For Boomer

Since there is so much info out about expansion, for my bro who is too busy to follow it all (and apparently can't form opinions about it on his own anyway), I'll try my best to sum it up.

The Big Ten scenarios:
1) No expansion.
2) Big Ten adds Notre Dame and ceases to expand beyond that.
3) Big Ten adds Nebraska, Missouri, and probably three Big East teams (Pittsburgh, Rutgers, and Syracuse).

Notre Dame doesn't want everyone to expand to 16 and be the only one left out, particularly if the Big East falls apart as a result, since all of Notre Dame's other sports are in the Big East.  But if they join the Big Ten, the 16-team conference scenario is less likely.  If the Big Ten expansion stops at 12 teams, then they don't NEED to join a conference.  But it won't stop at 12, unless Notre Dame is the one addition.  So Notre Dame is really in a lose-lose situation.  The Big Ten is in a win-win situation: they either get Notre Dame and have a 12-team conference, or expand to 16 teams, including Nebraska, Missouri, Pitt, Rutgers, and Syracuse (if they can't get Texas that is, which I'm not sure they can if it's a competition between the Pac 10, SEC, and Big Ten).  Nebraska, Missouri, and any Big East teams will gladly go to the Big Ten, if offered, so there is no issue there with having their invitations accepted.  Timing might be the biggest issue here, as the Big Ten's window to get Nebraska and Missouri might close as early as this Friday.

The Big XII scenarios:
1) Nobody leaves, they all make nice, they all stay together.  The Big Ten got Notre Dame to agree to join them (by Friday) and doesn't need Nebraska or Missouri.
2) One or two teams leave, probably to the Pac 10 (probably Colorado).
3) 4-6 teams end up leaving and the rest try to save the Big XII by adding some combination of the following teams: BYU, TCU, Houston, Utah, or Tulsa.  This scenario would probably only be the result of a Pac 10 grab that is not accompanied with a Big Ten grab.
4) The conference disseminates to the Pac 16 and Big Sixteen.  Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, and Colorado or Baylor look to the MWC.

I believe that Texas wants to stay in the Big XII, as currently constituted (and also would be willing to stay in a Big XII if only Colorado leaves).  If Nebraska and Missouri do not commit to stay in the Big XII this Friday (i.e. those schools feel that the Big Ten will invite them), then Texas would not want to stay in the Big XII and would go with all of its friends to the Pac 10.  It's theoretically possible that the Big Ten only takes ND, Nebraska and Mizzou commit to the Big XII, but Texas leaves with 5 companions for the Pac 10 anyway.  Mind you, I think that is the least likely scenario of them all, but it still could happen and the remaining Big Six would add a few teams and remain a BCS conference (a much lower one on the totem pole).

The Pac 10 scenarios:
1) No changes.
2) Add two teams, likely Colorado and Utah.
3) Go big or go home: Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Baylor or Colorado.

I think the Pac 10 wants to expand, but only if it helps the conference.  I don't think the Utah/Colorado combination helps them that much.  It doesn't give them access to recruiting grounds or markets that they aren't already utilizing.  I think they will do that over doing nothing, but they obviously want the big fish (Texas), if they can catch it.  How disappointing would a CU/U of U addition be after dreams of the Texas market and recruiting?

The SEC scenario:
1) Continue to do whatever it wants and continue to make the most money and be the most successful.  Any expansion plans would probably include 3 or 4 ACC teams.

The ACC:
1) If the Big East remains intact, they would do nothing.
2) If the Big East collapses, pick up the best of the rest: Connecticut, West Virginia, Cincinnati.  I'm not sure they would touch South Florida or Louisville (maybe Louisville for the hoops).  Perhaps they would add a C-USA team as well?

The Big East:
1) Hope.
2) Pray.