There has been something new introduced to the conference realignment vocabulary: the “Tech Problem”.

So what is it, you ask? It’s a polite way of describing blackmail and extortion in Texas politics. But that’s just a generalization.

When the Big Ten announced it’s plans to study expansion, there were two schools that they had in mind. Sure, other schools might have been involved if they did grow from 11 to say 16. But the most desired candidates were Notre Dame and Texas.

Notre Dame has seemed to keep itself on the independent path. Texas on the other hand is still in play. they have their options: stay in the Big 12, join the Pac-10, Big Ten, or even the SEC.

But something happened on their way to the negotiation table with the Big Ten (and the Pac-10): the “Tech problem”.

The “Tech problem” is the term used by the Big Ten, to explain the political problems of Texas joining the Big Ten. The term first came to be in an email between University of Texas administrators and those at Ohio St..

The “Tech Problem” simply explains that it is Texas Tech that will politically work to block any move in which Texas leaves the Big 12 without them. Consider it a sign of desperation. Nobody likes to be left behind, but Texas Tech does not have the clout to get invited to a conference like the Big Ten, Pac-10 or SEC on their own. So their last resort, much like it was for Baylor when the Big 8 expanded to 12, is to resort to state politics.

It’s the “Tech Problem” that has made it difficult for Texas to strongly consider the Big Ten. While the Big Ten might be willing to make some concessions by inviting other Big 12 schools to bridge the geographic gap between the state and the current Big Ten footprint, Texas Tech is not a school the conference would strongly consider.

The Big Ten would perhaps consider other regional schools. Missouri and Nebraska are already in the mix for the Big Ten. But it wouldn’t be a stretch if the conference also invited Texas A&M; and another school such as Oklahoma (or even Arkansas to appease the “southern expansion” folks). The Big Ten could then be structured with a “west” division of Texas, Texas A&M;, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois and Northwestern.

But no. It can’t happen because of the “Tech Problem”, and the Big Ten would not be likely to bend on including lower academic schools like Texas Tech or Oklahoma.

The Pac-10 on the otherhand seems to at least be considering an appeasement of the Texas political issues by including Texas Tech. Oddly enough, the Pac-10 faces a new issue: the “Baylor Problem”.

It appears that the same political backlash that Texas Tech was trying to cause regarding Texas and the Big Ten, has been applied by the Baylor admins and alum. Much like they did in the 90′s when the Big 8 expanded with 4 members to form the Big 12. The original new members were to be Texas, Texas A&M;, Texas Tech and BYU. But BYU was pushed out at the last moment in favor of Baylor…when it became clear that the state legislature would not permit the other Texas schools to join without including Baylor, a Texas private school. That same political push that kept BYU out of the Big 12 might actually keep Colorado out of the Pac-10.

So now it appears we have both a “Tech problem” and a “Baylor problem”. I don’t think it will be long before we have a “State problem” in regards to Iowa St. The school might find itself left out of the Big 12 shuffle (6 members to Pac-10, 2 to Big Ten) with Kansas, Kansas St. (Colorado if not in Pac-10 plans) to the MWC (Baylor to CUSA if left out). Lonely Iowa St. would be left without a home…and you can bet their politicians will follow suit by trying to block any Big Ten expansion that does not include Iowa St.