Texas is the lifeblood of the Big XII. If they decide to pull up stakes, the Big XII will fold, simple as that. And that statement isn't a reflection on anything any of the other schools bring to the table.

No question about it, but I don't see them being the first, or even the second, to leave. I think they'll hold out hope of the Big XII surviving since they pretty much run the conference. That won't happen if they go to the Pac-10.

I don't get how you can say that Nebraska is the key. If your point is that the league could survive losing just Mizzou, then the same point would stand regarding losing just Nebraska.

Overall, the league would much rather lose the Nebraska market than the Missouri market. These television contracts pay based on the number of people in the viewing area.

Counts towards what? Is that somehow factored into the television contracts, some sort of cache multiplier?

I'm late to the thread, but isn't Texas working on its own TV network, which would broadcast most Big XII games, not just their own? That would be an economic windfall for them, and most likely reason not to leave. But, if that idea falls through (or they get a can't refuse offer).....

I've said multiple times that the league isn't going to be in trouble unless BOTH TEAMS leave. I don't know how I can be any more clear about that. I'm working under the assumption that MU leaving is a foregone conclusion, and whether or not NU follows is the key to the future of the Big XII.

I simply do not see NU leaving on their own.

You do realize that Nebraska had 10 games on national television last year, right? There is no Big 12 network, so I don't see how any of the "markets" you're talking about even apply to this. MU market will matter when they go to the B10, a conference with an actual network.

That's pretty much the way I see it. They'd love to have their own network, but the question is, is it going to be viable if the the only other major power in the conference is OU? They need to decide if having more control of a weaker Big XII is going to be more beneficial to them than being a part of a major conference. I'd be really surprised if they went that route, but they might just be arrogant enough to give it a go.

Here is my question, with the Big 10s inability to count correctly, will they still call it the Big 10 when and if they expand to 16?

It will be officially known as the Big Bunch of Schools Here Conference.

It factors into the awarding of bowl bids and tv viewership.

SMU must draw some major ratings, then. They have a lot of history.

That is reasonable, but that is different than saying that what Missouri does makes no difference. I would postulate that Colorado holds a much bigger hammer than Nebraska, though. If Missouri leaves, I think Colorado bolts as well. Then the league is pretty well cooked, as they would have lost every major market outside of Texas.

I don't think so. The Big 15 seems most likely.

I can see you are emotionally invested in this; I'm not saying anything negative about MU.

I would be glad to have Nebraska football joining the Big10 and I would welcome the Missouri athletic and academic package with open arms as well, both would be quality additions.