The story that just won't die continues unabated on Thursday, as Florida State President Eric Barron will reportedly discuss the rumors about the school's connection with the newly expansionary Big 12:

FSU prez Barron says he will talk about Big 12 today. ... @tdonline#fsu

— doug blackburn (@dblackburn) June 7, 2012

While that doesn't mean anything in and of itself, it's definitely more smoke to add to the fire that is the rumors surrounding Florida State and the Big 12's mutual interest.

But even if the conference doesn't end up adding the most prominent football school in the ACC, the entire situation has been a huge net win for a conference that was on its deathbed in each of the last two summers. Instead of shedding schools, the Big 12 has been fielding off rumors about adding them.

And in a story where nobody really knows anything, public perception is, in many ways, reality.