This conference realignment cycle has been drawn out and dramatic this summer, and another chapter was added Friday.

The Athletic’s Max Olson reported Friday evening that the Pac-12, Big Ten and ACC have been in “high-level” discussions about forming an alliance. Olson writes the reported alliance is about more than scheduling but involving the conferences voting together on major issues to fight back against the SEC’s power move of adding Oklahoma and Texas.

It’s more not great news for the Big 12, as the league that is in the process of losing its two biggest brands doesn’t appear to be involved in the alliance, per Olson.

This comes after Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby reportedly met with new Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff to discuss some sort of pact. ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg reports the Big Ten, Pac-12 and ACC just started meeting in recent days.

There would be a lot to work out in a potential three-conference alliance that involves 40 teams. Still, it is a worrying proposition for fans of the remaining eight Big 12 schools. Any hopes fans of those schools have of jumping ship to another power conference could be shut down with that three-conference alliance.

Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy has said repeatedly over recent weeks that his school is in as good a spot it can be with the viewers the football program draws and the consistency of OSU’s athletic programs.

“I think we’re in a great position,” Gundy said Thursday. “We’ve been Top 10 in the country in the last decade. We got a ton of views across the country.”

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