Even if you’re not a college football fan, odds are you’ve caught wind of the rumored “conference realignment” that may, or may not, involve the University of Texas joining the Big Ten.

Countless arguments and postulations have arisen regarding the possible ramifications of such a massive power shift in college football.

The Big Ten provides Texas with the opportunity to make a lot more money playing football. The entire business of college football is supercharged with billions of dollars in TV revenue each year. The problem is, only the best teams are on TV, so only the best teams make a lot of money. The teams with a lot of money are generally more successful, sign the best recruits and eventually achieve the juggernaut status that the University of Texas now enjoys.

It’s all about the money: The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

Wether or not a massive “conference realignment” is good for college football, there has been some concern among die-hard Cyclone fans. Will the Big 12 survive the loss of its strongest program?

First and foremost, these rumors are just that: rumors. Texas investigating every option does not mean anything certain. Money talks, but there’s more to college athletics than football. Texas will have to think long and hard about travelling to the Great Lakes region for every sport. Will the added revenue offset the cost of sending all 20 varsity sports, including smaller teams like golf or tennis, thousands of miles every year?

Second of all, few conferences will crumble under Texas’ influence with the same, predictable frequency as the Big 12. The Big Ten won’t readily fall to its knees in an effort to placate the mighty Longhorns.

Practically every major decision in the Big 12 is dictated by Texas. Shortly after the formation of the conference, Texas wanted the conference headquarters moved to Arlington; that happened. Texas gets what it wants. Texas isn’t just a big fish, Texas is the only fish, and they know it.

In the Big Ten, they’ll be the “new guy”; forced to find their place in the already rich and lengthy history of the nation’s first conference.

Third, and most tantalizing of all, a move to the Big Ten would come complete with the finest weather the “Lake Effect” has to offer; including cold, sleet, wind and (gasp!) snow.

Last season’s face-off between Oklahoma State and Iowa State on Nov. 7 was only the third time in conference history that a south division team played a November away game against a north opponent. The Big Ten won’t be nearly as accommodating.

In fact, all current members of the Big Ten are farther north than the Big 12 north’s southernmost locale. Football fans everywhere are salivating at the thought of those good ‘ol Texas boys playing Ohio State, Iowa or Michigan in a late-November rainstorm.

With that said, Texas’ decision is anything but cut and dry.

As Cyclone fans, should we be concerned? Maybe a little, but Iowa State has been a member of a major conference for more than a century. Our athletics director is a smart guy, and we have great coaches and some of the nation’s most loyal (patient) fans.

Texas, we’re tired of you hijacking the Big 12. So go, we dare you, join the Big Ten. After your incessant, childish demands go unmet, and your first game in the snow, you’ll realize just how great you had it.