In bullet form because I'm tired.
- Conference expansion got underway Thursday morning when we learned Colorado is leaving the Big 12 for the Pac 10, likely beginning in 2012.
- The next bit of news will likely come Friday when Nebraska is expected to announce it's leaving the Big 12 for the Big Ten. The Nebraska Board of Regents will meet Friday and are expected to discuss and vote on the issue.
- Other Big 12 teams (Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech) are likely to follow Colorado to the Pac 10 to form a 16-team super conference as early as this weekend.
- However, those plans could go by the wayside if Texas A&M decides to instead bolt for the SEC. There are also rumors that Texas and A&M could go to the Big Ten, but I don't think those are very reliable.
- Finally, we get to the most outlandish, least reliable rumor of them all. We have reports that a Houston radio station is reporting (just let that sink in) that the Hokies and Texas A&M have "unconditional invitations" to join the SEC. The rumor was also reported on an Atlanta radio station.
Here are my thoughts: Don't blow throw away comments mentioning Virginia Tech as an SEC expansion candidate out of proportion. And take radio reports with a grain of salt. The SEC is mum on this issue and is going to remain mum probably until it's ready to make a move. Loose lips sink ships, just ask the Big 12.
If the SEC decides to expand, there's a fair chance it will look at Virginia Tech. However, I'm not completely convinced the SEC will expand and even more skeptical that it will expand to 16. Should it decide it's going to go to 16, then we can start seriously talking about whether or not the SEC is going to send an invitation and whether or not we should accept.
My opinion is that Virginia Tech should accept an SEC invitation because if we don't say yes, someone else from the ACC will. I want to be a part of the ACC as long as it stays together and stays strong. But if the SEC is going to invite as many as four teams, then the ACC would be a shell of its former self.
Oh, and in 24 hours everything I wrote above will likely be irrelevant.
UPDATE: What in the world? Here's some more links from around the ACC.
- Brandon Rink thinks the ACC should raid the SEC.
- For now, it doesn't look like Maryland is heading to the Big Ten.
- Carolina March says other BCS leagues may not be 16-team early adopters like the Pac 10.
- Brendan realizes this won't be the first (or last) seismic shift in college football.
