Burton covers Texas at 247Sports.

With conference expansion now seemingly all but a foregone conclusion based on the events of yesterday, there are two pressing matters to discuss.
Which schools are the best fits to join the conference? And what does the future for Texas look like as a result of this decision?

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Debates over which schools are best to join the conference can be had. The general candidates are:

Houston
Memphis
Cincinnati
UConn
Central Florida
South Florida
BYU

Here's the problem with that list. Five of those seven schools are considered "commuter" schools, which tend to breed the lifetime loyalty of its students (both former and current) about as much as San Jacinto Junior College does. If the Big 12 expands to 14, it's a given that Houston, Memphis and Cincinnati will be three of the four. The fourth comes down to UConn or either of the directional Florida schools with the likely preference of UCF.
If it's just two teams, it'll likely be Cincinnati and Memphis or Cincinnati and Houston.

However, what could throw a real wrench in the plans of those commuter schools is if a school from a Power 5 school wants to throw its hat in the ring. But I think the likelihood of that ever getting much traction is remote because, based on the people I have spoken to at Texas, I doubt Texas is willing to give the assurances necessary to any such incoming member regarding its long-term commitment to the conference. So while some may mention Missouri, Nebraska, Colorado, Arizona and Arizona State as possible additions, none of those schools would leave their current deals for a Big 12 that did not include a long-term commitment from Texas.

The only assurance Texas, or any school for that matter, could truly give to any newcomer is the "grant of rights" to the league that is currently in place. That grant for Texas and all of teams of the Big 12 extends to 2025. Yet I don't see an extension of the grant of rights occurring based on my discussion with a high-ranking Texas official this morning. "I do not like any of the choices," the official said. "(I) want to watch to see if there is a move to extend the grant of TV rights. I will fight that tooth and nail." So there you have it. There will be multiple discussions and iterations of a possible newly minted Big 12 with new teams, but Texas is unlikely willing to bestow its TV rights beyond 2025. That means the Big 12 will be looking primarily at adding commuter schools, which, in turn, only means Texas is likely headed to either the Big 10, SEC or Pac-12 come 2025.

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As for my opinion on the matter, I think Texas is a better fit in the Big 10 or SEC in the future. I'd personally favor the SEC, but it's my understanding that Texas president Greg Fenves and UT chancellor William McRaven both prefer the Big 10. In that case, expect Texas to ask for an annual trip to Chicago (playing either Northwestern or Illinois 80 miles down the road from there) and to either of the East Coast markets (either DC, by playing Maryland, or NYC, by playing Rutgers
[Post edited by nebraskafaninwi at 07/20/2016 6:14PM]