2. Pac 10/Big 12 network with the at least 1 non con matchup for each team - may be hard to do with the 12 v 10 thing.
This is kind of what I was thinking. Would be hilarious if it ended up being worth more to each school than the Big 10 network.
Sugar Dick's Take:
I think the whole "jump to the Big 10" is a short-sighted move (bent on frustration/anger in Mizery's case). Depending on what the other conferences do, this could end up being worse than the "wait and see" approach taken by the Big XII and other conferences. Of course, given the track record of the Big XII it's a risk I'm sure MU and NU were willing to take.
Let's face it, this is entirely Football motivated (i.e. Nebraska and Notre Dame) because that's where the money is (probably could have just said money motivated). The Big 10 has been a putrid football conference for 10 years and has been riding its legacy into BCS ass whoopings for too long. After a while that's going to catch up with them, whether it be TV ratings, recruiting, BCS waking up, fan outrage, whatever. Brand recognition only goes so far.
The part that has me worried, is the Big 10 execs understand this and begun making moves to mitigate it. The problem they have is they are constrained by geography (having 25 varsity sports is a weakness these schools have), so these are their best options, and are not ideal. In my world it's desperation to keep the conference competitive with the real powers, disguised as "we're the best" bullshit.
Academics, basketball, and all other sports aren't even worth talking about, but make for great disc jockey talking points. LOL at anyone seriously bringing that to the convo.