Now all of the speculation is starting to turn into reality.

After many rumor-filled months and the last several weeks being littered with innuendo — and crazy scenarios — we finally have the first of likely many moves in relation to conference expansion.

On Thursday, the Pac-10 officially announced that Colorado will leave the Big 12 to join its conference. On its website, the league posted the following statement: “The Pacific-10 Conference announced today that the University of Colorado at Boulder has accepted an invitation to join the Conference as its 11th member, the first new member since July 1, 1978.”

According to the Boulder Daily Camera, Colorado will make the announcement official at an 11 a.m. Friday press conference.

“This is an historic moment for the Conference, as the Pac-10 is poised for tremendous growth,” commissioner Larry Scott said in a statement.

“The University of Colorado is a great fit for the Conference both academically and athletically and we are incredibly excited to welcome Colorado to the Pac-10.”

“The University of Colorado is a perfect match — academically and athletically — with the Pac-10,” Colorado president Bruce D. Benson said in a statement.

So now what?

Expect more Big 12 schools to join Colorado and jump ship, putting the future of the Big 12 in serious doubt. Nebraska is reportedly set to announce its move to the Big Ten.

According to the Associated Press, Texas and Texas A&M officials will meet at an undisclosed location to discuss the future of their programs and the Big 12 as speculation continues that rival conferences will raid the league and break it apart. The gloomiest scenario involves Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State joining Colorado in the Pac-10, which would leave Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri and Iowa State behind.

Stay with the National Football Post for more information on conference expansion as news breaks.

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