Promotional product sales have Big 10 eyeing Texas

Big Ten, the nation's oldest Division 1 college athletic conference, announced last year that it would be adding another team, bringing the total to 12 since the addition of Penn State in 1990. Speculation has ensued over which team would be selected, and rumors suggest that the University of Texas is a major contender.

According to Channel 39 Houston, the motivation for this decision could be due to Texas' healthy sales of promotional products. As Houston Chronicle sports columnist Richard Justice told Channel 39, "Texas is a giant right now in terms of merchandising, what attracts a national TV audience."

He adds that Texas could give the Big Ten "the potential to build a national TV network along the lines of what the SEC has."

In the end, however, Justice remains skeptical that Texas will split from the Big 12, citing local politics and loyalty concerns among fans.

There is no doubt, however, that the acquisition of Texas would be profitable for both the University and the Big Ten conference. The University of Texas takes the top position in terms of collegiate promotional products sales, according to the Collegiate Licensing Company's most recent statistics.