For most of four decades, Nebraska was a football heavyweight that was almost always in the national championship picture.

The Cornhuskers will find themselves in the national spotlight again soon for a much different reason.

They could shape the future of college sports.

The Big 12 has reportedly given Nebraska and Missouri a deadline by next week to commit to the future of the league.

If Missouri leaves, the Big 12 could still survive.

If Nebraska leaves, the league might collapse.

The Cornhuskers, who feature one of the best all-around athletic programs in the country, are a critical bargaining chip in the Big 12’s next round of television negotiations with Fox next spring.

The league could still be perceived as strong with Nebraska in the fold. Without the Cornhuskers, the Big 12 looks like it’s crumbling. The Pac-10 could swoop in and grab half of dozen schools before the Big 12 even gets to the bargaining table.

The Big Ten could open up its expansion. The ACC and SEC could follow suit, and end up with four 16-team super conferences.

Though this scenario would give power to 64 schools, it would be bad for college athletics in general. One of the great joys is watching a non-traditional power rise up and knock down a big dog.

You’d take a lot of the fun out of college football with a bunch of super conferences. You’d also financially cripple a lot of athletic programs that didn’t make the cut across the board.

The Big 12 is essentially forcing Nebraska’s and Missouri’s hand by asking for a commitment. Though it’s been heavily rumored that they’ll get invitations to the Big Ten, they haven’t received any yet.

With its big cable TV contract as a carrot, the Big Ten could still go several directions with expansion plans. If the league could attract Notre Dame, expansion plans might end there. The Big Ten could raid the Big East of schools like Syracuse or Rutgers. There’s no guarantee Nebraska and Missouri will be invited to the league.

Everybody knows how vital Nebraska is to the Big 12.

“We know Nebraska is obviously a very important factor in consideration,” Baylor President Ken Starr said in his Monday press conference. “We know their board will be meeting later on this week. So the situation is very fluid, so as most of the reports are suggesting, stay tuned.”

Other schools chime in

In an interview with the Associated Press on Monday, Kansas Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little urged Nebraska to remain in the Big 12. The Jayhawks and Big 12 North partners Kansas State and Iowa State could be left in the cold if the Big 12 splits up.

Starr remains optimistic that the Big 12 can stay together. He praised University of Texas President William Powers for his commitment to keep the Big 12 intact.

“He’s a wonderful leader and a brilliant man,” Starr said. “I’m very thankful for his personal commitment to keep the Big 12 together, and to move the Big 12 forward into the future.”

Starr also likes the Big 12’s prospects for increasing revenues for its members. Big 12 schools each reportedly received between $7 and $11 million last year compared to the Big Ten’s $22 million per school due largely to its cable network.

“We believe the prospects for the Big 12 are very bright for enhancing revenues,” Starr said. “We’re doing extremely well, and we can be better in the future.”

But the Big 12 needs Nebraska in the fold to keep the pay days coming.

jwerner@wacotrib.com

757-5716

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