Conference Hokey-Pokey™: Is today D-Day?

♦ ACC moves could have impact on Big 12 (kansascity.com)

“We can’t do anything until we know what Oklahoma and Texas are going to do,” said a Big 12 source. “We’re waiting on them.”

The answer could come Monday. The regents at both universities have meetings that day and the agenda items include conference realignment.
. . .
If Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are welcomed into the Pac-12 along with Texas and Texas Tech, five Big 12 schools — Kansas, Missouri, Kansas State, Iowa State and Baylor — would remain.

Starting next year, seven Big East football-playing schools would remain without Pitt and Syracuse: West Virginia, Louisville, Cincinnati, South Florida, TCU, Connecticut and Rutgers.

A merger could create a 12-team football conference ideal for a football playoff. Big East basketball also includes the likes of Notre Dame, Georgetown and Villanova, and a powerhouse hoops league could be formed.

And a good example of how the "sure bet" according to "reliable sources" can change in the matter of a week:.

♦ Missouri in play as SEC's 14th (outkickthecoverage.com, 9/6)

It's important to note that Missouri's addition would, however, be predicated on the collapse of the Big 12. Namely, the SEC is waiting to see whether or not Oklahoma will follow through on its flirtations with the Pac 12 and consummate the west coast union. If the Big 12 survives, it becomes most likely that the SEC will sit at 13 teams for a season and then decide what to do afterwards. But if the Big 12 dies, Missouri is likely to be the SEC's 14th member for 2012.

Let's look at five ramifications if Missouri becomes available...

♦ Syracuse and Pitt to the ACC. What now? (outkickthecoverage.com, 9/18)

If Texas stays in the Big 12 then the Big 12 survives with seven schools.

The conference takes three Big East schools -- probably TCU, Louisville, and West Virginia (potentially South Florida if the conference wants in the state of Florida) -- retains its television contracts and stays at ten teams. If an eight team Big East was able to retain an automatic BCS bid so would this conference. Especially with the Big East losing its bid due to extinction.

I still think this is the most likely outcome...