The PAC 10 expansion groundswell

[myboynoah]

Interesting vote over on ESPN.com:

ESPN.com Poll Results by State

Kansas and New Hampshire are the only strong hold outs. The Dakotas and Rhode Island are toss ups. The Nebraska voting is telling.

Now even Kansas is waivering. Finally, acceptance.

[myboynoah]

If Utah wants to go to the Pac-whatever, I guess there is still hope that Texas will opt out and stay in the Big 12. After getting the whole country all worked up they could just say "never mind." That is a possibility.

See, there's still hope for Utah to a Pac-12.

LA Times: Pac-10 poised to become 16-team conference

Even if Texas and others decide to stay in the Big 12, the Pac-10 would still make a move to expand by two schools, sources said, with Colorado being the No. 1 target.

[myboynoah]

More reason for hope:

Scramble to Save Big 12

Officials from Texas and Texas A&M will meet Thursday morning in Austin in a last-ditch effort to save the Big 12 Conference. The regents, presidents and athletic officials from the universities are scheduled to meet with the hope of figuring out how to keep the conference together now that the departures of Nebraska and Colorado appear imminent.

- - - - - -

In a telephone interview Wednesday evening, Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe said there was “nothing official” to report on Nebraska. He said there had been a lot of misinformation throughout the months of rumblings of conference realignment and said there was a will within the conference to remain together.

“I think there’s a strong, strong interest to ensure that the Big 12 exists, regardless of any kind of possible departures,” Beebe said.

- - - - - -

“I think people realize that there’s something still viable, whether it remains at 11 or 10 or we look to expand back to 12 to keep this going,” a third Big 12 athletic director said. “We have a lot of equity and prestige and competitive balance.”

Beebe said that he was doing everything he could to save the league.

“It’s certainly been the most challenging time of my career,” he said. “Whatever occurs and hopefully it will be a good result, I will have wanted to have left it all on the field. There’s no stone left unturned or bullet in the chamber. I’m doing everything that I can.”

[USUC]

I am not completely convinced Utah is out of the picture for the PAC-10. But its chances are looking less and less likely. This article on ESPN says that the PAC-10 doesn't like a championship game and those in the Big 12 hate the championship game they have to play. So it crowns a champion for each of the two divisions and lobbies to have two BCS bowl berths.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=5270048

If they get a BCS berth for each division, the Big 10 goes to 16 as well and asks for two spots in the BCS. So does the SEC. And on it goes... the MWC still doesn't get an automatic BCS berth.

[BlueHair]

I am not completely convinced Utah is out of the picture for the PAC-10. But its chances are looking less and less likely. This article on ESPN says that the PAC-10 doesn't like a championship game and those in the Big 12 hate the championship game they have to play. So it crowns a champion for each of the two divisions and lobbies to have two BCS bowl berths.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=5270048

If they get a BCS berth for each division, the Big 10 goes to 16 as well and asks for two spots in the BCS. So does the SEC. And on it goes... the MWC still doesn't get an automatic BCS berth.

Wow. The only plus of this whole thing would be the championship game. Take that away and this really would be a bummer.

[myboynoah]

Wilner notes Utah could still be in the picture, but takes a swipe at SLC .

Pac-10 expansion: Colorado reportedly receives invite while five others, including Texas, to be invited soon

[Pheidippides]

The Longhorn fans I work with are convinced that the Big 12 is no more. I haven't talked with them in about a week (as I'm on vacation) but I tend to agree, after reading this story.

FTR, I don't think Utah gets an invite to the Pac-10. Obviously BYU doesn't get an invite to a dissolving Big 12. I could see some of the lesser Big 12 powers coming over to the MWC, though, at least if they can't get into the Big 10. This is also what the Texas fans referred to above (who are quite knowledgeable about college football generally) think.

[Surfah]

I am not completely convinced Utah is out of the picture for the PAC-10. But its chances are looking less and less likely. This article on ESPN says that the PAC-10 doesn't like a championship game and those in the Big 12 hate the championship game they have to play. So it crowns a champion for each of the two divisions and lobbies to have two BCS bowl berths.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=5270048

If they get a BCS berth for each division, the Big 10 goes to 16 as well and asks for two spots in the BCS. So does the SEC. And on it goes... the MWC still doesn't get an automatic BCS berth.

Could they do that? I can't see the NCAA allowing that. This scenario is also begging for congressional intervention.

[myboynoah]

Could they do that? I can't see the NCAA allowing that. This scenario is also begging for congressional intervention.

I guess the BCS can do what it wants. The new Pac-16 would just need to convince the other BCS conferences to give it two seats at the table. Or am I missing something here?

[Coach McGuirk]

I guess the BCS can do what it wants. The new Pac-16 would just need to convince the other BCS conferences to give it two seats at the table. Or am I missing something here?

To me, if the BCS just up and change its bylaws, then that has Sherman Anti-Trust Act written all over it.

[SteelBlue]

SU, you're going to like Chip Browns latest tweet:

Nebraska and Texas officials are denying what Orangebloods.com is reporting. Let's see how it plays out. I like our chances.

I don't know what that last sentence means.

[myboynoah]

SU, you're going to like Chip Browns latest tweet:




I don't know what that last sentence means.

What are they denying?

[SteelBlue]

What are they denying?

I have no idea. I think Chip has been drinking. I'm assuming he's referring to reports that Nebraska will bolt on Fri and that the Pac-10 will invite the 12- South and CU.

[SeattleUte]

Why not a Pac 17? Add the Utes to either division.

[myboynoah]

I have no idea. I think Chip has been drinking.

Or exhausted. His 15 minutes have gone on for almost 96 straight hours now.