It seems like most college football programs in the country would jump at a chance to join the SEC — arguably the strongest college football conference football in America. With that said, former Oklahoma Sooners head coach Bob Stoops actually believes one SEC school should leave the South Eastern Conference to join his old stomping grounds: The Big 12.
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That's right, recently speaking with Bart Pohlman of Sports and Story, Stoops relayed that he feels Arkansas would actually be a good fit in the Big 12. Stoops thinks the Razorbacks' geographical location would make sense in the conference, and he likes the rivalry games Arkansas can be a part of in the Big 12:
"I just feel personally that they would be excellent in the Big 12," Stoops said Wednesday on Sports Talk. "Geographically, where they're located—can you imagine the series with Oklahoma and Oklahoma State every year? Also, Texas, TCU, all the teams there in the (Texas) area.???
Arkansas does border both Texas and Oklahoma and being one of the more Western states in the SEC country, it wouldn't be completely out of the realm of possibility, at least geographically speaking.
The Razorbacks also have old school rivalries with some of the Big 12's top schools, including Texas, TCU, Baylor and Texas Tech. Remember, at one point all of the aforementioned schools, including Arkansas, were part of the old Southwest Conference, so there is plenty of history that can be drawn on when looking at Arkansas from a Big 12 perspective.
The SWC was a big conference down in Texas during its glory years, and speaking of Texas, Stoops seems to think the Longhorn state could provide to be fertile recruiting ground for the Razorbacks:
"I think it would bring Texas recruiting, being that they would be down there competing in the Texas area, even in Oklahoma," Stoops said. "They'd be more attractive in recruiting, just because of where they're playing their football games."
Of course, Stoops knows a thing or two about crossing over into the Texas border and stealing away big-time recruits, as well as winning big-time games, so perhaps he does know what he's talking about in this instance.
Of course, that's all predicated on the Big 12 wanting to expand, which has been a hot or cold issue over the past few seasons. Arkansas would also have to want to leave the SEC, which outside of playing an arguably easier schedule, there doesn't seem to be much logic in that decision.
(H/T SEC Country)
