Now that expansion-mania is dying down, The Post looks at the winners and losers:
WINNERS
Big Ten – You get the feeling if Jim Delaney took up chess, he’d be a grandmaster in about a week. Created a near panic when he uttered the word, “expansion.” The Big Ten added just one team but what a team — Nebraska.
Next comes a league playoff game, an untold number of new subscribers to the Big Ten Network, and, oh yes, Notre Dame remains nearby.
Texa$ and DeLo$$ Dodd — Play poker with the Texas AD at your own risk. Might as well rename the Big 12, Big Bevo.
Nebraska — Out of the Texas-dominated Big 12, where its rivalry with Oklahoma was not respected, and into the Big Ten. Already the fourth-most profitable program in college football (Texas, Notre Dame, Penn State), Big Red to operate in the Big Black.
Kansas — One of the nation’s premier basketball programs was on the verge of possibly having to seek refuge in the Mountain West. Nothing like a Kansas-Air Force game for recruits to keep Phog Allen hopping.
Jack Sawbrick – The Notre Dame AD avoided having to decide whether to cash in the Fighting Irish’s independence for the safety of the Big Ten — for now.
Big East — Weren’t you supposed to be dead?
Dan Beebe — The Capt. Sully Sullenberger (and commissioner) of the Big 12.
Corn — Nebraska vs Iowa.
Boise State — Enough WAC-iness.
LOSERS
Pac-10 — After laying the blame for an aggressive expansion campaign at the Big Ten’s doorstep, commissioner Larry Scott wooed six Big 12 schools and came away with a free week at a ski chalet in Colorado and an egg-salad mustache.
Jay Nixon — In December the Missouri governor said, “I’m not going to say anything bad about the Big 12, but when you compare Oklahoma State to Northwestern, when you compare Texas Tech to Wisconsin, I mean, you begin looking at educational possibilities that are worth looking at.” That’s not a bad thing to say, is it?
Missouri — Plays at Texas Tech on Nov. 11. Thanks, gov.
Baylor — Not only does Baylor owe Texas another Lone Star State “thank you,” but now the nation knows even Colorado was more attractive.
Bill Stewart — In mid-March the folksy West Virginia coach said, “We could land, whatever [in] one of maybe three conferences — ACC, SEC, maybe Big Ten.” Take me home, country road . . .
Rutgers – Isn’t expansion why they expanded the stadium?