Poll: Who should get the Big Ten expansion invite?

With a newly "accelerated" timetable for expanding the Big Ten, let's dip back into the waters of prognostication. Tell us who you think should get an invitation to join the Big Ten? (note: if you choose "other" be sure to give us your thoughts in the comments)

When the Big Ten sends out expansion invitations, which schools would you most like to see on the list?

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Big Ten Expansion Doomsday Clock is banking on Notre Dame

Who would have thought the Pac-10 would be the catalyst for Big Ten expansion, while the Big 12 would actually destroy itself in the process?

But that's exactly what we got today.

The Big 12 issued an ultimatum to Nebraska and Missouri--both have been very receptive to Big Ten overtures--demanding the two schools let conference officials know their plans for the future (i.e. Are they going, or not?).

Farther west, the Pac-10 took the mediasphere (Just made up that term. Like it?) by storm, with its leaked intentions to invite six Big 12 programs: Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and either Colorado or Baylor.

Chip Brown of OrangeBloods.com has been "the guy" today when it comes to scooping the world. He's been on top of everything before it even happens, including the most recent word that the Big Ten will work on Notre Dame first, even before dealing with Nebraska and Missouri.

Chicago-based Teddy Greenstein of the Tribune also tweeted earlier today that the Big Ten expansion schedule, according to Jim Delany, "could be affected."

So we've heard from the Pac-10, the Big 12, aaand the Big Ten, all in one 24-hour span. This is no longer rumor. It's suddenly shifted to serious discussion, and action, by conference officials. College football appears to be heading for a seismic shift. But the biggest question remains: When?

No one knows. We could see it happen tomorrow. It could be another two weeks. But it will happen, soon.

The time is now:

11:58:30

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Clock History

Day	Change	Time	'Till Midnight	Reason
May 10	0	11:45	15 min.	Initial setting of Big Ten Expansion “Doomsday” clock
May 10	+11	11:56	4 min.	Sports Radio 810 WHB reports Big Ten has extended initial invitations to Nebraska, Missouri, Rutgers, and Notre Dame
May 11	-3	11:53	7 min.	Jim Delany enters full-scale denial mode about Sports Radio 810 WHB report
May 19	-3	11:50	10 min.	Jim Delany, says expansion plans are still 12-18 months away
June 3	+4	11:54	6 min.	Rivals reports the Pac 10 will invite six Big XII teams
June 6	+4:30	11:58:30	1 min 30 sec	Nebraska, Mizzou given ultimatum by Big 12; Pac-10 continues with plans to get Big 12 South teams to join.

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Big XII continues march to self-destruction; Nebraska, Mizzou given Ultimatum

Will Nebraska jump ship? The Pac-10 and Big XII are now in an all-out war over expansion. And the Big Ten is, surprising, not directly in the middle of it. (photo: Huskers.com)

Just as we all started to recover from the Pac-10/Big XII expansion news, another salvo was fired by the Big XII, which is quickly growing into the most dysfunctional conference in college football.

Bitter, much?

"Nebraska and Missouri have been given an ultimatum by the Big 12 and told they have until this Friday to decide if they want to remain in the conference or entertain the possibility of joining the Big Ten, two highly placed officials of two Big 12 schools have told the Statesman."

Lately, the Big XII has been squirming like a three year old at church, so it's not surprising that this kind of story is developing. However, I have to believe that this could in fact hasten the demise of the Big XII.

“I’ve talked to the Pac-10,” said the Big 12 school administrator, who expected the speculation involving the Big 12 to be resolved within two weeks. “There is an invitation. When it comes, it’ll come fast.” One Pac-10 athletic director told the Statesman on Saturday, “There’s still a lot that has to happen. It’s nowhere near done. At this point, we have not been presented any definite plans. Said another political figure heavily connected to Texas, “I know the war drums are beating. This is way beyond gossip.”

Not so fast, my friend. Chip Brown, now approaching legendary status for his reporting on this story for Orangebloods.com, tweeted today that "Pac-10 commish Larry Scott today will recommend six-team, Big 12 expansion to league presidents and chancellors."

But that's not all, folks. The Pac-10 won't only go for six Big XII teams, but it's also going for a knock out punch. A follow-up tweet from Brown indicated "Pac-10 commish Larry Scott will also recommend a 16-team conference network that projects to pay $20 million per school."

That's basically a big'ole "suck it" to the Big Ten and Big XII. For the Big Ten, this takes all the air out of our home conference's sails. Jim Delaney & Co. was in the biggest spotlight for months now. To the Big XII, this move suggests the Pac-10 is not about to be left behind in this march toward expansion. And if that means the Big XII gets destroyed, well, that's just a casualty of war.

I'll be very interested to see what the Big Ten "officials" have to say to the media this week, if anything at all. You would think they will say something, particularly since Nebraska and Missouri were the earliest speculated invitees to the Big Ten.

What if Nebraska and/or Missouri say "good riddance" to the Big XII? Would they be left without a conference, if the Big Ten doesn't jump on them? Does this open up a chance for the Big Ten to have two teams basically locked in, with the momentum to grab a Rutgers, Pitt, or (dum-dum-dum!) Notre Dame?

Hang on, folks!

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Big Ten extends 'initial offers' to four teams; Delany denies it's true (updated)

Will Penn State renew an old rivalry with Nebraska? If the latest news is true, the Huskers are just one of four teams invited to join the Big Ten. (Photo: GoPSUSports.com)

No sooner do we break out our Big Ten Expansion Doomsday Clock, that a weeks-long dry spell in the conference expansion storyline comes crashing to an end. Get ready, folks, this one sounds serious.

Sports Radio 810 WHB in Kansas City is reporting today that the Big Ten has extended initial invitations to Nebraska, Missouri, Rutgers, and Notre Dame to join the conference.

"While nothing can be approved until the Big Ten presidents and chancellors meet the first week of June in Chicago, the league has informed the two Big 12 schools, Notre Dame and Rutgers that it would like to have them join. It is not yet clear whether the Big Ten will expand to 14 or 16 teams but sources indicated Missouri and Nebraska are invited in either scenario."

Update: Teddy Greenstein at the Chicago Tribune reported a few minutes ago that Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany is denying the validity of 810 WHB's story.
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As this story develops and gets vetted by a few more news outlets, we'll keep a close eye on the situation. And stay tuned later tonight for the first movement on our Doomsday Clock!

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