Report: Baylor Bears in talks to open 2016 season in Australia
The Baylor Bears and athletic director Ian McCaw are in talks to open the 2016 campaign in Australia against a Pac-12 team.
The Baylor Bears may open the 2016 season with a splash. Per a report from Chip Patterson of CBSSports.com, the program and athletic director Ian McCaw have pitched the idea to play their 2016 opener overseas.
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When McCaw spoke to ESPN via a radio interview on Wednesday, McCaw went into very little detail or offer up many specifics about the possible game down under, but it was confirmed by David Ubben of Fox Sports that the Bears would play the game in Australia against a yet-to-be-determined Pac-12 opponent.
As Ubben notes, nothing has been set in stone in terms of a specific city or an opponent, according to a source of his with knowledge of the negotiations. However, it has been reported that the Bears could potentially face Cal, and that they would be the most suitable opponent. With that in mind, Ubben indicates that there “are still a few things that need to fall into place.”
Cal would be the first non-conference Power Five opponent on Baylor’s schedule since Wake Forest held that in 2009.
This would be a great opportunity all around. It would be the first college football game played in Australia and would give the players on both sides a chance to have a once in a lifetime experience. In addition, this would help the game reach a larger audience on a global scale. This is not to suggest that fans overseas are completely oblivious to college football, but rather it gives them an opportunity to get access to the game in an easier fashion than coming to the United States to watch a game in person.
We are already seeing expansion of the game overseas becoming more popular. Boston College announced earlier this month they would open their 2016 season in Dublin, Ireland to continue the Emerald Isle Classic, against Georgia Tech. Now, if Baylor gets their wish, they too will follow that international route.
My guess is that they will. With something like this in my opinion, the positives usually outweigh the negatives.