Even as the Des Moines Register wonders where, if anyplace does Iowa State fit in, conference wise- it looks like there might be life in the Big 12 yet. Apparently Big 12 Commish Dan Beebe in what is probably the last best chance he's got to save both his job and his conference is telling Texas he can score them a better television deal. Texas is thinking hard- with Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State waiting for their marching orders.
This is in line with what I've been thinking for a few days now: money started this and money can grind this to a halt. Texas wants its own television network and this deal would allow for that- and if they bolt to a gargantuan Pac-16, they'll be one of many, as a posed to being the Big Boy on the Block in a slightly shrunken Big 12. Next week will clear things up for sure, but one floater out there that could keep this mess going: Texas A&M
The Aggies continue their flirtation with the SEC, who apparently wants them- and Oklahoma too. The Sooners appear to have made it clear that they're not going anywhere without Texas, which leaves an interesting scenario shaping up: the SEC taking A&M and someone big from the ACC. If the Big 10 moves to grab Maryland (better choice than Rutgers, in my opinion) then the ACC's likely targets would come from the Big East- probably Louisville and Syracuse. And then suddenly, the Big East is under threat and despite Notre Dame's insistence that they're staying put as an independent, some judicious raiding by other conferences into the Big East could change their minds. (Of course, if Texas and Company go to the Pac-10, then I think Notre Dame's options becoming even more narrow, because that will set off a mad grab for teams.)
So while the Pac-10 could grab Utah and stay at 12 and the Big 12 could stay at 10 or grab a couple of teams to get back up to 12, Big 10 Commish Jim Delaney is quite frankly emerging as an almost diabolical genius at this point: keeping virtually silent and letting the other conferences do his work for him.
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