No one likes to be last and the Big 12 is considered last amongst the power conferences. If the American was given power conference status it would do two things for the Big12. One the Big 12 would no longer be considered the last power conference that honor would go to the American and we would accept it with pride. And two when the Big 12 does expanded at some point if the American has power conference status then the Big 12 would have a better group of schools to choose from of course it would be the same group of schools but we would all have upped our status in recruiting money prestige etc. The Big 12 would already know who could compete and grow their program at that level because they would be taking schools that would already be at the Power conference level. They would use us like the ACC used the Big East .