Era of the super conference might come sooner than later

Just when college football was settling into the changes brought by last year's conference shuffling, just when the Pac-12 logo started to feel familiar, and who's a Legend and who's a Leader almost made sense, the sport appears headed for significant upheaval.

The era of the super-conference might come sooner than expected. "It seems that's the direction the world is going. If it is, so be it," Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said Monday.

Oklahoma president David Boren said just before the season opener the Sooners would decide this month whether to leave the Big 12 for another conference. Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott said before Saturday's Oregon-LSU game that schools have reached out to his league recently.

One week into the season, Stoops and Texas coach Mack Brown didn't expect to be talking about conference re-alignment, and the future of the Big 12. Last summer, Texas and Oklahoma, along with Oklahoma State and Texas Tech, were poised to join the then-Pac-10 before the deal fell apart.

"At least I thought it was behind us for a year. I thought we'd at least get through the season," Stoops said Monday during the Big 12 coaches teleconference. "I guess I always felt at some point it would come back up. I'd have to say not this quick, though."

Said Brown: "I thought it was over for at least 10 years. … We were told last year we could join any league in the country we wanted to if it changed. We've been told we could go independent. So there's going to be something really good for Texas at the end of this."

Texas A&M kicked off the frenzy when the school formally announced its intention to leave the Big 12 last week. The Aggies are expected to apply for membership to the Southeastern Conference, perhaps as early as this week.

The Pac-12 could become the Pac-16 if Texas and Oklahoma go west and Texas Tech and Oklahoma State go along for the ride. If so, the rest of the Big 12 (Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State and Missouri) would be up for grabs.

If the Big 12 dissolves, the Big East is expected to explore expansion, considering models from 12 to 16 teams. The Big Ten has said it's quite happy for the moment, after adding Nebraska. The Atlantic Coast is keeping a low profile, hoping the storm passes and the SEC doesn't come knocking.

Given all the speculation, Kansas State coach Bill Snyder said he has spoken to his team about the possible situation, telling them to focus on what's most important, which is playing well on the field, and gave them a history lesson about how the Wildcats went from the Big 6 to the Big 8 to the Big 12.

"You can't afford to get caught up in the politics of what's taking place in our conference," Snyder said. "That's for somebody else."

Source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~r/UsatodaycomCollegeMensBasketball-TopStories/~3/RlSWU9T3rA4/1