools file slowly up.

The Big 4 could decide to split off ... this would lead to huge ramifications.

The ongoing student loan bubble might pop and the financial problems that most universities especially state universities might further alter the landscape... some state schools might see there athletic budgets effectively eliminated. (I don't think some people realize how bad the finances are for a lot of institutions).

Or.. .Something completely unexpected might happen...

Or a combination of all of the above... with or without an alien invasion occurring.

[Jet915]

I agree, Texas if they decide they want to leave the Big XII or if someone finally wants to take Cincy or UCONN from the AAC.

[DumpsterFireA10]

If the Big East stops at 10, nothing happens behind them. A-10 possibly adds Siena, and that's about the extent of the non-football realignment for the forseeable future.

If Texas nukes the Big 12, then it's open season again.

[Dave]

Texas is the game changer. Every other potential move is small in comparison.

If OU and UT move together, XII is not very appealing. UConn and Cincy would be better off in the AAC.

And WVU, already a misfit, would be SOL.