The conference realignment carousel continues to spin at a dizzying pace, as West Virginia, which was widely reported to be accepting an invitation to join the Big 12 to replace Missouri, is suddenly in limbo. According to the New York Times' Pete Thamel, the Big 12 schools might be favoring Louisville, another Big East school, instead:
PeteThamelNYT Pete ThamelJust filed to NYT: After being told it was accepted to Big12, WVU in holding pattern. Its "50-50" and "too close to call" with Lville.
West Virginia has the better football program and a national brand, all be it one that prominently features couch-burning. On the other hand, Louisville is a much better geographic fit with the rest of the conference.
Both have become basketball schools under legendary coaches Rick Pitino (Louisville) and Bob Huggins (West Virginia), who have each made a Final Four in recent years.
The school that loses the battle to be Missouri's replacement may still have a chance at the Big 12, depending on whether the conference wants to stay at 10 teams or go back to 12 in order to field a championship game in football.