Will Notre Dame Join Nebraska in Big Ten Expansion?

In a move that many felt was inevitable, Nebraska has reportedly decided to join the Big Ten Conference, becoming the 12th team in the conference.

Orangebloods.com reported that AD Tom Osborne has told the Nebraska coaches about the move and that it will take place within a few years.

Whether this leads to the potential death of the Big XII Conference is unknown, but the future of Nebraska seems clear pending an official announcement Friday.

But with the Huskers seemingly in the fold, the big question is who will be next if indeed the Big Ten looks to go beyond 12 teams?

Fanhouse.com reported Wednesday that Notre Dame and the Big Ten have had discussions about the Irish possibly giving up independent status to join the Big Ten.

If the Irish do indeed become team No. 13, that could give the Big Ten four (Ohio State and Michigan being the other two) of the most prestigious programs in college football, all in one conference.

While the chances are unlikely that Notre Dame will give up the independent status that the program has, the prestige that the Big Ten would carry with Nebraska and Notre Dame could put them, as a conference, on a level with the SEC.

But if nothing else, the past few days has taught us to expect the unexpected.

So maybe we will see Notre Dame football doing the once unthinkable act: joining a conference.

The thought of that a year ago would have been considered blasphemous, but now looks slightly more profound with the first expansion domino falling.

But it is still little surprise that the Big Ten, the conference that started the expansion craze and with the television contract to attract a lot of interest, seems to be the first to add to their product.

The question that will remain to be seen is whether or not the Big Ten will stop at 12?

If not, look at the Irish to be the favorite, as Missouri more and more seems unlikely to join the Big Ten.

But as it most likely stands, here could be the potential division of the Big Ten with Nebraska included:

Big Ten North: Wisconsin, Northwestern, Michigan, Michigan State, Iowa, Minnesota

Big Ten South: Purdue, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio State, Penn State, Nebraska