I'm not terribly surprised, as the Big 10 wants that Stan/Cal research money, and will be able to get all 4 schools with reduced payouts. However I wonder what this means for FSU and the ACC? This almost surely means the Big 12 will take 4 corners schools, but are they willing to add more if the ACC crumbles and Pitt, NCST, GT, VT, UL, etc are on the table?
Stanford and Cal would be nice, they are an outstanding academic fit. But I give the FSU-Clemson rumors more credibility. Stanford is rumored to be insisting on Notre Dame, and ND has said no to the B1G multiple times now. That ship has sailed.