This is an error in thinking.

You do not build a conference based on one metric. You do not build a conference based on the metrics of today, or next week, next month or even next year. You build a conference strategically - i.e., for the long haul.

Texas and Texas A&M are the big dogs in Texas. No matter what the other universities in Texas do on the gridiron, courts, or in academics, they will never equal or excel Texas or Texas A&M.

Texas and Texas A&M are SEC powers now and they will suck up the best and maximum recruits they can from a state of 29 million people that is expected to grow to another 11 million people in 20 years. Texas already produces more college football P5 level players than any other state. Adding another 11 million will only expand that pool.

The BIg-12 has to own the best of what is left after Texas and Texas A&M take their shares. They have to curtail other SEC schools in that pool and the only way to do that is to give all those High School kids the chance to play in front of mon, dad and grams on a regular basis. Plus, High School coaches build relationships with universities in Texas - it is a tight-knit world there between High School coaches and college coaches.

With that in mind, the Big-12 must add Houston if they only move to 12 and if they move to 16, add SMU as well. This will provide the five best options for ending any other advances into Texas by another conference. SMU and Houston are currently feeding recruits into the AAC. That would end and keep the Texas media market in Big-12 hands notwithstanding the SEC coverage of Texas and A&M.

This would put ten games on the market inside Texas for the BIg-12. All of these teams have history with each other and that is something that is being lost in all of these moves. Rivalry games like the Iron Skillet between TCU (Fort Worth) and SMU (Dallas) would have more meaning.

So, for fans, they say neither Houston or SMU move the needle. What needle? The Needle that only moves when a heavy weight walks by? Guess what, there are no more heavy weights walking by. You build a conference based on as much commonality as you can. Other fans complain that bringing Houston creates competitive recruiting. And? Do they not already compete for those same recruits? If your recruiting team is afraid, get a new one.

There is no reason beyond the beauty contest that either Houston or SMU should not be in the Big-12. Surely, Hokies understand this...how many years did the ACC tell you guys you were dogs and too inbred to be part of their club? That was nothing but a snobbery beauty contest.

The Big-12 needs to be run by people who do not think like a princess and frankly, most fans do.