The Big Ten is looking to add more teams, and there’s a good chance conference commissioner Jim Delany will consider a few Big 12 schools on his list of possibilities.

Kansas hasn’t been brought up anywhere in the Big Ten’s expansion talks.

However, a few Big 12 schools have recently been mentioned as potential candidates: Missouri, Iowa State and Nebraska.

No timetable has been set for when the Big Ten would look to add a school, and it’s unknown how many schools the conference will look to add. The Big Ten’s Council of Presidents/Chancellors discussed the idea at its winter meetings on Dec. 6.

Not surprisingly, Notre Dame appears to be the favorite if the Big Ten, which oddly is composed of 11 teams, chooses to add a school.

If Notre Dame declines — it seems to be a strong possibility — then the conference would have to look elsewhere. Maybe one of the three aforementioned Big 12 North schools. Maybe Pittsburgh, Louisville, Rutgers or Syracuse, who have all been reported as other possible candidates.

With another team, the Big Ten could have two divisions, which would enable it to organize a conference championship game in football.

The possibilities left me wondering: How would it sit with Kansas fans if Missouri left the Big 12?

Be sure to take part in our online poll on Missouri staying or leaving.

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Nick Krug/Journal-World Photo

I suppose the two schools could arrange a non-conference game in football, like Missouri and Illinois have done in the Arch Rivalry for the past three years. As for hoops, I’d think an arrangement could be made. Sprint Center every year is a possibility.

From a Big 12 perspective, however, I don’t see much good out of taking away from one of the most brutal rivalries in college football/hoops. The Border War not part of the Big 12? It’d take some time for me to get used to that.

ESPN.com’s Tim Griffin recently spoke to Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe, who said he expected the conference to be untouched after the Big Ten finalizes its plans for expansion.

But the talk of Missouri as a prominent figure in the Big Ten’s future plans is out there. Heck, even the governor of Missouri thinks the Tigers should simply consider the idea.

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Richard Gwin/Jounal-World Photo

Who knows, maybe Mizzou will gain some added respect in the Big Ten.

It’s no secret the Tigers haven’t been satisfied with the Big 12 bowl selection process in recent years. This season, for instance, Missouri (8-4) will play in the Texas Bowl, which has the eighth and final selection of Big 12 bowl-eligible teams. Iowa State and Texas A&M, at 6-6, were selected to better bowls.

Before this season, significant losses in the Big 12 Championship game have doomed the Tigers to lesser-quality bowls.

In the 2008 season, Missouri beat Nebraska straight up and both teams finished with 5-3 conference records. But Oklahoma smoked Missouri, 62-21, in the Big 12 Championship. Nebraska (Gator) was picked to a better bowl than Missouri (Alamo).

In the 2007 season, Missouri beat Kansas straight up and both teams finished with 7-1 conference records. But (sound familiar?) Oklahoma roughed up Missouri, 38-17, in the Big 12 Championship. Kansas (Orange) was picked to a better bowl than Missouri (Cotton).

Of course, if Missouri leaves the Big 12, the conference would have to replace it with another North team. Not sure who you’d turn to there.

So feel free to start and add to the discussion.

Missouri: Better in the Big 12 or Big Ten?

As always, discuss.