The Buffs Join the Pac-10

The University of Colorado has accepted an invitation to join the Pac-10 Conference, leaving behind the suddenly-crumbling Big-12.

Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott announced in February that the conference was exploring possible expansion. He was given the authority last weekend from the schools to offer invitations to potential new members.

“The University of Colorado is a great fit for the conference both academically and athletically,” Scott said in a statement.

And if you think a Colorado school being in a Pacific conference is a bit of a geographical stretch, then consider this: it's rumored that Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State are all close to jumping ship to play with the Left Coast boys as well. All of which seems fairly ironic, given that five of the first six picks—including the top four overall—of the 2010 NFL Draft were Big-12 players. In fact, nearly one third of all first round selections were from the conference (ten in all; the Pac-10, by comparison, had only two players drafted in the first round).

The Rose Bowl may just be a little more interesting now.