The new motto of the NCAA: Every man for himself.

The traditional foundation of college football and basketball is being rocked like never before.

By 2012, some leagues we know today will be dead as super conferences begin their dominating lives.

The local five-and-dimes never stood a chance against the Walmarts of the world. Neither do the Mountain West nor the Big East against these newly formed power leagues.

And it's a shame.

College football doesn't need four 16-team power conferences ruling its landscape. But that's where the game is headed.

Nebraska to the Big Ten? No problem, says the Pac-10.

We'll just add Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Colorado to our league. That makes us the most dominant conference in college football and wipes out the Big 12 in the process.

Missouri will be left standing at the Big Ten's doorstrep, tin cup in hand, begging to be allowed in.

Notre Dame wants to remain independent, but if the Fighting Irish feel the need to jump on the Big Ten bandwagon, Missouri might be welcomed in to push the league to 14 teams.

If the Big Ten wants to match the 16-team Pac-10 — these leagues have to change their names at some point — maybe it reaches out and pulls in Pitt and Rutgers from the Big East.

Don't forget about the ACC and SEC. They're not about to be left in the cold.

The SEC could grab some of the ACC's best and further strengthen its stock. Florida would love to see Florida State come into its league, after all.

Perhaps the SEC nibbles on some of the Big 12's leftovers. The ACC could always raid the Big East. It took in Boston College and Miami a few years ago, so why not go back for more?

Where does this whole thing end?

It's bad enough that the Boise States, Utahs and TCUs of the world can go undefeated and have no chance of winning the national championship.

Just when those schools succeeded in becoming BCS busters, these superconferences are coming together to beat them back again.

As for basketball, the Big East apparently was too good to be true after all. Its football league is on the verge of crumbling and basketball will be lost among the rubble.

Money rules and money fools.

This entire process is all about the almighty buck.

Major college and professional sports can never leave well enough alone. More money can always be made, even at the expense of an organization's own integrity.

Ah, well.

NCAA teams steal each other's coaches all the time. Stealing each other's teams shouldn't be such a shock.

Pitt might wind up in the Big Ten, the ACC or on the outside looking in, carrying its own tin cup from door to door.

The future of college sports will be determined over the next few weeks.

If you detect a foul odor in the air, that's it.