Print edition: 
DALLAS — Bo Pelini tried to avoid the subject. The Nebraska football coach even said he wasn't going to talk about it should someone ask. But there was no getting around the hottest topic of the summer Monday at the opening session of Big 12 media days.
All anyone wanted to know was how the Cornhuskers felt now that they are officially heading to the Big Ten.
From Nebraska's perspective, the conference shift is a non-factor.
"Business as usual," Pelini said. "We really haven't talked much about it. We're looking forward to the fall, and we've been doing our homework on the opponents."
That would be Big 12 opponents, not Ohio State and Michigan. Pelini, who played for the Buckeyes, said there will come a time when he daydreams about playing those storied Big 10 programs, but not until they show up on the Cornhuskers' schedule.
Right now he is focused on helping Nebraska build off last season's trip to the Big 12 championship game. He said he is yet to change his recruiting strategy or use the Big Ten as a selling point with recruits.
When the Nebraska marketing department launched an Internet video campaign with the slogan "Beat Texas" attached to it — which many assumed was a reference to the Cornhuskers' desire to finish Big 12 play in style with a signature win — Pelini quickly lobbied that the mantra be removed.
"They really made the mistake of putting 'Beat Texas' down on it," Pelini said. "To be honest with you, I wasn't real happy about it.... That's way down the road. We have a lot of things to do before we even consider Texas or worry about that football game."
Players admit they aren't thinking that far down the line yet, either. They want to enjoy 2010 before they focus on their 2011 league affiliation.
"The whole conference thing, it doesn't matter to us," said defensive tackle Jared Crick. "We'll probably reflect on it at the end of the year, knowing that was the last time we played those teams. But as far as being in the moment, there won't be a change."
Some teams across the league are taking a new approach to Nebraska, though.
The Cornhuskers will finish off their time in the Big 12 with games against their traditional Big 12 North rivals, as well as Texas A&M, Oklahoma State and Texas. Eight teams will have the added motivation of sending Nebraska out with a loss.
Iowa State's Rashawn Parker said the Cyclones' game with the Cornhuskers has already been circled on his calendar.
"Our fans, that's all they're talking about is the Nebraska game," Parker said. "They want to beat Nebraska for the last time before they exit the Big 12."
But not everyone was so anti-Cornhuskers.
When Texas A&M linebacker/defensive end Von Miller was questioned about what he expected Aggies fans to have in store for Nebraska when it visits Kyle Field this November, he shook his head.
"I really don't think it's going to be that hostile," Miller said. "Nebraska, they have a lot of respect from a lot of teams in the Big 12. They hold a big piece of college football tradition. I don't see anyone being too crazy to them."
