Colorado's Move Spells Huge Changes for Big 12

It seems odd that after weeks spent wondering what Texas, Nebraska and Missouri were going to do regarding the Big 12 that it was Colorado that fired the first shot in the realignment wars. But Colorado it was and their decision to accept entrance into the Pac-10 should get many more wheels rolling.

For at least a month, many a journalist has been talking about the demise of the Big 12 conference and who exactly should bare the blame for starting its downfall.

Originally it seemed like Missouri was going to be cast as the real villain, then it was Texas and finally, with heartfelt pleas from schools like Kansas and Iowa State, the villain’s role seemed to fall on Tom Osborne and the Cornhuskers.

Of course some will say Colorado only made the move because of the rumors of other teams splitting up the family and who is to blame really doesn’t matter anymore so much as when the next domino will fall.

Colorado’s move all but shoves Nebraska—which has issued so many denials and “no comments” you’d think someone was running for political office—firmly into the “we’re leaving” court.

Nebraska staying in a Big 12 that is now clearly collapsing would be suicide, both in regards to their stature in the college football world and in regards to their financial bottom line.

With rumors that most of the Big 12 South teams are poised to follow Colorado to the Pac-10, Nebraska seems to only have one move left to make.

The Regents will meet Friday afternoon to approve what should almost certainly be a rubber stamp of approval on the move, and Husker fans should expect an announcement no later than next Monday stating that Nebraska will be a member of the Big 10 come 2012.

It’s a move that would display a shrewdness Dr. Tom hasn’t shown when it comes to his basketball and baseball programs.

It’s a move that only makes sense when looking at the pros and cons.

But most of all it’s a move that was made a great deal easier with the announcement by a team that has long been a pain in the Cornhuskers backside.