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Good question:
The snubbing of TCU/Baylor leaves me questioning why the SEC, Big Ten, Pac 12 and ACC ("Power 4") even allow the Big 12 to participate in their system and give them the $50mm base for the CFP....
1) The Big 12 does not offer as much TV viewership/interest in its footprint as the other leagues
1) a) Texas A&M already represents essentially the only populous state in the Big 12
2) The Big 12 does not have as the quantity of teams to offer compelling OOC matchups (ie, more compelling TV inventory synergies) to other conferences
3) The Big 12 does not play by the same rules in so far as having a league championship game (sure this was a disadvantage this year, but could easily benefit OU or Texas at some point)
So my question is, what is it that compels these other four power leagues to even engage the Big 12? Why not squeeze them out and make them die? This would decrease the supply of CFB games, which would increase the value of the remaining Power 4 games. It would simplify a more clear path to declaring a National Champion. Sure it would suck for the universities there, which could have been us, but why is that an obligation of the Power 4?
Maybe it would be so aggressive that it would have political backlash that would get the government involved in regulating things to ensure everyone has a fair chance. What if the Power 4 let in the MWC instead? Or the MAC? Or just mandated that only 14+ team leagues with Championships can participate...
What is better for CFB overall, a Power 4 or Power 5?
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