Last month there was speculation about how Big Ten expansion could cause tectonic shifts across college sports. Apparently the Pac 10 got the message, because there is now a report that they're offering invitations to Texas, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Colorado, who would play in a division with Arizona and Arizona State. This would swell the Pac 10 to sixteen teams, making it the first mega-conference. Obviously, this changes everything. The Big Ten was planning on waiting through the summer, but they may have to act sooner rather than later before the feeding frenzy starts.
Will the Big 12 break up? Apparently Missouri and Nebraska are very serious about joining the Big Ten, even eager. Texas could go pretty much anywhere it wants, but would prefer to move with some of the other Big 12 teams to keep rivalries intact. Texas apparently is also looking in to starting a TV network of its own, which could complicate matters. As for the other teams, right now it sounds like they want to see what Texas does.
A few other issues:
- When are we going to see the SEC make a move? They can't be planning on just sitting back and watching this unfold.
- If the Pac 10 expands to 16 teams, does that the other major conference are going to try and get to that number?
- Notre Dame hasn't been interested in the Big Ten's offer. Are they starting to get nervous? Being independent is workable in the current landscape, but if mega-conferences are going to emerge in 2011 things will be much different.
- What are Kansas, KSU, Iowa State, and Baylor going to do if the rest of the conference abandons them?
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