Tudor's Take: Big 12's fate will be known Tuesday

The future of the Big 12 Conference almost certainly will not be determined until Tuesday.

That much became clear Friday when the Texas Board of Regents announced it would hold a previously unscheduled meeting Tuesday morning in Austin, Tex.

Obviously, the implications aren't good at this point for the Big 12.

Colorado has declared for the Pac-10, and Nebraska officials decided Friday to leave the Big 12 for the Big Ten.

The Big 12 can survive only if Texas -- and Oklahoma to a lesser extent -- stays in the fold.

While there is good reason to believe football coaches Mack Brown of Texas and Bob Stoops of Oklahoma would like to keep the clan together and at 10 members (thereby surrendering conference championship game rights), the lure of more money easily could trump any wishes by the coaches.

In the Big Ten, Texas certainly could enhance its overall financial situation. It's likely the same would be true if the Longhorns went to the Pac-10.

Texas might have the option of going anywhere it chooses, including the Southeastern Conference.

But in a 10-team league and without a league championship game to fret, the Longhorns would be better positioned to win the Bowl Championship Series title. So, too, would be Oklahoma.

But with the Texas' regents meeting, there's reason to think a move is pending. After all, the regents wouldn't have to gather if the plan was to stay put.

-- Elsewhere, East Carolina athletics director Terry Holland Friday contacted Pirate fans by email.

Most of the Conference USA school's fans would like for the Pirates emerge from any widespread conference shakeup as a member of the Big East.

In his letter, Holland said the Big East's fate is uncertain. He did mention the possibility that league member Villanova could move up a notch in football competition, which would give the Big East a much-needed ninth football playing school.

-- As expected, Boise State of the Western Athletic Conference officially announced Friday that it will join the Mountain West Conference on July 1 of next year.

There is no apparent leading candidate to replace Boise in the WAC.

-- Caulton Tudor