Editor's note: this article was written on June 13, before the 11th hour decision by the remaining 10 teams to stay in the Big 12. 

Whether we like it or not, the NCAA Division I-A conference landscape is changing before our very eyes.  Last week two members left — Colorado joined the Pac-10 [Pacific-10 Conference] and Nebraska became part of the Big Ten.  Sometime this week, the Big 12 Conference might very well be saying goodbye to two-thirds of its remaining conference members. 

If all the pieces fall into place this week as it is rumored to, the Pac-10 will extend invitations to Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Texas, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.  The new Pac-16 [or whatever name they decide to use] will likely be divided into two eight-team divisions.  The West division will be made up of Cal, Stanford, USC, UCLA, Washington, Washington State, Oregon and Oregon State, while the East division will include Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Colorado, Arizona and Arizona State.

Texas A&M might throw a wrench into these plans if the rumors are true that the SEC [Southeastern Conference] is courting them.  Since A&M hasn’t been relevant in about 10 years, I find it incomprehensible that the SEC would have any interest in them, but it seems they really want to expand into the DFW television market. 

I prefer that the big three Texas schools stay together, so I hope they agree to join the Pac-16.     Should A&M join the SEC, reports seem to indicate that Utah or Kansas will likely receive the final invitation to join the Pac-16. 

I find it very sad that the Big 12 could likely be a defunct conference by the end of this week, just as I was sad when the Southwest Conference imploded.  I would prefer to have the Big 12 stay intact as it was two weeks ago, but with the departures of Colorado and Nebraska have made that impossible.  Money talks and all these conference realignment moves are money-driven to say the least. 

I’ve never been a fan of the Pac-10.  In fact, USC is the only member that I have even a remote interest in watching.  Since the Big 12 cannot stay intact, I am very thankful though that Texas Tech is being included in this realignment.  I realize we could have easily been left out like Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa State.     

To quote the great Bob Dylan, the times they are a-changin'.  Yes Bob, indeed they are!