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The Big 12 is set to welcome four new additions to its ranks this season. It embarked on an expansion mission to fill the void left by the exits from Texas and Oklahoma. However, the conference seems to have more steps to do.
Several institutions have been named as candidates for expansion, such as Arizona and Colorado. SMU is also one of the names that has been thrown around in regards to expansion. But the Mustangs seem very unlikely to ever end up in the Big 12. There are few reasons why they are suspected of being responsible for this.
Investigation into SMU’s failed matchup with the Big 12
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SMU’s academic reputation has been put forward as an explanation. High academic standards and a rigorous admissions process make athletics a top priority for the school. The Big 12 is a very competitive conference, and the Mustangs may find they lack a competitive advantage against their potential opponents.
Besides, SMU’s location makes it unsuitable for conference membership. The conference already has two members, Baylor and TCU, in the Dallas area, as does SMU. Therefore, the addition of SMU may create an unhealthy scenario where teams get into unhealthy competition for the same market in the same conference.
Another drawback to SMU’s strict academic standard is its small enrollment. Compared to other teams in the conference, the numbers are very small, and this raises doubts about the school’s ability to attract viewers.
There is also a historical angle to consider. SMU was in its early years as a college football powerhouse. But a series of scandals in the 1980s culminated in the “death penalty” in 1987.
The punishment was to ban the school from playing football for two seasons. You have not fully recovered from the setback. Without a strong football program, the school loses any conference appeal.
Right now, the Pac-12 seems like a more likely destination for the Mustangs than the Big 12. But given the Pac-12’s somewhat desperate situation, one might understand why it wasn’t selected as the Big 12. Be that as it may, it’s still not entirely certain. And it’s unlikely that SMU will even join the Pac-12.
This should not necessarily mean that SMU should stop looking to join Power Five conferences. But she certainly has a long way to go. What it could do is invest more in athletics, especially soccer. He could borrow a leaf from the University of Houston by creating a fundraiser aimed at improving the school’s athletics facilities.
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