UCLA football: Is Nebraska out and Alabama in?

The changing landscape of college football may head into a new phase: schedule massaging.

UCLA playing Nebraska in a home-and-home series, starting in 2012, seemed a good fit until last week. Now, it would be a Pac-10 (or Pac-Whatever) vs. Big Ten (will they still refuse to count and continue with the Big Ten brand name?) matchup.

That may have both schools rethinking the plan.

UCLA officials will contact Nebraska officials Monday to see if the Cornhuskers wish to withdraw from the games, according to a UCLA source familiar with the situation who was not authorized to speak on the subject.

The Bruins still want the game, but an opportunity to play defending national champion Alabama in a neutral-site season opener in 2012 has developed.

Playing Nebraska and Alabama in the same season would be a brutal nonconference road, especially if Texas and Oklahoma join the "Pac-Whatever." But if the Cornhuskers opt out, the Bruins and Crimson Tide probably will have a date.

-- Chris Foster
chris.foster@latimes.com
twitter.com/cfosterlatimes