If the Big Southwest does happen, there's a feeling in the region that it will be without Kansas and Missouri.
"I think it's serious," said a rival league official of the Big 10's interest in Kansas, a university with 25,000 students that has a powerhouse basketball program.
The Big 10 continues to stress that nothing is serious, at least as far as contacting other schools is concerned.
"I haven't talked with any other schools, and neither has anybody from my staff," said Big 10 Commissioner Jim Delany.
Delany said he couldn't speak for the university
presidents. The Big 10's most influential
CEO, University of Illinois President Stanley Ikenberry, and Kansas University Chancellor Gene Budig are friends, which has enhanced the speculation.
"I'm close with Gene, but there is nothing on the table," Ikenberry said. "Not even on an informal basis."
Delany also denied a claim that the league is contacting television
networks to see what a 14-team conference with Kansas, Missouri and Rutgers would be worth as a package.
