The Death of the Big 12

The off season drama of the NCAA realignment just got more interesting as ESPN is reporting that the University of Nebraska’s Board of Regents has approved a move of the school from their current conference, the Big 12, to the more profitable Big Ten Conference. Nebraska never seemed to be happy after the Big 8 became the Big 12 and a lot of their thunder was stolen by Texas and the new schools from the remaining Southwest Conference.

The rumblings and rumors of a huge conference switch has been in the air for months as reports have surfaced about the Pac-10 and Big Ten looking to add new members.  The Big 12 has taken a huge hit as most critics point to that conference being dismantled to build up their rivals.

The big schools of the Big 12 are expected to be formally invited to the either the Pac-10 or Big Ten this week.  The news that Nebraska has already approved a venture with the Big Ten leaves the Pac-10 reaching for Texas and 5 other schools to create the anticipated Pac-16 Conference.

I would anticipate a few other schools like Missouri jumping to the Big Ten before this is all done to help them get to the magic 16 team conference.  If the Pac-10 is able to draw out the 6 teams it desires it would all but dismantle the Big 12.

A Big 12 football coach, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told ESPN.com’s Mark Schlabach on Wednesday night that if Nebraska left the Big 12 the conference would dissolve, according to his athletics director and university president. The coach said Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Colorado would join the Pac-10, leaving Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri and Iowa State behind.

“Nebraska is the key,” the coach said.

The coach said the Pac-10 favored Colorado over Baylor because of the Buffaloes’ presence in the Denver TV market. [via]