Nebraska and Texas Hold Future of College Athletics in Their Hands, Conferencesplosion Likely to Get Even Messier [UPDATE: Colorado Buffs Accept Pac-10 Invitation]

Everyday a new report surfaces stating what timetable the Big Ten and Pac-10 are following in their expansion pursuits. It appears as if the day has finally arrived, though. Multiple sources (Chicago Tribune, Orangebloods.com) are labeling Nebraska's move to the Big Ten virtually finalized. The Lawrence Journal-World has learned that "It's a done deal." With NU out the door, those six teams who were invited to join the Pac-10 are now probably headed in that direction. Assuming of course that Texas is convinced enough, after Nebraska's departure, to head out west. And this is where things get even more complicated.

After the Nebraska "done deal" stories came out late Wednesday, the Pac-16 was beginning to look like a done deal, with Colorado reportedly already being offered an invitation, according to ESPN. [UPDATE: CU is gone to the Pac-10, formal announcement coming at 11 local time in Boulder.] Per the World Wide Leader, Pac-10 officials prefer CU over Baylor due to its presence in the Denver market. No brainer there. The same report claims that despite being split into two divisions, the newly formed behemoth would like to have both division champions receive automatic BCS bids, instead of staging a conference championship game. So, not only would teams from opposite divisions rarely play each other during the regular season, but they wouldn't even meet to decide who's heading to Pasadena?

Part of the Pac-16 deal is obviously to bring along Texas A&M. Unless of course the SEC has anything to say about it. Sports Illustrated's Andy Staples says that SEC officials reached out to A&M "months ago" regarding a potential move east. Officials from both Texas schools are scheduled to meet today to discuss all the possibilities. The Aggies could simply be trying to hold on the Big 12, sans Nebraska, and be using this supposed SEC invitation as leverage. From a competitive standpoint a move east doesn't make much sense for the boys in College Station, but the SEC would love to have a team in Texas not only for an expansion to its wallet, but for its recruiting hotbed as well. Or, if this is real, would Texas consider joining the SEC as well? Doubtful. It's one thing to have to compete with USC, but adding Florida, LSU, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and/or Auburn to your schedule is a whole different animal.

Let's assume Nebraska accepts a bid to join the Big Ten and the Pac-16 goes on as planned (none of this would actually take place on the field for at least two more years, making for a presumably awkward period from here until then). Later on, the Big Ten could arrive at 14, or 16, (and demand two BCS bids) teams with the likes of Missouri, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, and/or Rutgers as possible additions, but unless something radical happens over the next 24 hours or so, it will take place in gradual steps over the next few years.

For now, Mizzou would be left out of both expansion scenarios. They would most definitely hold out for as long as possible in hopes of getting invited to the Big Ten. There's also already a rumor floating around that of the actual leftovers, Kansas and Kansas State could receive some consideration from the Big East. That's assuming, the Big Ten or the ACC (in a reactionary last-ditch effort) don't completely dismantle the conference. As for Iowa State and Baylor, welcome to Conference USA.

The most interesting thing about all of this, though, is that the SEC wouldn't really need to expand in any of these scenarios. In terms of adding large television markets the only teams that would make sense are Texas and/or Texas A&M. But that doesn't seem as likely. Florida State would be stupid to leave the ACC and Clemson, Georgia Tech, and Miami don't seem to be worth the trouble. Regardless, though, the most successful conference in football wouldn't stand idle as the rest of the world changes around it.

So by 2016 we could be looking at 14-16 team conferences in the Pac-10, Big 10, SEC, and ACC. Or of course, there's a chance today's meetings down in the Lone Star State lead to the survival of the Big 12. In which case, Colorado and Utah might be the only teams joining the Pac-10 and the Mountain West and/or Conference USA might get raided in order to fill out the Big 12.

I'm going to go take an Advil.

[Image: Getty]