Yep, the Big 12 actually had some intense discussions with Pitt while they were looking around, but they chose the ACC for at least a couple of reasons. One, geographic proximity. And two, because when they were talking to us, they got a glimpse of just how incredibly dysfunctional we were at the time.
What might have been. If we had pulled in Pitt and Louisville, that would have put a huge crimp in the ACC's ability to replenish their ranks and expand to match the size of the Big 10 and SEC. That could have been enough to keep schools like FSU and Clemson from signing a GOR a year later and given the Big 12 the chance to pick the ACC apart.
How does a conference like this sound to you? At the time NU and CU had left, but MU and A&M were still here. Neither TCU nor WVU had been contacted yet.
Texas
Texas A&M
Texas Tech
Baylor
Oklahoma
Oklahoma St.
Kansas
Kansas St.
Florida St.
Miami
Clemson
Georgia Tech
Louisville
Pitt
Iowa St.
Missouri