Really, it is. Last year the Governer of Missouri said something to the effect of, "Missouri is well suited for the Big 10 conference". Big 12 people got all huffy about it. Personally I don't see what the Big 10 would want with Missouri. They already have Northwestern and Indiana to play mediocre football. They won't be able to hang in basketball either with Mich. St, Ohio St., Indiana, and even Purdue recently. But they did start this whole realignment thing.
Once they came out with that, the Big 10 thought, "well...maybe, I guess,...but we do really like Nebraska." And who wouldn't. And they definitely fit in with the Big 10's style of play in football. But when that happened, it left the rest of the Big 12 wondering. What are we going to do if they actually do leave ? Keep a 10 team conference? Add a couple new teams like TCU or Utah? Look for other options?
Teams like OU and Texas started looking into backup plans. Both teams, especially Texas, had developed ideas for their own TV network to generate more revenue. But then the Pac 10 started coming into the picture. Obviously interested in teams like OU and Texas, and knowing they wouldn't be going anywhere without OSU and A&M, the Pac 10 crunched some numbers. More television markets? Probably a conference TV deal? Recruiting door into Texas? Yes, please.
So here we are a year later. Reports are out today that Nebraska will be offered and accept an invitation to the Big 10, possibly as soon as tomorrow or Friday. Ironically Missouri has not been offered an invite. At least not yet. The Big 10 is looking hard at Notre Dame, Rutgers, and a couple others maybe. And now the first super-conference seems to be almost a certainty. The Pac 10 looks like it will invite 6 Big 12 teams and form a 16 team conference. Pac 16? I don't like the name but the scenario has grown on me. I heard someone say the Big Pac. Has a nice ring. Anyway, I like the idea. And its definitely a beneficial move for all the teams involved. Already mentioned the money and recruiting for the West schools, but also the Big 12 schools will now have a lot more exposure in California, which is huge for recruiting.
I've heard this could all start as soon as 2011! Thats pretty quick moving for a deal this size. Who knows how else this will affect other conferences in the coming months or years. The SEC will need to do something to keep up. I would say adding the other Florida schools would be a good start (Miami and FSU).
West coast here we come! Boomer!
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