Conference Realignment: Big 12's Move to Pac-10 Is Imminent

Despite last-minute efforts by Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe to keep the remaining 10 teams of the Big 12 together, sources say that the moves of Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State to the Pac-10 are imminent.

ESPN's Joe Schad reported earlier today that a source said the savior plan for the Big 12 has "zero" chance of succeeding, while another source says that it is "very unlikely" to succeed.

Meanwhile Orangebloods.com's Chip Brown is on the opposition, stating that his sources tell him that the Texas schools are now leaning towards staying in the Big 12 conference, with the remaining 10 members.

Dan Beebe's desperate plan included a plea to preserve historic rivalries and a promise of $17 million for each school in the conference's next TV deal in 2011, matching what the Southeastern Conference pays out.

This all happened while Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott was touring Texas and Oklahoma schools this past weekend. Although A&M reports they are leaving all options on the table, they are likely headed to the SEC, breaking 100 years of tradition with rival University of Texas.

With the departure of Colorado to the Pac-10, Nebraska to the Big Ten, and now the Aggies more than likely heading to the Southeastern Conference, the TV deal and rivalries spoken about by Beebe seem almost irrelevant to a diminishing Big 12.

Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin has it right, stating "With the departure of the two universities from the conference last week, the Big 12 is certainly not what it was."

Although Colorado was not necessarily a huge loss to the conference, Nebraska was.

Remaining Big 12 schools are likely in the same mindset as Loftin: The conference has already lost members and why not join a sure thing with the Pac-10 or the SEC in A&M's case.

Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State would join the Pac-10 to make a 15-team conference. Texas A&M was originally part of the expansion plan for Larry Scott before their interest in the SEC arose. There may be a slim chance of A&M bolting for the Pac-10, but a search is being conducted for a possible 16th team by the conference.

Reports from Orangebloods.com stated that Scott reportedly made a trip to Kansas City over the weekend as well, possibly meeting with Kansas officials in regards to filling the last spot in the expanding conference.

The University of Texas Board of Regents is meeting Tuesday morning to officially announce its decision about the move to the Pac-10. Of course, anything can happen when it comes to conference realignment, and Tuesday will confirm this.

Sources: ESPN, Orangebloods.com