Big Ten Expansion Conspiracy Theory #2,365,982

...the return of the Big 8?

OK: so, rumor is that the Pac-10 wants to merge with the Big 12 South to create a new 16 team mega-conference that would be called, well, I don't know what. More rumor is that Nebraska and Mizzou are heading to the Big 10 (though the Big 12 has given them a deadline to say what the heck they're gonna do) so are we looking at the re-emergence of the Big 8?

I'm pondering this because when it comes to expansion, the Big 10 hasn't been all that daring usually. There are occasional rumors, the once a decade offer to Notre Dame that gets shot down and it makes me wonder, given the distinct silence and the predicted 12-18 month timeline for final decision on expansion, whether predictions of a 5 team grab to get the Big 10 to 16 may be wildly off course. What if they did what TheQuietMan wants and just take 3? Notre Dame, Mizzou and Nebraska.

The Pac-10 gobbles up Texas, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Colorado and what is the Big 12 left with? Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State and Baylor. Four teams. Add TCU, Boise State, Utah and BYU and suddenly you have the Big 8 again.

Just a random thought...