Sources: Political Lobbying May Help Get Louisville Into Big 12

A "late push by Louisville has put political pressure on the Big 12 and opened the possibility of Louisville being the university that is admitted instead of West Virginia." Sources said that lobbying by U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to Univ. of Oklahoma President and former U.S. Sen. David Boren, among others, "helped slow" WVU's admittance. One source said, "I think it's 50-50 right now between West Virginia and Louisville" (NYTIMES.com, 10/26).

Meanwhile, WAC Commissioner Karl Benson, Big Sky Commissioner Doug Fullerton and Big West Commissioner Dennis Farrell said that Boise State "has not contacted" any of their respective conferences "about housing its non-football sports teams." Boise State is a "past member of all three leagues" (IDAHOSTATESMAN.com, 10/26).