Conference Realignment: A Texas-Size Decision Awaits The Pac-10, SEC

This week could hold the biggest decision in college football history. It not only affects numerous schools, but also the future of three different conferences.

After news broke last week that Texas A&M was considering going to the SEC and getting out from under the shadow of their perennial "big brother," the Texas Longhorns, the news got that much hotter this past weekend.

According to Chip Brown of Orangebloods.com , SEC commissioner Mike Slive was in College Station, Texas this past weekend to meet with officials from Texas A&M although school athletic director Bill Byrne was in Idaho.

It doesn't do anything but strengthen the rumors that the Aggies are more than willing to part with the four other schools (Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State) that are possibly headed to the Pac-10.

But before we book their tickets and help Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State pack their suitcases, Brown also reported that Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe was attempting to save the current 10-member conference.

According to reports, Beebe has apparently been working to prove to the departing schools that he can create a television agreement on par with the SEC which would bring in approximately $17M per school.

While that seems to be a big number, Beebe may have a hard time coming up with the proof in time. It seems that five more schools, after Nebraska and Colorado already departed the Big 12 last week, are ready to make their new homes in conferences other than the one they've made home for so long.

What might throw a huge wrench in this entire process is the fact that the SEC is not only wooing Texas A&M but they are apparently trying to talk Oklahoma into joining the Aggies in the SEC. But, according to last week's Tulsa World , Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione says he's committed to going where Texas goes.

With that big of knowledge being known, it seems that the SEC isn't going to land the Sooners.

The biggest piece of the puzzle is the Texas Longhorns. If the SEC wants Oklahoma, they are going to have to woo Texas into moving east, though it seems that Texas wants no part of going to the SEC. Most expect Texas, along with the three other schools, to announce sometime this week that they will become part of the new Pac-10 conference.

So, with Nebraska, Colorado, Texas, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State heading out of the Big 12 conference, it's going to take a miracle to save what's left of the conference which still holds Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, and Missouri.

Most are wondering if Dan Beebe will attempt to bring on another five to seven teams from other conferences to try and rebuild the Big 12. What Beebe won't be able to do, regardless of who he brings in, it will never be the Big 12 of the past.

Rumors that will begin to fly, once the announcement of departure is made from Texas and the other four schools to their new conferences, are the possible additions of teams like BYU, Utah, TCU, and possibly Air Force may be involved as well.

It makes sense if the Big 12 decides to try and rebuild but don't count out the fact that the Mountain West Conference may be expanding as well and would love to bring on the likes of Kansas and Kansas State, especially with their basketball programs.

There's no question that Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe is going to have to work twice as hard to hang on to the teams that will remain in the conference and try and rebuild. There's no question that Kansas, Kansas State, and possibly Missouri are going to be looking to go elsewhere and will undoubtedly be wooed by other conferences.

This week is going to bring about the biggest changes in college football history. This will not be the only big announcement we're yet to hear as the Big Ten has yet to make their biggest moves which may include bringing Notre Dame on board.

When the dust settles this week, the fallout will be talked about for weeks to come until all of the moves have been made and the new conferences have been formed.

What may not be known for at least the next few years is how the BCS will survive with the new conferences. Will the BCS be able to run the way it has over the past several years or is the conference realignment leading to something the majority of college football fans have wanted for years, a playoff system?

With the Pac-10, Big Ten, and SEC all expanding, not to mention the Mountain West, how many automatic BCS bids will be handed out and what happens to the automatic bid that the Big 12 has right now?

At this point, it seems only one thing is for sure and that's the defection of the seven schools headed to three different conferences. Other than that, there are a lot more moves that are about to be made and other teams deciding to start their future in other conferences.

College football has changed in a big way already. Only time will tell just how big this will really be.