A couple days ago I wrote an article talking about Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe’s final pitch to schools on why they should continue to be members of the Big 12 and not defect. As I said earlier the key to Beebe’s plan would be to convince Texas that it is better for them to remain a member of the Big 12 conference. Apparently Dan Beebe already knew this because he assured Texas that as a member of the Big 12 conference they could move on with plans to start their own “Longhorn” TV network which they would not have been able to do in the PAC 10. Forty Eight hours ago though the chances looked to be slim to none that the Big 12 could survive the advances of the PAC 10 and SEC, and would be able to keep their remaining ten teams together.

What a difference a couple of days can make though.

Today, Dan Beebe got the news that he had been longing to hear from his conference’s top dog in the form of a statement from Texas school president William Powers Jr.

"This is a long-term and unequivocal commitment," Powers said. "We've decided the Big 12 provides the best long-term opportunity for our university."

Right now it looks as though the conference will move on without Colorado and Nebraska, and become a ten team league. Where there was previously despair that the league would be obliterated, there is now joy in Big 12 country as rivalries will be renewed and the conference will not fall victim to the expansion machine that is spreading across college athletics. Missouri Governor Jay Nixon even said that Big 12 basketball will be stronger without Colorado and Nebraska, calling the two departing universities “the two weakest basketball programs” in the Big 12.

There are things to consider when looking at was occurred regarding the threat of expansion the Big 12 faced. The whole process was essentially decided by the conference’s top power player as the smaller revenue producing schools were just reacting to what was happening. Will there be animosity or hurt feelings regarding the top down nature of the league. Finally, will the conference be split up into two divisions or one group? Twelve teams are needed in a conference to have a conference championship game.

These questions will get answered eventually; right now I think there is just a giant sigh of relief amongst the remaining schools. If the conference disbanded not everyone would have gotten away scot free. In that sense an extra big breathe is being breathed by schools such as Iowa State, Kansas, and Kansas State. This news means that I will still be able to enjoy classic college football rivalries such as the Red River Rivalry and the Lone Star Showdown next year and I can also enjoy a slight bit of continuity in college football for the moment.