It was such a beautiful Friday morning in the great North that I decided to play a little hookie and take advantage of Michigan's greatest natural resource, the smallmouth bass. Fishing was phenomenal, but as always I couldn't help but think of what might be going on in the world of college football.
Once off the water and back in front of my laptop I did my daily ritual of scouring 100s (literally) of newspapers for stories. My feedreader was on overload. Not because of player suspensions or blown out knees, but because of more conference expansion talk.
We've largely ignored the talk as of late, as everyone seems to be posting a story just to grab a few eyeballs. Separating fact from fiction has become a blur.
But nonetheless, it was a huge day for conference expansion news. Going through all the news made my head spin. So I've recapped all the tidbits floating around on the World Wide Web so yours doesn't have to.
Conference Expansion Notes
- We'll start with the biggie. The Pac-10 may try to get the jump on rival Big Ten by extending offers to Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Colorado. Of course the center of the rumor is a new Pac-10 TV deal that would make everyone rich.
- Colorado athletic director Mike Bohn has only fueled the rumors by commenting that he believes they will receive an invite from the Pac-10.
- If the new deal goes through, the Big 12 transfers along with Arizona and Arizona State would form one of the divisions.
- There is email evidence that the Big Ten and Texas are at least talking. And in the same link, lawmakers in Texas may be trying to force Texas, Texas A&M AND Texas Tech as a package deal.
- Speaking of the Big Ten, Frank the Tank believes Nebraska is still "a lock to be invited to the Big Ten," but is less certain that Missouri is part of the plans. According to Tank, plan A targets are Texas, Nebraska and Notre Dame. If you haven't read Frank the Tank, I highly suggest doing so. He posts some of the most well thought out conference expansion blogs I've read yet.
- Berry Tramel of the Oklahoman says a Big 12 breakup all hinges on Nebraska and he believes Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe has told the Cornhuskers to make a choice.
- Big 12 athletic directors seem resigned to the fact that the Big 12 will be blown up. But Texas A&M might part ways from big brother Texas and head to the SEC.
- Fans from Kansas and Baylor are wondering 'why not us'? Here is why.
- SMU, TCU and Houston, along with the rest of the Big 12 scraps, could be part of could be part of a new Big 12. Don't get your hopes up...there will be no Big 12 if Texas leaves. The conference will implode.
- The SEC seems none too concerned about what the others are doing.