UConn and the East Coast have little in common with the other Big 12 schools. WVU is actually a pretty good Big 12 cultural fit. Who cares if they're on an island? You don't shift the entire conference's identity and power because of an outlier - WVU knew what they were getting into when they joined.

And what happens if the ACC or SEC invites WVU? or UConn? They gone. Big 12 should do itself a favor and keep WVU on its island.

With more eastern expansion, the Big 12 would compete directly against the SEC, B1G, and ACC for eyeballs - and it would lose. You think UConn and Cincinnati are going to help the Big 12 compete against Ohio St., Michigan, Penn St.? Alabama, Florida, Georgia? Florida St., Clemson, and North Carolina? Notre Dame? Nope.

Univ. of Houston is having great success recruiting against the Big 12 right now. Top-25 classes. The Red Cougars also had two of the top-10 college football games in 2015 in the Houston market. Big 12 only had 6 of the top-20. Losing Texas A&M and the SEC's increased presence in Houston has hurt the Big 12 substantially. Univ of Houston is hurting the Big 12 right in its front yard.

So, Big 12 should add Houston and Memphis to re-establish the Big 12's influence in its own footprint and to push back against the SEC West. There's a greater chance that the Big 12 can develop more rivalries that matter if it expands its footprint into contiguous territory. UConn-Kansas St. isn't likely to develop into something, but Houston-Kansas St. could or Kansas St.-Memphis. Big 12 fans can actually get to these games. And what games is the casual college football fan going to watch? Oklahoma-UConn or Oklahoma-Houston? Kansas St.-UConn or Kansas St-Memphis?

Then, add BYU and Colorado St. to push back the PAC 12 in Denver and Salt Lake City. You've expanded the Big 12 footprint in ways that will secure markets, but even better, secure matchups that can get NATIONAL ratings.

EAST: Kansas, KSU, Iowa St., WVU, TCU, Memphis, Houston
WEST: Texas, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, OSU, Baylor, BYU, Colorado St.

This gets everyone in Texas each year. The Big 12 footprint would be contiguous from BYU to Houston to Iowa St. 12 of the 14 schools in contiguous states - and Memphis is just barely the other side of Arkansas - within reasonable driving distance from half the conference. And, you can still sell Memphis as a "bridge" to Morgantown. (Is Cincinnati *really* a "bridge"? It's over 300 miles away from WVU and 600 miles to the next closest Big 12 school - Iowa St.; 900 miles from DFW).

WVU remains on its island, but fits culturally. And the Big 12 doesn't risk dealing with an eastern mess if WVU leaves.

BYU, CSU, Memphis, and Houston play each other more often in cross-division play to allow legacy schools to play each other in cross-division more frequently.