...the Big 12 does need to add four more teams. At least two need to be:

* BYU - an academic high-roller at #95 Forbes plus the best overall athletic program among all contenders. BYU is also a destination region (mountains, lakes, skiing, fishing, etc.).
* South Florida or UCF - Low 200's academically, sound program, huge potential base & Cuban base, (Destination venues Disney, Epcot, Universal, etc.).

After that, CSU would make a lot of sense - meets the academic requirements, but shares that 5mm population front range. Still a very good program all the way around, nice stadium that could be expanded and academics are not bad, similar to UCF.

SDSU is a hit in my book. Yes it stretches the conference a lot, but then the footprint is huge and TV revenue potential greatly increases. Its also an academic goodie at 187 (higher ranked than Utah and several other PAC 12 programs.

Memphis is similar to Boise State academically. I think no P5 can take seriously schools that are tanked below 350. I find it interesting that WVa, Ol' Miss and Mississippi State have all plummeted in the past decade and are ranked 454, 402 and 458 respectively. WVa has dropped 40 spots, Ol' Miss nearly 50 and MSU almost 100. I spoke with one SEC fan that wonders if the conference would be better off kicking them out. Upchicky is in the 350 range. These are seriously embarrassing numbers, especially for Ol' Miss that has always prided itself on looking like the Archie comic book characters ideal campus in the 1950's.

Houston at #306 and Cincinnati #313 are at least close to the top 300. So if you are the B-12 and trying to maintain a respectable reputation for academics as well as athletics, I think you really have to pass on Memphis, Boise State (#569 now), and any program like that. I mean Louisville is in the ACC, but is more than 250 spots lower ranked than the next worst ACC team. It's just embarrassing. All the other ACC programs are country club and then there is Louisville as the pool boy. Teen movies aside, pool boys do not fit in certain snooty patootie circles. I don't make those rules. I am just laying it out there.

So if the Big 12 hangs together, I think it adds four teams because ESPN and FOX will require it. Those four are not likely to include low tier academic institutions. So the most likely 4 would be based on the above...

BYU
UCF/SOUTH FLORIDA (not both),
HOUSTON
and either CSU, CINCINNATI or possibly SDSU

No other program fits both the possible media value and the academic profiles for minimum inclusion. The existing eight would very likely retain their current Power League status because to deny them that would mean huge lawsuits and large settlements.