I wonder what will happen when the playoffs inevitably expand and whether the timing will be early enough to affect any changes when the Pac, Big 12, and Big 10 contracts go up.
I initially thought that playoff expansion would make leaving the Big 12 a more or less moot point for Texas and OU. An expanded playoff either codifies a spot for the Big 12 champ or at least all but guarantees the Big 12 a spot, short of the conference being mediocre, headed by a weak 9- or 10-win team. If the set up guarantees a spot for each P5 champ, then it might be better to stay, as wildcard spots will be limited. However, if they keep the committee approach and pick a Top 8, what really holds us back from leaving for another conference? In that scenario several conferences are getting in at least 2 teams every year and perhaps more if the rules don't limit each conference to 2 teams. The fear of getting left out by being in a bigger conference with more top-level competition is somewhat lessened, while the dollars earned would be huge.