Conference Expansion Moves Official; Pac-10 Becomes Pac-12, Big Ten Adds Nebraska

The giant game of Monopoly that was the summer of 2010 is in the rear-view mirror and all the conference realignment moves were made official on Friday. While the blockbuster deal never came to fruition, thanks to Texas backing out of what would've been the Pac-16, the Pac-10 still became the Pac-12 and the Big Ten added another school. BYU also waved goodbye to the Mountain West Conference, choosing to go the independent route and check-out of the small conference game of survivor

Nebraska: The Cornhuskers decided to bail on the Big 12 before it imploded on itself, joining the Big Ten as Texas flirted with the Pac-10. On Friday, the move was made official when Northwestern consummated the new union with cookies.

Colorado: Perhaps the biggest winner of conference expansion, the Buffaloes leave the Big 12 and hop into the Pac-12, where piles of money await them. Instead of playing 10th fiddle to Texas, Colorado receives a significant financial windfall while playing 10th fiddle to Oregon.

Utah: The Utes also came away a big winner by leaving the MWC and its paltry television contract behind for the greener pasture that is the Pac-12. Though Utah won't be a full-share member for a few years, it still is in line for a huge payday, both now and in the future.

BYU: The Cougars decided to go it alone in the aftermath of the conference realignment wars of 2010. The BYU football team will play as an independent, ala Notre Dame, and the rest of its sports will join the WCC.