The Big 12 is the Texas Boys Club. TCU got in by shmoozing and boozing (wish we thought of that). They are the same guys that passed on Louisville for who-knows-why. The Big 12 was wounded and desperate at the time they were talking to BYU. BYU wasn't sure that the Big 12 would be around very long, what with Texas and OU likely going to the Pac 12. So I'm sure BYU had reservations and wanted some things (probably wanted something similar to what Texas had), and the Texas Boys Club decided to stick it to us.

By the way, there are a lot of accounts of how the Texas/Pac12 deal went down. From what I've read, it pretty much came down to the night before it was going to be announced before Texas withdrew. But the other Big 12 members were making plans for a Texas/OU/TT/OSU-less Big 12. They were even meeting/making calls about creating that "Best of the Rest" conference. So if actual members of the Big 12 were thinking that Texas/OU were gone, why blame BYU for worrying about the same thing? Had that merger happened, the Big 12 wouldn't have been a significantly better option that the former Big East. I'm sure they would have been stripped of their BCS label and bowl contracts would be re-drawn. From BYU's chair, if it can get into the drivers seat should the big boys bolt for the Pac12, it might be worth it to them. Otherwise, it's basically a coin toss between the "new" Big 12 and the "new" Big East (now AAC).

But Texas stayed. BYU was passed over. The rest is history. I wish we would have taken a chance and done whatever we could to get in, but it was such a fragile situation. For all we know, BYU joining the Big 12 could have pushed Texas and Co. out the door.