Throwdown: Is it good for UCF if the Big XII falls apart?

Erika: All this conference realignment drama is getting confusing. With Texas A&M jumping ship for the Southeastern Conference and with Texas and Oklahoma likely leaving for the Pac-12, it's likely that the once-dominant conference will fall apart.

What about the other schools in the Big XII? Where will they go?

There's a rumor floating around that the Big East will offer multiple Big XII schools a "soft landing" spot if the Big XII falls apart, leaving UCF and its Big East hopes in the dust. Iowa State and Baylor will likely join Conference USA if that happens. If the Big XII falls apart, it'll be awful for UCF because it's going to make it more difficult for the Knights to leave C-USA.

Andy: This doomsday scenario for the Big XII is one of the best things that can happen for UCF. If all of that really happens, it means the dominoes are finally falling and UCF is at the end waiting to get pushed. The simple reason is super-conferences. If the Big XII falls apart, that means the other five automatically-qualifying BCS conferences will start looking to have 16 teams, leaving spots for the Knights.

Erika: But where would the Knights even fit? With the Big East offering landing spots to Big XII schools, there's no room for UCF. If there's no room in the Big East, the only other two BCS conferences that make sense (geographically) are the SEC and the Atlantic Coast Conference. No way UCF can hang in the SEC. And making the jump to the ACC is just too risky. Look what happened to Boston College and Miami when they made the jump to the ACC from the Big East.

Andy: If the ACC and Big East make the jump to 16, the remains of the Big XII will not be enough. These conferences will have to look elsewhere, and UCF is the best of the rest.

Erika: Well considering the Big East ALREADY HAS 16 teams, that's not going to happen. And the ACC has 12 teams now. If UCF makes the jump from C-USA to the ACC, it'll be a nightmare. The Knights are a good team and are the "best of the rest" when it comes to non-BCS schools, but with an ACC schedule, the Knights are probably a .500 team at best. Like I said, look what happened to Boston College and Miami when they made the jump from a tough conference to an even tougher one. The best BCS fit for UCF is the Big East, and if the Big XII meltdown happens, UCF won't join. I'd rather see them dominate C-USA or do well in the Big East … not be a mediocre non-factor in the ACC.

Andy: UCF shouldn't be afraid of failure in the ACC. Success in BCS conferences comes from the perks of being in a BCS conference: better recruiting and national rankings. Realizing this potential will take time.