Orangebloods.com, the Rivals site for the University of Texas, reports today that the Longhorns have been convinced by Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe to salvage the conference. Texas has appeared headed to the Pac-10 with most of the Big 12 South. The site said Texas officials are expected to announce as early as today the school's plan to remain in the Big 12, or whatever you'd call it now with 10 teams instead of 12.Then again, ESPN.com reports today the departure of Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State to the Pac-10 is imminent. One source told ESPN.com that Beebe's plan to save the Big 12 has "zero" chance to succeed.
So depending on your preferred choice of reading this morning, Texas is either committed to staying in the Big 12 or already out the door. That nicely sums up the rapid-fire progression of this ongoing expansion saga.
Could politics be involved in this? Absolutely. An announcement, or suggestion, by Texas that it's staying would presumably place the onus on Texas A&M. Do the Aggies jump to the SEC, or keep their roughly 100-year-old rivalry with Texas by staying in the Big 12? The Birmingham News previously reported that Texas A&M has the necessary votes from its board of regents to join the SEC.
Orangebloods.com suggests that if Texas A&M leaves for the SEC, it will trigger an exodus West for the Pac-10 by Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and possibly Kansas. If the Big 12 doesn't dissolve, the Pac-10 might simply add Utah and the seismic changes expected in conference realignment could subside, at least for now.
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