JR, thanks for the thoughtful and provoking post about the SEC's future in light of the Big 12. I tend to agree that the whole can be greater than the sum of the parts when considering Texas Tech and Oklahoma State joining the fray. With more and more concern about actual viewership and attendance to ball games, it is high time that conference leaders consider compelling partnerships and competitions rather than forced ventures (see American Athletic Conference).

I am fully behind your strategy to getting to 20 schools out of the Big 12 as long as Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas all come together, but I think we have got to keep a strategy open for Florida State, Clemson, and perhaps a few others from the ACC to join in the coming decades as the opportunity arises. As public education continues to consolidate, I believe we will see more "State" schools rise to prominence and serve as a complementary partner to the flagships.