[duncan_idaho]

Well, yesterday was interesting. Second straight year the PAC steps back from the ledge JUST in time to keep from really blowing things up.

I am actually fine with staying in the Big 12 for a few more years, biding time for the eventual collapse, and reaping some benefits. I think some concessions need to be made re: the Longhorn network - mostly that no high school games/highlights are shown on it, and that they are limited in the number of Big 12 games that can be shown on it.

The revenue sharing piece doesn't really bother me. Texas already has way more money than anyone else (Same with OU). And Missouri actually shakes out towards the top in the unequal distribution. So no real problems for me there. Plus, with the TV rights staying where they are (unless there's a renegotiation if BYU/Louisville/etc join), the money will be competitive for the next few years (basically, the same amount of time that UT and OU have committed to).

There are some real positives to staying in the Big 12, if it survives.

1) Being No. 3 in the pecking order behind OU and UT. This is not a bad place to be from a money standpoint, or a competition standpoint. Football will have a great chance to win 9-10 games a year in this conference.

2) Texas recruiting. Go ask Arkansas - a school that is closer to Texas, has more history in Texas, and used to recruit Texas like crazy - how much they like recruiting Texas from the SEC, while the Big 12 puts a dome around the state. It would fall off - perhaps significantly - if Missouri goes to the SEC while the Big 12 still exists.

3) Missouri can improve its attractiveness. Look at what has happened and how the perception of Missouri football has changed in the past five years. What would another five years of Pinkel-led 9-10 win seasons do for program prestige?

The main things that make Mizzou attractive to other conferences - population, TV markets, single state-level school, research university - aren't going anywhere.

Missouri will have the same - if not better - options when this does finally blow up. Until then, I've got no problem sitting tight, watching the Tigers challenge a lot in football, and waiting for conference armageddon to revisit the scene.