And this is why the un equal revenue was set up when the Big 12 launched. It was a lightning rod of the excuses why certain teams left but looking back at it.. it was a good model.This reminds me of my time as superintendent in a small school district. Most small schools join together to provide special education services in a cooperative manner. We had one school district that was growing and getting close to being large enough to go it alone. In fact, being in the co-op was costing them more. I could see they were getting ready to go it alone and that was going to hit us hard. We needed them, they didn't need us. Myself and two other superintendents motioned for the other schools to collectively pick up the extra expenses in order to entice the larger district to remain in the co-op. We got out voted 4-3. Because some of the smaller ones wouldn't pick up an extra 6-8%, our cost to provide special education services went up 15% per year for the next three years! Penny wise, pound foolish.
Let's face it. Texas Tech, TCU and K-State need OU and Texas to make it. OU and Texas would make it without them. Same can be said for every other P5 conference.
Big 12 could go back to it, but with UT and ou having its own tier 3 deal, it won't.