Makes me nervous. Cinn. a shoe -in for 1 spot. They have been telling recruits for 2 years that they are headed to B12. Last spot between Memphis-UCF-Houston-UC.
Cincinnati is not a shoe-in. Their market metrics in the analysis the Big XII did were poor. They are somewhat close to WVU, have decent grad school research and field competitive but never championship caliber teams. They are in a decent recruiting ground, but really don't add anything. K-State isn't beating out Ohio State for kids in Ohio.
UConn leads by miles for markets. (Houston is strong but UT already covers it) It leads in academics. It leads in all sports aside from football. It leads in overall athletic budget. It's the only state flagship land grant university being considered. That matters in the midwest. It's the only team that is actually the #1 team in its home DMA.
UCF has size, a good market and recruiting locale. It's not close to #1 in that market however. Academics are just ok, below average. Aside from occasional football success under a coach who is now gone, they suck at most other sports.
Memphis has smaller market and is a weak 3rd choice (at best) in that market. It's academics are way below the Big XII average. It has no football history of success. It has had some basketball success, but trails UConn by miles and even Cinci there. Offers nothing really other than being closer geographically.
BYU has a strong national brand. Good academics. Solid football history and great support for it from fans. Decent basketball too. The local market is small, but the LDS provides national reach. Negatives include no Sunday play and a network that is incompatible with a future Big XII network. Reports are that Fox/ESPN want eastern time zone content.