Whoa. Things are getting nuts with approximately 99.876 percent of commentators on conference expansion having not a clue what is going on. But because you read Meck Deck, you won’t have to look and sound stupid too.

Even the dim seem to understand that the Big Ten’s desire to add more product to feed into its Big Ten Network money-machine is the original mover. Next, you need Nebraska’s simmering upset at the way Texas has big-footed the Big 12 — everything from title games in Dallas, to calls on the field, to the way conference TV money is split. This escapes many. Then you have weak-sister Missouri and its willingness to draft along behind Nebraska if a much bigger TV check awaits it in the Big Ten. Toss in the long-standing desire of Penn St. to have an “Eastern rival” in its conference for a bit of Big East intrigue.

Now, what has taken everyone by surprise is the Pac 10’s willingness to jump in and promise to pick of the pieces of the Big 12. Yes, it is to form its own network package a la the Big Ten. But why now? Why the hurry? What could possibly bigfoot college football on the West Coast and fill up a vacuum?

The NFL back in LA.

There is now the feeling that it is just a matter of time before a stadium deal is put together in Los Angeles. Once that happens, some team will land in LA. Incidentally, voters go to the polls today on a new $937m. stadium for the 49ers in Santa Clara — one that needs $114m. in public subsidy. Keep on eye on that one as another sign that billion-dollar stadiums are the new normal.

In any event, time is of the essence for the Pac 10 to get their mega-conference set and TV deal in place. Watching all this closely is the SEC. I’ve said before that the most logical landing place for a big chunk of the Big 12 — including Texas — is the SEC. Keep this iron fact in mind — Seattle is 1800 miles from Austin, Gainesville is only 900. Watch the Pac 10 make its pitch — and then the SEC follow up.

Still, it could be that the Big 12 fixes things on the revenue side enough for Nebraska to be happy, leaving a Big Ten raid on the Big East for Rutgers the only movement after weeks of increasingly wild speculation.

Bonus Declaration: No team will leave the ACC for the SEC.