...with little shock, getting there rapidly. The fact is, only academies and faiths universities the likes of the above can make independence in CFB work. Having ggv said that, zinc believe most of the media running around the Big 12 are total doom and gloom head cases. Thet are so used to Oklahoma and Texas being the flagship and Carrier of the conference, they completely forget the other eight programs are power programs and that doesn't suddenly change if they project themselves as equals and not needing OU or Texas. If anything the right move for the Big12 is to take the approach, we lost 20% of the conference and there are far better partners out there that are less likely to mess up the conference with rumors and instabilities every spring/summer. If I am Bob Bowlsby at this time, U am gathering the presidents in close and telling them, act like we just scored and let's get some new partners that are easier with whom to work in the future. Texas and Oklahoma take 40% of the TV revenue with them, but now it also means the value additions of say UCF, BYU, Houston, Cincinnati, or maybe big growing media and destination markets like Las Vegas, San Diego suddenly become relatively valuable when stacked against a KSU, ISU, OkSt, KU, Texas Tech, Baylor and TCU. BYU, Houston and Central Florida alone will make up in terms of eyes and potential probably half again the loss of Texas and OU. The point is, the remaining 8 are not going to other P4 conferences because they have little value if added. But keeping together and building 4 new markets to replace essentially a fraction of Texas and Oklahoma is a no brainer.

Suppose the existing 8 were bringing in $30m each while OU and Texas took in $45m each. Adding 4 good "ready for prime time" programs in big media markets or a national BYU may not keep the next contract at $30m/each of the current eight. But may e a step tier allows them to stay in the $25m range while 4 newbies build to equality at that level over 5 seasons and THAT is far better than finding out the next contract is MWC or AAC worthy because the only decent city on the footprint is Dallas-FtWorth.

Also, those farmland universities need businesses tg hat will both continue to support them and will sponsor key players under new NIL contracts. The remaining 8 need those corporations and where are the biggies? Cincinnati and SLC/Itah Co are host to around 60 Fortune 500 companies. Dallas is there but Central Florida (Epcot-Disney & Universal). I just do not see the Big 12 breaking up. I think THEY HAVE TO put on a HAPPY FACE, KICK THE SCREEN DOOR CLOSED ON PRIMA DONNAS OU and TEXAS and be prepared to move on and continue claiming POWER CONFERENCE STATUS. Unlike the AAC, the B12 starts with eight programs already P5 since forever (except TCU and the frogs were a SEC program for 70 years befor the MWC. It starts with credibility. It isn't going to squander that if UT and OU leave.

The reality is, the conference can say Ginger (OU and Texas) may have been rescued from the island, but Maryann (sadly for us children of the '60's she died two weeks ago) was better looking, and cooked up fantastic grub from coconuts and a palm leaves better than a real chief. We may have liked the idea of Ginger as a one night stand, but we all wanted to mary Maryann. The Big 12 still has its Maryanns and adding four more will save the island.