I will admit it; I am a junkie for this college football conference realignment stuff.

I don’t want to see Texas come into the Big Ten for selfish reasons; that means their little brother Texas A&M comes along with them, and Iowa would likely be in their division, displaced from so many historical rivals, that it would be a shock to the system.

I am OK with Rutgers joining the league, and I think they are a high probability for expansion.  I think Missouri and Nebraska would join the league ten seconds after the phone rang and the voice on the other line said ‘Hello, this is Jim Delaney…”  “WE’LL TAKE IT!!!!” would be the response before he could utter another sentence.

However, I remain hopeful that Notre Dame is a part of any Big Ten expansion.  I’d be fine if it were just them.  And I believe they are going to get invited one more time.

There was an article on ESPN today where Notre Dame’s AD talked about the possible changing landscape of college football and their place in it.

AD Jack Swarbrick, saying in part, that it will be up for him and Notre Dame’s brass to  “evaluate the landscape” if realignment happens. “You can  come up with a scenario that would force our hand.”

THAT’S what I have been talking about!

I don’t think the Big Ten has given up on Notre Dame, despite what Barry Alvarez said a few weeks back: ““From having been there, I understand their way of doing things. Unless you’ve been there, you can’t comprehend what it means to go coast-to-coast at Notre Dame. This is a national school. I can understand why they would want to stay national in football.  I’d love for them to be interested in (joining the Big Ten), but it’s hard for me to see that.”

Now, Alvarez could have meant what he said at face value.  Or he could have meant what he said, while also delivering a public message to Notre Dame: ‘Hey, we get that you want to remain as an independent.  Great.  However, we are still willing to talk with you ONE….LAST….TIME.  And you know how to reach us…plus, you had better hurry, because the clock is ticking…do you know where you seat will be once the music stops playing?’

As it relates to the clock ticking, there have been quotes from Delaney in recent weeks saying he may have recommendations to submit to the University Presidents by late spring or early summer…TICK…TICK…TICK.

And those recommendations are likely going to include some Big East schools…and some Big 12 schools…we are talking about seismic shifts coming to college athletics because of this, plus the strong possibility that Colorado will may close heed to overtures from the Pac 10 who is also interested in expanding.

We may be on the verge of seeing the biggest shift in the balance of power in college athletics of our lifetime, or possibly ever.  The Big Ten is in a position of power.  I think several schools have been thrown out there as straw men for Notre Dame to sharpen its pencil and get serious about where it thinks it’s going to be after the Big Ten changes the game.

You could be with us, or you could be a’gin us…what’ll it be?

Tags: Big Ten, Big Ten Football, hawkeye football, Hawkeye Nation, hawkeyenation.com, Iowa football