... tell ASU, Oregon State, and Wazzu "Peace out. We're going to Big Ten." Would never happen. Ever.

Only speaking for AZ, but the Arizona Board of Regents, the AZ legislature, and the governor, (even the AZ congressional delegation) would never let that happen. Not. A. Chance.

*** I might add too that the only reason ASU is not an AAU member is because it is insufficiently selective in its undergraduate admissions. Imagine that; a public university that exists to educate as many qualified students as possible. (FWIW, ASU's federal research awards exceed many existing AAU members.)