A new wave of conference realignment chatter has placed the Missouri Tigers football squarely in the spotlight, with speculation swirling about their long-term future in the Southeastern Conference. While nothing is imminent or formally under discussion at a league level, the mere suggestion of movement has been enough to ignite debate across college football circles.
The conversation stems from a recently proposed reshuffling scenario that would dramatically alter the structure of multiple Power conferences. In that proposal, Missouri is floated as a candidate to return to the Big 12 Conference — the league it called home before making the jump to the SEC more than a decade ago. The idea is framed as a way to restore historic rivalries while trimming conference sizes.
At the center of the discussion is veteran columnist Blake Toppmeyer of USA Today, who suggested that certain programs might make geographic and competitive sense elsewhere. Though he acknowledged the financial and contractual hurdles that make such changes extremely unlikely, the hypothetical was enough to spark widespread reaction from fans and analysts alike.
For Missouri supporters, the thought of returning to the Big 12 brings mixed emotions. On one hand, it could revive long-dormant rivalries, particularly with the Kansas Jayhawks football, reigniting the Border War on an annual basis. On the other hand, the SEC has provided national exposure, recruiting advantages, and financial benefits that are difficult to overlook.
Competitively, Missouri has experienced flashes of success in the SEC, including division title appearances and consistent bowl trips. However, the Tigers have rarely broken into the conference’s upper tier in sustained fashion. A move back to the Big 12, at least in theory, could present a different competitive landscape — one where Missouri might contend more regularly for conference titles.
Still, all of this remains speculative. The SEC’s lucrative television deals and long-term stability make any sudden departure highly improbable. Yet in the ever-shifting world of college athletics, even hypothetical proposals can gain traction quickly. For now, Missouri’s SEC status remains intact — but the conversation alone proves that realignment rumors never truly stay quiet for long.