OU’s Boren says Big 12 faces big decisions

The University of Cincinnati is excited about a possible invitation to the Big 12, and the Bearcats ought to be optimistic.

But not because of some emails between UC President Santa Ono and OU president David Boren. The excitement should stem from the growing belief that expansion indeed is in the Big 12’s future.

Boren on Tuesday told The Oklahoman that Big 12 presidents have agreed that they need to make a decision, perhaps by this summer, on the reforms Boren has championed: expansion, a football championship game and implementation of a conference network.

“We’re in a fact-finding

mode, we’re in a data-gathering mode,” Boren said. “In other words, what will it mean to the stability of the conference? What will it mean financially to the conference?

“We’ve sort of said to ourselves, come this summer, we’re going to have to finally make a decision about what we do. We cannot indefinitely postpone decisions. That’s what I had gotten frustrated about. I thought we were spinning our wheels.”

But Boren says the presidents have agreed to research the numbers and let the data decide.

“And I think a consensus is forming around these three reforms,” Boren said. “So I’m in a personal mode of patience. Trying to be patient, because sometimes it takes time to work through.”

Cincinnati doesn’t mind waiting. Like the other prime candidates — Brigham Young, Connecticut, Central Florida, Boise State — the Bearcats have no other viable options for inclusion into the Power Five conferences.

The Cincinnati Enquirer released emails it obtained from Ono’s office, in which Boren lauded Ono, writing, “… knowing that you are at the helm in Cincinnati makes me even more inclined to support your cause.”

Very nice and quite possibly true and completely irrelevant to the discussion. First, I would assume Boren and other Big 12 power-brokers sweet-talk all kinds of potential expansion candidates. No reason not to. No reason not to encourage every potential school, to beef up their cause.

Last October, Boren volunteered his pending campaign to push for expansion and other reforms. I asked him who he liked. He said he didn’t care. He mentioned all the usual suspects. BYU, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Boise State. Maybe Boren has a personal favorite, but those Cincinnati emails are no clue.

In fact, Boren said Tuesday that in the same way he favors letting the data determine whether the Big 12 adds new members, a title game and network, he favors letting the data determine who the new members would be.

“I think people are being very sincere about trying to look at the figures and the facts,” Boren said. “Not be emotional about it or ‘I want this school’ or ‘I want that.’

“Well, what are their academics? What’s their research base? How well do they fit our academic profile? How well do they fit our fan base profile? How many dollars in their market do they bring to the table? We’re looking at all that. In terms of the network and those dollars, we’re looking with our TV consultants to tell us.”

Of course, not every question can be answered with facts and data. How important is geography in the expansion talks? That’s not a data question. That’s a subjective question.

If the Big 12 decides to expand totally East, as it did with West Virginia, then Cincinnati is sitting pretty. If the Big 12 decides to add Brigham Young, which seems to be the strongest candidate outside geography, then Cincinnati could be competing with UConn for only one spot. If the Big 12 decides to add the two best football schools, the league could sweep up the West duo of BYU and Boise State.

But Boren is promoting the data. The Big 12 might let the data do the talking.

Cincinnati brings solid football and good academics. Cincinnati would not strongly impact the Big 12’s network television contract, but Cincinnati potentially could impact the value of a conference network, since getting onto cable systems in Ohio would be a bonanza.

Lots of moving parts. That’s why first things first. If there were obvious candidates, the Big 12 long ago would have expanded.

For now, the prime directive is convincing the holdouts that expansion is necessary and convincing Texas to give up The Longhorn Network for the greater good of a Big 12 Network.

“What’s good about it, I would say, no one’s slammed the door shut on any possibilities,” Boren said. “We’re doing what we should do. We’re being prudent, we’re being diligent. We’re reviewing all the data.”

The Big 12 is in better shape than it’s been at any time since the major realignment of 2011. Oklahoma made the College Football Playoff. The Big 12 has been dominant this basketball season. The financial TV payouts have been strong. But Boren says that’s why now is the time to decide.

““It’s a good time to act,” Boren said. “Let’s don’t wait until we have a crisis or we’re about to lose a member or two. We’re stable right now, we like each other. Most people in the Big 12 want to stay in the Big 12. It’s the right time to make progress.”

So be optimistic, Cincinnati. Just not too excited. The data, not year-old emails, will decide your future.