Texas does what Texas wants, or so that’s how the story has gone for as long as the Big XII has been in existence. With all the talk of potential conference expansion, it made sense to reach out to Brian Davis, who covers the Longhorns for the Austin American-Statesman.

If you are looking for breaking news or an ‘ah-ha’ moment, this won’t be it. However, if you are looking for someone to contradict what has been widely rumored, including by some rival Big XII media members, you’ve come to the right place.

“There’s no one here talking about Big 12 expansion,” Davis said matter of factly. “There’s no one in this region talking about Big 12 expansion. If there are people out there talking that something is going to happen or that anything is imminent, I would say they are very misinformed.”

Ready to call him a dream killer? Just wait, there’s more.

“I’ve talked to all Big XII southern athletic directors, at least here in Texas and in Oklahoma,” he said. “They don’t want to expand right now because there is not a school out there that is desirable enough to prompt the league to go back to ESPN and renegotiate the TV contract. No school out there moves the needle enough to get more money.”

Despite those words, there has been a lot of smoke surrounding a looming January 15th vote on the deregulation of conference championship games. Davis admitted it’s a stepping point into something that could trigger movement, but he doesn’t see it coming just yet.

“I know the Big XII wants the rule to pass and the Big Ten filed a motion to block that,” he said. “My understanding now is that the proposal is going to be blocked, at least for the time being.”

Would that trigger expansion?

“I definitely think that realignment is going to happen again, but I really think it’s four to five years down the road,” he added. “I don’t think anything is imminent from anyone, in any league. I think we are going to see the Power 5 stick together, plus Notre Dame at least for the first full rotation of the CFP [college football playoff]. What happens after that is really anyone’s guess.”

Should that expansion occur on a quicker timeline or should Texas administrators change their tune, Davis did talk about some of the rumored candidates for expansion.

“They are never going to add BYU no matter what anyone out there says because the conference wants to go east. I think that the University of Texas would not want Houston in simply because of recruiting. Central Florida is there just because they are in Florida.”

What does the Texas administration think of UConn?

“Great basketball, not much else,” he said.

The soap opera of conference realignment will continue to burn for at least another week or so, leading into the all important vote in just nine days. To use a line from Mr. Davis, ‘what happens after that, is anyone’s guess.’