*Note: All of this is subject to change in an instant as is the nature of the college football landscape at the moment.
The Latest:
Right as I was heading to bed, Andy Staples has the scoop. The Pac-12 is NOT expanding. Here's the statement he posted on his Facebook page:
PAC-12 AFFIRMS DECISION NOT TO EXPAND
WALNUT CREEK, Calif.– In light of the widespread speculation about potential scenarios for Conference re-alignment, the Pac-12 Presidents and Chancellors have affirmed their decision to remain a 12-team conference. Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott said, “after careful review we have determined that it is in the best interests of our member institutions, student-athletes and fans to remain a 12-team conference. While we have great respect for all of the institutions that have contacted us, and certain expansion proposals were financially attractive, we have a strong conference structure and culture of equality that we are committed to preserve. With new landmark TV agreements and plans to launch our innovative television networks, we are going to focus solely on these great assets, our strong heritage and the bright future in front of us.””
– Pac-12 –
We'll have more on this on the first closing door in the conference expansion game tomorrow.
While the Pac-12 closed its door on further expansion, the head honchos of Big East football met and pledged their undying love and affection for each other. Here's the official statement from the Big East website:
Our membership met this evening and we are committed as a conference to recruit top level BCS caliber institutions with strong athletic and academic histories and traditions. We have been approached by a number of such institutions and will pursue all of our options to make the BIG EAST Conference stronger than it has ever been in both basketball and football.
So the Pac-12 door closed but now the Big East door is wide open with TCU in hand. Their options? As was reported earlier, Navy and Air Force were in talks to join the league and ECU applied for membership again. I would throw the University of Central Florida into that pot as well. Its name has been thrown around in the past when it came to expanding the football side of the Big East. Again more on it all tomorrow.
Tentative plan for Mizzou to join SEC, Auburn would move to East, sources say > The Birmingham News
Just broke. We've heard this before, so take it with a grain of salt. If it's true, we should see decisions about the Big 12's future much faster than anticipated.
The Southeastern Conference and the University of Missouri have informally agreed that, barring new developments, the school will join the league and that Auburn University will move to the SEC East Division, according to two people familiar with the discussions.
A majority of presidents has endorsed the informal agreement, the sources said.
UPDATE: WVU Official says ACC, SEC Rejection is an "Outright Lie" > Scott Grayson > West Virginia Illustrated
WVi and Pete Thamel are both reporting WVU hasn't been rejected from the SEC or ACC. I'm with Thamel, though, not a chance WVU is admitted into the ACC.
Navy, Air Force and ECU all riding in on white horses to salvage the football league? Could be interesting.
Navy nearly to Big East before Pitt, SU exited > Brett McMurphy > CBSSports.com
Brett McMurphy, who reported earlier today WVU was turned down by both the ACC and SEC, says Navy was nearing admission to the Big East. Air Force was also in the mix to join. Also a nugget in there on tonight's Big East meeting.
However, with the Big East’s future now in limbo, it’s uncertain if Navy and/or Air Force will remain interested in joining either a Big East without Pitt and Syracuse or a merger of leftover teams from the Big East and Big 12 conferences. That is, in fact, if the Big 12 loses Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas Tech to the Pac-12.
…
Meanwhile, Tuesday night in New York, the league’s presidents and athletic directors from Cincinnati, UConn, Louisville, Rutgers, South Florida and West Virginia will meet with Big East commissioner John Marinatto to discuss the league’s future.
The meeting is for the league’s decision makers to gather face-to-face and see who wants to be a part of the Big East’s future.
“If they don’t want to be in the league, then they should make their intentions known and leave,” said one league official.
Source: Removal of Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe among OU's demands > Berry Tramel > The Oklahoman
Out on the plains, it looks like Oklahoma is going for a power play to keep the Big-12 together. Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman is reporting OU will keep the band together only if they get finger sandwiches in the dressing room! NO NEGOTIATIONS! Oh and they might want Big 12 comissioner Dan Bebee, among other things
After WVU is reportedly denied by both the ACC and SEC, Big East officials and football members will meet in New York City tonight to discuss the future of the conference. Villanova will wait in the lobby, still begging to play football.
How We Got Here:
Over the weekend there was an all points bulletin sent out to college football fans: Shots fired; Syracuse and Pitt to the ACC.
And just like that, everyone went running for safety.
The basketball conference that was supposedly about to be pillaged by the SEC decided it had enough and pulled the trigger and beat everyone to the pillaging. Since then, the chatter about who’s going where and who’s going to be left out of the new superconferences has been mind numbing. I’ve been keeping up with all this talk and have complied a list of links from yesterday and today about the shifting college football landscape.
First, though, before I go all doom and gloom, here's a knee-slapper:
A superconference? Obstacles remain for the Pac-12 > Pete Thamel > New York Times
Pac-12 expansion: The latest on Texas, revenue sharing and 16-team division alignment > Jon Wilner > Mercury News
OU, Texas authorized to act on Pac-12 > ESPN
There still seem to be big hurdles for Texas and Oklahoma to clear in their move west and who knows when it will happen. But, the boards of regents at both school approved the university presidents to act in the best interest in the university.
Oklahoma State regents sets meeting > ESPN
And Oklahoma State? It’ll follow Oklahoma to the ends of the earth.
Report: Mountain West Conference talking to TCU about staying put > Syracuse.com
Mountain West talking football merger with Conference USA > Brian Murphy > Idaho Statesman
Meanwhile, the Big East is on life support. The newest member, TCU, is probably second guessing its decision or at least trying not to hang itself. The Mountain West is outside of TCU’s window and just wants to talk.
UConn, Rutgers looking for new league > Len Robbins > New York Post
Sources: Big 12 mulling Big East Merger > ESPN
I think people rushing to assume the Big East is a sure-fire goner have to remember that the conference still has the coveted BCS bid and the keys to Madison Square Garden. Those are two valuable assets people are overlooking. With those two assets in mind, these teams that could be potentially out in the cold have considered aligning themselves into a brand new conference. Certainly worth keeping your options open.
ACC in MSG made Tranghese nauseous > Eamonn Brennan > College Basketball Nation Blog
Former Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese nearly yakked when he heard talk of the ACC invading MSG.
Red Alert > Rick Pitino > RickPitino.com
Rick Pitino compared Pitt and Syracuse’s move to the ACC to the Godfather.
Conference Realignment Poll > Baylor.edu
Baylor is releasing propaganda on superconferences.
West Virginia to the SEC makes no sense, won’t happen > Clay Travis > Outkick the Coverage
Yesterday, Clay Travis said there’s no way WVU would go to the SEC. Today he was right.
A truly sad weekend for the Big East > Dana O’Neil > ESPN
Dana O’Neil has a great read on the sliminess of all the conference shifting.
And during these times of headaches, bitching and moaning, and the awfulness surrounding it all, SI.com’s Andy Staples had some real talk for everyone:
