Colorado made its move. When will OU?
Friday at a noon press conference, Colorado will announce that it is leaving the Big 12 and joining the Pac-10, the Boulder Daily Camera is reporting. The Pac-10 has announced it, too.
Without Nebraska, and now Colorado, the chances of the Big 12 surviving are slim.
Now, the question is, when will Oklahoma, and the other four schools with Pac-10 invites make their moves.
Multiple sources told The Oklahoman last week that if Nebraska didn’t declare its allegiance to the Big 12, OU, OSU, Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech would jump to the Pac-10.
A source Wednesday told The Oklahoman the schools could announce next week that they have agreed in principle to join the Pac-10.
But first, the Big 12 schools in question must get on the same page, which is something that doesn’t look like it will happen until Monday, at the earliest.
According to SI.com, Texas A&M is mulling through overtures from the SEC, which could complicate the conference realignment process. Officials from Texas and Texas A&M are expected to meet today, to align their futures. Expect Texas to push Texas A&M to join the Pac-10.
Also at issue is whether OU, OSU, Texas, A&M and Tech will end up having to pay the buyout of about $10 million to leave the Big 12.
To avoid paying a buyout, nine schools would have to vote to dissolve the league. And with Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State and Baylor expected to vote against dissolution, the Oklahoma and Texas schools don’t seem to have the votes to avoid that expenditure.
That vote could take place Monday.
Either way, a mass exodus seems imminent, with the Monday deadline for the remaining Big 12 members to pledge allegiance to each other looming.
When that deadline passes, OU could be announcing it’s going to the Pac-10.
-JT
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