the Big XIV and Big XVI. The conference bought the rights at the same time they copyrighted the Big XII name. At the time the conference had the vision about the possibility of expanding the number of members. I am not sure the conference has completely lost that vision. I agree that UConn currently doesn't make a lot of sense. However, it does make sense when you consider that the eastern TV markets are more valuable than the western TV markets. If the Big XII wanted to become the Big XVI, then it could look something like this (assuming there are no changes to the other power conferences):

East Division: UConn, WVU, Cincy, ECU, UCF, USF, Memphis, Iowa St
West Division: Oklahoma, Okla State, Texas, TX Tech, Baylor, TCU, Kansas, Kansas St

Now while some of the names may not look impressive for football and/or basketball, it would spread the conference just enough to where the conference could gain exposure in every major TV market between the East Coast and the Great Plains. Plus, if a school was willing leaving another power conference, then the Big XII would naturally be willing to adjust its end goal.

I realize it is a big gamble for UConn to assume that the Big XII has an end goal of establishing a division in the eastern TV markets. However, UConn may not see it as that big of a risk since adding WVU to the conference could be the first piece of the puzzle. Besides there isn't that much of a difference between the AAC and the Big XII when you consider the "western" members of the conference.

Full members: Tulane, Memphis, Houston, Tulsa, and SMU
Associated members (rowing): CS-Sacramento and San Diego State