To show that they have leverage to form a new conference with some members of the Big XII. They're not going to let the Big XII think they have the upper hand. The bottom dwellers of the Pac-12 shouldn't see this as a breath of new life in the Pac-12. Their only true destiny is the MWC when the dust settles. As one poster pointed out below, this is a staring contest between the Pac-12 and Big XII.