Stung by the constant jokes about a conference of 18 calling itself the Big 10, this power conference is looking at merging with the Pac 2 to give it 20 teams, and then changing its name to the Big 10+10.

“Oregon State and Washington State don’t got no where to go,” so we can get them for a song,” Big 10 spokesperson Brock Bigman said. “There’s just too many jokes about us and this’ll fix it.”

One joke that particularly bothers Bigman is, “18 out of 10 Big 10 athletes have trouble with math.”

When asked if the proposed merger will move forward, Bigman admitted there are a few hurdles to be cleared.

“We tested the new name with our football players and there was some confusion. The Michigan players thought that Big 10 + 10 meant there are 100 teams in the conference.”

“I remember this from my third grade teacher,” Michigan linebacker Sam Parson said. “Mrs. Mayfield said that you add the zero and the ones cancel. So 100. Or would that be 0?

Similarly, Washington tackle Mort Mortensen’s math was also a bit off.

“It’s a million teams, right? Ten to the tenth power? Or a billion? Or is it one? What’s the divide sign look like? There isn’t any math classes in my home economical courses so I’m kinda rusty.”

Northwestern players had no problem with the math, or with the idea.

“We don’t care who beats us,” team captain Brill Yant said.

When Pac 2 conference spokesperson Leif Bahind was contacted and asked by this reporter about joining the Big 10+10, he was not interested.

“The Big 10 had their chance. Now we’re talking with Boise State and Gonzaga about rebuilding the Pac 12. We’re going to be a power conference again.”

As this reporter was leaving the Pac 2 headquarters, Bahind caught me in the parking lot.

“Do you have a phone number for the Big 10, or email address?,” Bahind asked, out of breath from running. “Just in case we change our mind.”