That's the problem. Who out there is deserving of being elevated to Power 5 conference status without lowering the quality of the conference? Cincinnati? UCF? Boise State? Well, Boise State might be worthy but they are not in a large enough TV market to bring anything to the table.
They call themselves the Big 12. So yes, it is their fault for not having enough and not having a CCG. The Pac 10 got ripped for years for not having a CCG (rightly so) so in 2011 we added 2 teams and CCG. Get with the program or get screwed.
Agree, I know a couple years ago Louisville was ready to join. There was talk of bringing in BYU but that stalled. They had chances but went with sticking to ten for some reason. From what I understand they have no desire to expand to 12. That may be changing.
I had only 2 teams before this week....Alabama and Oregon. The rest all have decent arguments. Head to head does make a difference although that game had little defense from either team. The SEC CCG did not feature the two best teams IMO or the two playing the best football at the moment. Richt should be coaching USC....his 1 or 2 game stupid loss penchant would fit right in out here. It's occasionally dangerous to be overly committed to specific teams prior to the last weekend. I seem to recall an LSU team that needed a lot of help....and got it. Rightfully so because even with 2 losses, that team was playing great football down the stretch.
The PAC 12 added Colorado and Utah. CU from the Big 12 and Utah from wherever. But both are in decent TV markets, Denver and Salt Lake City. Who is the Big 12 going to add who is worthy and can bring the big screen eyeballs to the TV advertisers? There has be some talk of Cincinnati. Decent market but they would lower the RPI of the conference. UCF? Same thing.
ESPN just interviewed the Big 12 commissioner. I'll give him credit. He pretty much admitted that his head has been somewhere else other than above his shoulders.
Houston and Rice used to be in the Old Southwest Conference but were left by the wayside when Texas, ATM, TT and Baylor joined with the Big 8 to become the Big 12. Rice will never elevate their program to a status worthy of being in a big time conference and Houston has on occasion been decent but not often enough. Besides, the Big 12 doesn't need a team in Houston. Texas gets all the Houston TV viewers in the Big 12 and wants to keep it that way. ATM has lots more fans in Houston than Houston and Rice put together. That's why they were attractive enough to get into the SEC.
