Conference Realignment: Where will KU Fall?

About one month in to the new NIL agreement with the NCAA in which players can profit off their name and likeness there will be more change coming to the NCAA. It appears we are turning back the clock to 2010-2014 and we are there will be more major conference realignment. Today, the SEC voted unanimously to extend invitations to the University of Oklahoma and the University of Texas to join their league. All I can say to Texas is good luck playing an SEC slate of football each fall. I do think Oklahoma will hold their own as they have dominated the Big 12 on the gridiron over the past decade. Anyways, speaking of the Big 12 the departure of Oklahoma and Texas leave the conference with 8 teams left. Is this the downfall of the conference? Maybe, maybe not, but if it is where will the Kansas Jayhawks end up?

ACC

Clearly, geography does not matter anymore for conferences. We've seen teams like Marquette and Butler join the Big East and the likes of Rutgers join the Big Ten. So we cannot rule out the Jayhawks landing in the ACC. Although travel would be a concern here, the ACC aligning with one of the better basketball programs in the country makes sense here. Not to mention Kansas's new AD Travis Goff has a solid connection with ACC commissioner, Jim Phillips. With the likes of Duke, UNC, Virginia, and Florida State they probably believe they are the best basketball conference in the country. Adding Kansas would make this a sure thing. Who wouldn't want to see annual matchups between Kansas vs UNC/Duke at all three of these historic arenas. There is no shortage of primetime matchups if KU were to join the ACC here shortly.

Big Ten

I am bias here for this option right here. Living in the Chicago area I can only imagine how many road games I could go to every year. Wisconsin, Michigan, Michigan State, Indiana, and even Iowa are all within driving distance of Chicago. This also makes a little bit more sense for Kansas travel wise. Kansas fits in well both academically and on the hardwood. Unfortunately, their joke of a football program may hold them back as this is a conference that prides itself on competitive performance on the football field especially the top with the the likes of Michigan, Ohio State, and Iowa. However, the bottom of the conference seems formidable as far as Kansas competing. If you ask me this is the number one option for the Jayhawks and if the option presents itself I would have a tough time passing it up. Adding Kansas along with Iowa State is not the worst option and could happen in the Big Ten.

Stay in the Big 12

Although seemingly down to 8 teams right now the Big 12 may live on after all. Obviously Big 12 Commissioner, Bob Bowlsby, would like to keep his conference in a power 5 position. It seems bleak right now with the Oklahoma and Texas move imminent. Teams I've seen as a possible add include Houston, BYU, Cincinnati, and Central Florida. This is a nice combination of teams that have a big brand in BYU and other teams that are on the come up. Less Likely, the Big 12 could try to poach power 5 programs over. The two that top the list right now are out in the desert in Arizona and ASU. The ladder of course would be a lot better for the finances of the conference. These teams do not bring nearly what Oklahoma and Texas brought to the conference but its a start. In this scenario KU resurrecting its football program would mean even more as they have the potential to be the powerhouse of the "new look" Big 12, looking at you Coach Leipold.

PAC-12

This isn't very likely but an option nonetheless. This could be a good expansion to the Midwest for the Pac-12. They could add Kansas, Oklahoma State, Iowa State. The lack of recruiting out there along with the money and travel issues makes it a difficult case for KU to join.

More crazy times in the NCAA. A lot has changed and will continue to change as this all unfolds under NCAA President, Mark Emmert. Kansas was left out to dry in a sense when discussions of Oklahoma and Texas leaving for the SEC began. We will see what happens when all is said and done. Regardless, lets see if we can turnaround that football program here in the near future. Rock Chalk.