Calling the Hogs

 Tom Keegan of the Lawrence Journal-World said a source close to the situation told him that Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones -- a noted Arkansas alumnus -- is the driving force behind any interest the school may have in the Big 12. Jones wants Arkansas to play in a conference with former Southwest Conference partners Texas and Texas A&M, and, of course, he owns Cowboys Stadium, which is the most likely facility to host a championship game should the Big 12 get back up to a dozen teams.

Here's the kicker: The source said Jones sees Notre Dame as being the Big 12's final addition. The thinking is that a Big 12 with Notre Dame and Arkansas could then create a network that would surpass the Big Ten Network. (Of course, where this leaves the Longhorn Network remains to be seen.)

We just can't see the Irish doing it, given all the (wink, wink) academic implications. But if Jerry and T. Boone Pickens start throwing around some cash, maybe Notre Dame officials will at least listen.

(In an online chat, Chuck Carlton of The Dallas Morning News points to BYU, Air Force and New Mexico as being more likely targets.)

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Kevin Scarbinsky of The Birmingham News writes that "some high-ranking officials at SEC schools" are concerned that the Big 12 might make another run at Arkansas. One of these officials told Scarbinsky that the Big 12 made overtures to the Hogs a a few years ago and that Arkansas officials considered a possible move before deciding to stay put.

One would think that the argument would be even more one-sided now, with the SEC's TV deals in place and the Big 12's still at the proposal stage. Many still question the long-term viability of the new Big 12. But stranger things have happened (see: the Big 12's survival).

And if Dan Beebe could get a commitment -- or whatever it is he got -- from TV partners of enough money to increase the payouts as much as has been reported, wouldn't those rights holders pay even more for a Big 12 that included Arkansas?

We're not sure anyone really believes that expansion is over and done with. It's just a matter of when the next shoe drops, and what that might lead to.

UPDATE from the AP:

Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long says the school has "no interest" in joining another conference amid speculation that the Razorbacks could be a candidate to move to the Big 12.

Long said Wednesday that Arkansas is happy in the Southeastern Conference. The Big 12 recently lost Nebraska to the Big Ten and Colorado to the Pac-10, leaving it with 10 members.

Arkansas left the Southwest Conference and joined the SEC in 1991. Some of its old rivals from the Southwest Conference -- such as Texas and Texas A&M -- now play in the Big 12.