Texas can't write it's own ticket because its football team has been great the past 10 years. Texas can write its own ticket because it is the flagship university in the 2nd biggest state. When the governor of Texas speaks, things happen.

Oklahoma doesn't have that advantage and is considerably more vulnerable. It is the premier university in a medium-size state (1mn more in population than Utah). However, it does have a tradition of excellence in football that helps. It also has some oil and gas wealth in the state that helps. But Oklahoma may not be able to write its own ticket in 2024 if football were to be as subpar as Nebraska's has been over the past 8 years. Still, Oklahoma is more populous than Nebraska and Kansas and Arkansas and Iowa, so it has decent political pull and decent revenue potential even if the team is average.

When you factor in the Church connections along with BYU-I and BYU-H alums generally being BYU fans, BYU probably has the same size of net that Oklahoma does. But there is a big difference that 8 years of good sports teams wouldn't solve. BYU is a Mormon school. That carries a serious stigma in the higher education world and in the media world. It's also in the middle of nowhere. And then there is Sunday play.

I hate to say it, but BYU could win the Big12 for 8 straight years and still not get an offer to the PAC, BIG or SEC upon dissolution of the Big12.