Multiple sources throughout college athletics, when discussing on Saturday a Pacific 10 Conference raid of six schools from the Big 12, used the word “probable'' more than “possible.''

Those interviewed by The World-Herald expressed confidence that the Pac-10 was moving quickly to get in position to add Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Colorado.

That activity puts Nebraska directly in the middle of the national conference realignment scene.

The Austin American-Statesman, citing two sources from Big 12 schools, reported Saturday night that NU and Missouri have been given until Friday at 5 p.m. to declare whether they are with the Big 12 or will pursue a move to the Big Ten.

Coincidentally, the Nebraska Board of Regents is scheduled to meet Friday and Saturday in Lincoln.

Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe confirmed on Friday that a so-called drop-dead date for schools considering leaving had been established, but gave no other details. Nebraska Chancellor Harvey Perlman was mum upon leaving those meetings.

If Nebraska pursues a spot in the Big Ten, multiple sources said, the Pac-10 expansion will move forward and the Big 12 will crumble.

One unanswered question is whether the Huskers actually have an invitation to join the Big Ten, which has been exploring expansion since December. Another is whether NU wants the “responsibility'' of helping spark drastic change in the current conference lineup.

Sources from two conferences indicated that the Big Ten and Pac-10 “don't want to hurt each other'' in any realignment scenario because of those two leagues' close ties through the Rose Bowl.

The Pac-10, which is fifth among the six BCS conferences in TV revenue, apparently has research showing that it could go from about $55 million annually to about $240 million as the Pac-16.

The Big 12 currently nets about $80 million annually. The Big Ten gets about $260 million.

Contact the writer:

444-1024, lee.barfknecht@owh.com

« Sports - Big Red Today

Share