The rumors and anonymous source-filled reports have remained rampant and relentless, but we’re starting to get closer and closer to a clear understanding of Nebraska’s role in what appears to be imminent, major changes in conference alignments.
And it’s starting to look like Nebraska’s role in such a revolution could be a significant one.
Various reports have declared that Nebraska and Missouri are key cogs in the master scheme of Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-10 conference realignment – and more importantly, they’re on a deadline.
An Austin American Statesman story on Saturday reported that NU and Mizzou have until 5 p.m. Friday to declare their plans – either to join the Big Ten or stay in the Big 12.
If the Big 12 retains those two schools, it would have a far better chance at keeping the conference intact. If not, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas
A&M, Texas Tech and Colorado would be more likely to opt for joining the Pac-10 Conference.
Those six schools would play in a division with Arizona and Arizona State, though Texas lawmakers have vowed to fight so that Baylor nabs Colorado’s spot in the possible 16-team conference.
How interested is Nebraska in an invite to the Big Ten? It’s hard to say at this point, and there haven’t been any official reports that NU even has an offer on the table from the conference.
Orangebloods.com, the Texas Longhorns site that’s part of the Rivals.com network, has reported that Missouri is eagerly hoping for an invite to the Big Ten, but others have also reported that it’s possible the Big 12 could survive if only Missouri leaves.
At the end of last week’s Big 12 meetings in Kansas City, Mo., Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe confirmed that a process has been established for member schools to commit to staying in the conference, but he declined to declare what the deadline is for schools.
“I’m not going to be at liberty to talk about what the time frame is,” Beebe told reporters. “But I’m comfortable where (Big 12 presidents and chancellors) came out in terms of a process.”
NU athletic director Tom Osborne did meet with Husker athletic department staff and coaches on Friday morning to share the latest realignment developments, but he and UNL chancellor Harvey Perlman have repeatedly declined to publicly comment on their plan for Nebraska’s athletic future.
If reports of a Friday afternoon deadline are accurate, though, it would coincide with Nebraska’s Board of Regents meeting, which is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. at Varner Hall on East Campus.
The Daily Nebraskan will provide live updates from that meeting at dailynebraskan.com on Friday in the event conference expansion is indeed discussed.