(Image Source: Texas A&M University)

BY MATT NOONAN

Here we go again-- conference realignment takes center stage once more as the presidents of college sports’ Southeastern Conference unanimously voted to accept Texas A&M as the SEC’s newest member-- possibly leaving the Big 12 on the brink of extinction.

ESPN's Tom Rinaldi gives us a look at the current landscape in college athletics:

"Lucy, we got some 'splaining to do! Let's start with the conferences. Maybe we'll diagram it for you...
The Big Ten has 12 teams, the Big 12 has 10 teams -- which will soon be 9 teams, because Texas A&M plans to go elsewhere -- which is what Colorado and Utah did when they joined the PAC-10 which is now the PAC-12... It's the way of the future!"

The Big 12 may not be around long enough to see that future. On KWTX -- former Baylor coach Grant Teaff says if the conference wants to survive, it must take immediate action:

"I think the big thing is that the Big 12 -- conference schools, within the Big 12 institutions -- have to really seize this opportunity. Be very proactive, and I know they will be -- there's great leadership in the Big 12 -- and make this conference great, because it can be."

So will the remaining Big 12 teams work together to save the conference? One CBS Sports anchor says don't hold your breath:

"At the end of the day, they're not going to hold hands and sing kumbaya. They recruit against each other. They compete against each other. While it's nice to say 'We're all going to stick together,' -- it's not going to happen. There's too much money involved. Too much at stake for each school not to look out for their best interests..."

Kansas City Star columnist Sam Mellinger says-- schools thinking about leaving the Big 12 should be careful what they wish for:

"Distrust or envy has driven every ensuing conference defection, and those two factors remain the Big 12’s biggest obstacles because here’s a strange truth: Financially, competitively and geographically, the Big 12 is the best place for the remaining schools as long as they trust that. The problem is they don’t."

Rivals.com columnist Dan Wetzel says the shockwaves would resonate throughout college athletics:

"The merry-go-round will affect everything and nearly everyone in college sports. Would the ACC try to raid the Big East  in an aggressive effort to get bigger before the SEC tries to pillage? Is West Virginia also on the SEC wish list or could the most powerful league push toward 16 schools?

And how long does the Big Ten sit idle? Are we destined for four, 16-team mega-conferences that break away from everyone else?"