COLUMBIA, MO. -- Update: Friday, June 11 at 4:55 p.m.
Another school has left the Big 12 for another conference.
Colorado University annouced Thursday that it is leaving for the PAC-10. Nebraska University officials announced Friday they are joining the Big 10.
Now that the Big 12 is down to 10 teams, University of Missouri leaders are meeting behind closed doors to discuss the future of the Big 12.
MU Athletic Director Mike Alden said Mizzou officials are not looking at any other conference; their focus is on the Big 12.
“We are at a great institution," Alden said. "We have a great University with a great athletic program. At the end of the day, Mizzou is going to do the right things and do good things for the institution. Be patient with us. We know that’s tough. At the end, we believe everything is going to work out fine for Mizzou.”
Other Big 12 teams are considering new conferences just like Colorado and Nebraska. Published reports said the PAC-10 is considering Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.
That has Mizzou leaders preparing for the worst.
“We’re committed to moving forward," MU Chancellor Dr. Brady Deaton said. "We are going to be working with our colleagues in the Big 12 to deal with this situation. Clearly, there is a lot of uncertainty for a lot of us. At the same point, the University of Missouri, we’re a great asset.”
The worst case scenario would leave Missouri, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State and Baylor getting offers from smaller conferences after the Big 12 disappears.
University President Gary Forsee said conference realignment is a 9-inning game and it’s still the first inning. Forsee said Missouri has obligations to the Big 12 conference first and foremost.
Big 10 conference officials announced late last year that they were thinking about adding at least one school to their league to bring in more television revenues.
Update: Friday, June 11 at 2:06 p.m.:
MU athletic director Mike Alden wants Tiger fans to be patient as the conference alignment saga continues.
The Big 12 has officially lost Nebraska and Colorado. Alden said the Big 12 conference remains strong.
MU chancellor Brady Deaton was at Alden’s said during the afternoon news conference.
Deaton reiterated his message that Mizzou is a proud member of the Big 12 conference and the athletic program continues to move forward.
More details will be available soon.
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University of Missouri system President Gary Forsee said the school is committed to the Big 12 Conference, but willing to listen to other prospective suitors.
Forsee said the Columbia campus' has "obligations to the Big 12 Conference, first and foremost" but noted that conference realignment is a "nine-inning game."
He updated a room full of reporters Friday morning as Missouri curators met behind closed doors for the third time in two days.
The meeting came one day after fellow Big 12 North member Colorado agreed on a move to the Pac-10 and amid widespread reports that Nebraska will announce its move to the Big Ten as early as Friday afternoon.