I can see the logic in pursuing the Chicago market, but I have to agree with bitcruncher that adding NIU is unlikely to have enough impact on that front. I still think that if the Big 12 expands, it would likely be UL/Cincy to get to 12, and then there are a range of possibilities to go to 14. I think it's extraordinarily unlikely that ND would ever join the Big 12 even as a non-football member.

I don't know how likely it is that the Big 12 moves past 10 for a while, however. While there are a number of schools that are a pretty good fit, there aren't any slam-dunk candidates out there.