Look at the following non conference home games.

2024: Nevada and Dixie State
2026: Arizona and USF
2028: Miami and Ole Miss
2030: NC State and Virginia Tech
2032: Michigan State and Army

When you look at the odd years only 1 non conference home game is scheduled. It seems to me a pattern is emerging. If TH indeed said 7 home games would be rare as you said then reasons stands he would take 4 Big 12 home games in even years based on how the schedule is lined up. That means there would have to be 5 home games in odd years.

It just seems like a lot of unnecessary work to rearrange all those even year non-conference games. Plus those even year home matchups are valuable inventory for the Conference’s next TV deal. Replacing them with an FCS opponent would be extremely unwise financially. Those are prime evening slots that could draw in big east coast audiences on Saturday late games.