B1G added Rutgers directly from the Big East and the ACC added Pitt, Syracuse, and Louisville (to replace Maryland) directly from the Big East.

Big 12 could legitimize growth to 14 teams if it included:

- BYU because it is independent and CURRENTLY recognized as a P5 opponent by SEC, ACC, and B1G; plus BYU has H-H contracts with 80% of the PAC on future schedules. BYU was also one of the Big Three of the old MWC with TCU and Utah;

- then take UConn, Cincinnati, and USF - who were Big East conference mates with Rutgers, Pitt, Syracuse, Louisville, and WVU.

The Big 12 PR machine could then push the narrative that the Big 12 is simply adding the remaining real POWER teams that were displaced in the wake of realignment.

The Big 12 could still leave open the door to grow to 16 schools with UCF and Houston with the narrative that UCF has 50K+ students in a terrific market and that Houston has 40K students in a top-10 market , with little push back.