Note that this rumor from Kansas City was probably in response to Texas A&M;’s interest in the SEC.

KCTV5 in Kansas City is reporting multiple sources that as a result of the Texas and Texas A&M; meetings today, that both schools have opted to pursue the Big Ten. Such a move would not require Texas Tech and Baylor to make the move with them.

The same report claims that Oklahoma is pursuing the SEC. Makes sense. Apparently, the SEC would need a 14th school to join with Oklahoma.

But the report also claims that Oklahoma St. is set to accept a bid to the Pac-10. Which leads up to this: if the Pac-10 (now 11 with Colorado) were to expand to 12, why would they invite Oklahoma St., when the Pac-10 only had initial interest in Oklahoma St. in order to get Texas to accept. One could argue that either Utah or Kansas would be more appealing options for the 12th spot in the Pac-10.

Until something concrete materializes, the best bet is on:
1) Texas, Texas A&M;, Oklahoma, Oklahoma St. and Texas Tech being offered and accepting invitations to the Pac-10
2) The remaining 10 Big 12 members chose to remain together at 10 or expand to 12 from a pool of candidates such as BYU, Utah, TCU, Louisville, Memphis and others.

While this rumor seems like a longshot, it would leave a total of 6 schools in the Big 12, and enable them to retain their status as a conference. The group would likely seek members from the MWC, CUSA and perhaps the Big East as replacements.

If this rumor were to ever materialize, changes could look like:
SEC: Adds Oklahoma & Oklahoma St.
Big Ten: Adds Texas & Texas A&M;
Big 12: remaining members could add schools such as *
Kansas, Kansas St., Iowa St., Missouri, *Louisville, *Memphis
Baylor, Texas Tech, TCU, Houston, BYU, New Mexico

Let me stress again, this seems like nothing but a rumor…coming from the same city that claimed Nebraska, Notre Dame, Missouri, Rutgers and Syracuse were invited to the Big Ten last month.

I’m starting to think that the market that covers Kansas and Missouri athletics is just trying to make this realignment as difficult as possible with misinformation. That’s a joke.