Big Ten A.D.s say East-West split not a given

Under the Big Ten’s current football scheduling format, conference teams meet every other conference team at least six times in every eight-year span. Purdue Athletic Director Morgan Burke likes it that way. And he hopes the Big Ten can preserve something similar once Nebraska comes aboard in 2011. “I think the most important thing is that each Big Ten school needs to play each other on as much of a regular basis as possible,” Burke said. “You don’t want to have static groupings that limit the number of times people might play other teams in the league. I think that’s bad for the league.” Burke and others will soon get their chances to state opinions and float ideas about scheduling. Commissioner Jim Delany e-mailed Big Ten athletic directors this week to see when all could meet in Chicago — ideally before the July 4 weekend — to discuss how the league might split into divisions or craft schedules when it goes to 12 teams. “I think there are lots of different ways to do it,” Burke said, “and they’ve probably been put on every blog site that gives a darn about it.” – Omaha World-Herald

Report: Longhorns might commit to new Big 12 (10)

In a bombshell development that could bring a halt to seismic changes in college realignment, sources tell Orangebloods.com Texas is willing to come to the table with the 10 remaining Big 12 schools to see if there’s consensus for a plan put forth by commissioner Dan Beebe to hold the conference together. UT officials were expected to reach out to the other schools around the league on Monday to see if the Big 12 can be saved with 10 teams. Such a move would appear to at least put on hold a courtship between Texas and the Pac-10, which all but seemed solidified as of Friday when Nebraska announced it was heading to the Big Ten and Colorado had a press conference with its new commissioner - Larry Scott of the Pac-10. But as it became clear over the weekend that Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State appeared ready join the Pac-10 and Texas A&M appeared ready to join the SEC, Beebe was able to obtain assurances that a TV deal could be reached paying each of the 10 remaining members of the Big 12 between $14 million and $17 million. Under Beebe’s plan, schools would also be able to explore their own distribution platforms, including networks. Texas would not be able to pursue those options in the Pac-10, which is planning to launch a conference network in 2012 and would require schools to turn over all of their inventory. The big question now is if Texas A&M, which, according to Orangebloods.com, has the votes on its nine-member Board of Regents to join the Southeastern Conference, would reconsider a possible move to the SEC and remain in the Big 12 with its long-time, in-state rival. – Orangebloods.com

Aggies likely headed to SEC; OU next?

Multiple sources tell Orangebloods.com that Texas A&M has enough votes on its nine-member Board of Regents to join the Southeastern Conference and could announce that move as early as next week.A source close to the situation said A&M has an invitation from the SEC if it wants it. SEC commissioner Mike Slive was in College Station on Saturday meeting with A&M officials, according to sources, although A&M athletic director Bill Byrne was in Idaho. The sources said the A&M regents who favor the move to the SEC outnumber those who favor staying with longtime rival Texas in a move to the Pac-10… According to sources, SEC commissioner Mike Slive and A&M are working feverishly to convince Oklahoma to join the SEC with the Aggies rather than follow Texas to the Pac-10. There is speculation among a few schools in the Big 12 that if OU had to choose between the Pac-10 and SEC, it would choose the SEC. But sources close to OU say, up to this point, the Sooners have made a decision to go with Texas and not break up one of college football’s most unique rivalries. – Orangebloods.com

Nebraska joins Big Ten

Nebraska has officially accepted an invitation to join the Big Ten Conference, The World-Herald learned early Friday afternoon. Two sources from conference offices said that Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany contacted BIg 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe on Friday morning to inform Beebe that Delany had officially invited Nebraska to join. A source with direct knowledge of the situation said Nebraska accepted. – Omaha World-Herald

Strong Ramifications for Aggies if move made to SEC

Two sources told me late Thursday afternoon that it has been expressed to the Aggies that a move to the SEC would be viewed as an athletics act of war because it is important to the other schools involved to keep the SEC out of this state as a major presence - both in recruiting and in terms of market reach. Although there haven’t been any hard line threats, there’s a feeling from all of the schools from the Big 12 South that A&M would become dead to them as an athletics partner and it’s very likely that they wouldn’t be scheduled by Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State in any sport… for a very, very long time. When we talk about the loss of tradition in this move for A&M, we’re not talking about the school song or the bonfire. We’re talking about the ability to pursue any existing competition in any sport - not in football, basketball, baseball, poker, lawn darts… nothing. No more Lone Star State Showdown. Also, my sources indicate that this is not a UT-led initiative and that all of the schools are in firm agreement that an A&M move to the SEC would need to be met with pretty stiff repercussions. The bottom line is that there will be a lot of political jostling over the course of the next few days and into early next week. Look for the other four schools to sit back, watch and wait for Texas A&M to figure out who they are. Texas wants A&M sitting shotgun on the ride to the Pac-10. If A&M wants out of the car, they won’t be let back in. – Orangebloods.com

Longhorns, Aggies eyeing SEC?

As the roulette wheel of bigtime college athletics continues to spin, a pair of Texas teams will assess its options. Athletic Directors DeLoss Dodds of Texas and Bill Byrne of Texas A&M will gather to discuss their departments’ futures in light of Nebraska’s all-but-announced move to the Big Ten, according to a source from UT with direct knowledge of the event. Administrators and coaches at Texas and A&M recently have said that the Big 12 would dissolve without Nebraska as at least five Big 12 South schools and either Baylor or Colorado would seek a new home. The Pacific 10 has offered to take six teams, though administrators at two Big 12 schools have said the Longhorns and Aggies might talk with the Southeastern Conference. – Omaha World-Herald

Texas A&M to join Pac-10 or… SEC?

A source confirmed to SI.com late Wednesday that emissaries from the SEC initiated discussions with Texas A&M athletic director Bill Byrne months ago, and while the SEC is just one of several potential options for the Aggies, it remains an option heading into Thursday’s meeting between Texas A&M and Texas officials. At the meeting, power brokers from both schools will discuss a last-ditch effort to save the Big 12, even if Nebraska’s Board of Regents votes Friday to leave for the Big Ten. “It’s on life support,” the source said of the Big 12. “But people have come off life support before.” Officials also will discuss a potential invitation from the Pac-10 that also would include four other Big 12 schools. Presumably, they also will discuss the SEC’s talks with Texas A&M. What is unclear, however, is which other school or schools the SEC might also be interested in to keep an even number should it decide to expand. – SI.com

Colorado accepts invitation to join Pac-10

The Colorado Buffaloes have bolted from the Big 12, accepting an invitation Thursday to become the 11th member of the Pac-10 Conference. It’s the first expansion of the league since it added Arizona and Arizona State in 1978. More teams could follow Colorado from the Big 12 to the Pac-10. Reports say Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State could accept invitations soon. – AP

SEC official: ‘We’re in the driver’s seat’

While talk of expansion ripples through conference meetings, the SEC is less interested in tinkering with what it believes isn’t broken. There has been a lot of chatter, but no action, at the SEC meetings about the hot-button issue of conference expansion. And that’s just fine with University of Georgia President Michael Adams, who believes the SEC and its commissioner, Mike Slive, should move slowly — if at all — on the expansion front. “I’m not paying a whole lot of attention to it, and I advised the commissioner the same,” Adams said Wednesday. “I think we’re in the driver’s seat. We’ve got the strongest conference field in America, and the only reason that we would ever need to do anything would be if there was an arrangement that brought additional strength.” – Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Arkansas AD: Razorbacks’ Best “Fit” Is SEC

Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long has a message for outsiders who believe the Razorbacks should consider leaving the Southeastern Conference for the Big 12 because it would be better, geographically, for the program. “It’s our decision where we fit,” Long said. There’s no doubt in his mind it’s the SEC. Long weighed in on expansion talk — which has included rumblings about the Razorbacks’ plans if a spot opened up in the Big 12 — during an interview Monday. Previously, Long has stated Arkansas had millions of reasons, financially, to remain in the SEC. He maintained his stance. Long said it wouldn’t make sense for the Razorbacks to leave the riches of a league oozing with exposure and loaded with financial stability. “I think that’s a very uninformed view that we would naturally fit better in the Big 12 region,” Long said. “Certainly the SEC is the strongest conference top to bottom. Not only financially, but competitively. And our conference is a conference of strength. Not one that would be subject to losing members and such.” – Arkansas News

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