[Mudhead]

As far as support ("market") for teams in Texas, at least in the 60s and 70s, it was where you and your buddies went to school, not what city you live in.  Then there's the factor about how far they go after graduation.  

Texas is filled with grads of UT-Austin and quite a few Texas Aggies.  SMU, U. of Houston, Rice, Texas Tech not so much.   College Station only has a population of 125,000 even now; Austin MSA 2.5M, DFW MSA 8.1M, Houston MSA 7.5M, San Antonio MSA 2.7M   (SF MSA 4.6M)

In my family, before any one went to any of the SWC schools, Texas was by far the biggest name athletic school, presumably because of news coverage in Houston in the early 60s.

Things may have changed in the last 50 years, but I think not.

At 52,000 students (Fall 2023), UT-Austin is still filling the state of Texas.  Texas A&M indicates they have 73,000 students.
At 12,000 students, SMU likely falls behind both UT-Austin AND Tx A&M in alumni in the DFW area (and Houston, and San Antonio, and Austin)

I agree with much of what you say. SMU is not going to replace Texas statewide. If Texas , or Texas A&M  for that matter, were an option for the ACC  they would have taken them. But they are not. SMU is a very good footprint , especially in the MetroPlex.  With the imprimatur of a Big 5 Conference, SMU can get back to its glory days.  Dickerson & James at SMU were as big as Texas . TV was not the same then as now, but big time SMU teams will be premier college draw in North Texas.  

I never went there nor did anyone in my family but the football fanaticism of its fans matches everyone not in Baton Rouge or .south Bend.  The ACC will benefit greatly from the SMU membership.

[Mudhead]

As far as support ("market") for teams in Texas, at least in the 60s and 70s, it was where you and your buddies went to school, not what city you live in.  Then there's the factor about how far they go after graduation.  

Texas is filled with grads of UT-Austin and quite a few Texas Aggies.  SMU, U. of Houston, Rice, Texas Tech not so much.   College Station only has a population of 125,000 even now; Austin MSA 2.5M, DFW MSA 8.1M, Houston MSA 7.5M, San Antonio MSA 2.7M   (SF MSA 4.6M)

In my family, before any one went to any of the SWC schools, Texas was by far the biggest name athletic school, presumably because of news coverage in Houston in the early 60s.

Things may have changed in the last 50 years, but I think not.

At 52,000 students (Fall 2023), UT-Austin is still filling the state of Texas.  Texas A&M indicates they have 73,000 students.
At 12,000 students, SMU likely falls behind both UT-Austin AND Tx A&M in alumni in the DFW area (and Houston, and San Antonio, and Austin)

I agree with much of what you say. SMU is not going to replace Texas statewide. If Texas , or Texas A&M  for that matter, were an option for the ACC  they would have taken them. But they are not. SMU is a very good footprint , especially in the MetroPlex.  With the imprimatur of a Big 5 Conference, SMU can get back to its glory days.  Dickerson & James at SMU were as big as Texas . TV was not the same then as now, but big time SMU teams will be premier college draw in North Texas.  

I never went there nor did anyone in my family but the football fanaticism of its fans matches everyone not in Baton Rouge or .south Bend.  The ACC will benefit greatly from the SMU membership.