Why in the world do UT and OU want to leave?
If they wanted out, they'd already be gone. OU did try to join the Pac12 with OSU, but UT balked because of the LHN deal. Pac12 wasn't interested in expanding further without UT.
DeLoss Dodds himself worked tirelessly with their AD, Jack Swarbrick, to entice ND to the Big12 during the last round of realignment. Didn't happen, IMO, mainly because most ND alums live in the ACC footprint and they made the Irish a sweetheart deal; part-time football members, full-time for all other sports - including lacrosse.
I don't think you'll ever see UT and Nebraska in the same league again - too much bad blood. Arkansas is a possibility if they'd rather play games in TX instead of the southeast.
I think what happens to all of us is we make the logical assumption that schools do what they do for the benefit of the fans.
That couldn't be further from the truth. The only time fan desires come into play is when they affect the almighty dollar.
I'll give my old, tired opinions again - as it applies to our beloved university changing its position with the conference. Permit me to do this on a step by step basis.
Opinion premise
1. The University of Texas @ Austin is a monster and trying to get it to move is like trying to turn the Titanic around in Lady Bird Lake. So the first problem is simply logistic.
2. Never forget this and I will come back to it in a minute. Money, cash, lucre, pesos, dollars, bottom line - the core driving psychic of the university's existence. From the Texas legislature down to the illegal alien mopping the classroom floors. This is why the university exists today. If we had no sports programs at all, this would still be the driving reason for the school to open its classroom doors. Okay, later on this.
3. Power - UT is in the top five of powerful universities in this country. It will not relinquish this under any circumstances. Nor will it take the remotest perceived chance of losing its power.
4. Politics - The school is a political animal and, as such, is affected by the political whims of whomever is currently the power of the state.
5. Administration - puppets to the lege and to whomever hold the majority of the purse strings.
6. Student body - Ha, ha, ha.
7. Alumni - only as they affect the cash flow of operating costs and new construction.
Premise opinions
1. If you think this could change, I suggest you buy a lottery ticket. Your big day is coming.
2. As the conference stands now, UT is still the center piece and the existing power. The Big 12 is the best vehicle to a national championship and therefore - additional revenues. And it needs revenues - oh, how it needs them. UT has an operating cost that is bigger than some small countries GNP. so it doesn't give a diddly about anything that would be a liability rather than a financial asset. So when we opine about lovely little scenarios, without taking money into consideration, we are just whistling Dixie. Because if UT ain't making money on the deal, there is no deal.
3. There is no scenario whereby UT joins another conference that it will retain the power it has in the Big 12. And power is, you guessed it, money.
4. Aggy literally did UT a favor by retreating to the SEC. It set a precedent whereby UT doesn't have to piggyback TTU if it moves to another conference. That being said, Baylor has some powerful members of congress and they certainly affected the talks of moving to the PAC without them.
5. This paradigm could finally change with the hiring of the Chancellor. Heroes don't put up with outside interference very well. At least that is what I hope.
6. Only if they affect the bottom line.
7. UT being a political organization and a whore, will always be guided by the whims of idiots with money.
So, if we use the bottom line as a basis for considering changes to the Big 12, it creates an interesting and new perspective on how this can be achieved - doesn't it?
