More Big Ten expansion? Michigan's athletic director says 'If I were a betting man, I’d say there’s more change ahead and more expansion ahead.' Purdue's 'doesn't see anything brewing right now.'

So you thought the Big Ten would level off at 12 schools with the addition of Nebraska.

Maybe it will. Maybe.

Michigan Athletic Director Dave Brandon said the following in this AnnArbor.com story:

“We're in a really good place,” he said. “Having said that, if I were a betting man, I'd say there's more change ahead and more expansion ahead. That review continues and discussions continue, and there's still possibilities out there.”

The Lafayette Journal and Courier asked Purdue AD Morgan Burke about further Big Ten expansion in this story. Burke's response:

“We're not going to be passive. We're not going to be victims. We're going to try and create the future that we want to create. I don't see anything brewing right now.

“We're going to bring Nebraska into the mix and get the championship game going but if there are other seismic events out there ... I think you'll have more consolidation - I just don't know when. It's something I don't see us in the next year causing. I think we'll be prepared if it happens.”

I say: Oh, it will happen one day in the not-so-distant future. Remember how everyone thought things had settled down once Nebraska switched to the Big Ten, Colorado and Utah moved to the Pac-10, and the Big 12 stabilized when it appeared it would crumble? Since then, Boise State, Fresno State and Nevada moved from the WAC to the Mountain West, BYU became a football independent, and TCU has gone to the Big East.

Those may seem like small things, but they aren't. Leagues continue to try to position themselves to stay viable nationally. The Mountain West has fought to break through, but defections from Utah, BYU and now TCU have stalled that league. The Big East isn't about to sit back and get picked apart by others. The biggest two bullies in the BCS stable, the Big Ten and SEC, will do whatever it takes to remain that way.

You don't want in the Big Ten today, Notre Dame? OK, fine. But there's always tomorrow.