Big 12 Realignment: Remaining 10 Members Will Keep Conference Intact

It appears as though the impossible has happened.

ESPN has confirmed that both Texas and Texas A&M will remain in the Big 12 Conference, with the 10 member schools remaining meeting on Monday to work out a new TV deal.

It has also been confirmed by Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott that Texas turned down an offer to join the Pac-10, and it appears as though the Pac-10 expansion will now stop at 12.

The Big Ten, meanwhile, also looks like the expansion will stop at 12 teams.

There will be a news conference tomorrow morning, June 15, at 11 a.m. ET in Austin, as Texas plans to meet with the media and confirm the details of the remaining members of the Big 12 staying together.

This colossal news of the Longhorns staying put in the Big 12 is not only breaking news—it’s a life-saver for teams that appeared to soon be on the outside looking in (schools such as Kansas, Kansas State, and Baylor).

Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe’s financial deal—and apparent last-second ditch effort to save the conference—trumped the inevitable move of a handful of additional teams leaving the Big 12 for a Pac-16 superconference.

Those plans are now on hold, at least for the time being—and it really looks like much of the expansion talk of superconferences won’t be occurring anytime soon.

Then again, it’s hard to say in this modern era of constant chaos in college sports.

One thing is certain: The conference that everyone was calling dead looks to still have life.

And come tomorrow’s news conference in Austin, all those questions should be answered and confirmed.

Denton Ramsey may be reached via email at [e-mail]