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Message: [QUOTE="champs99and04, post: 4668613, member: 488"] These things are all true. Unfortunately, most of them are things that mean more to other conferences - like the Big Ten - than they would to the Big 12. Again, UConn's biggest problem here is that the Big 12 is still - despite some positive momentum lately - a conference in survival mode. Perception matters a lot to any business in that category, and the perception is that UConn dilutes the football brand, doesn't fit culturally, and creates more travel headaches. The Big 12 has no presence in NYC and likely never will. UConn joining may change that marginally, but without a marquee draw like OU or Texas to draw people to the city for potential games at Metlife or Yankee Stadium, the benefits will remain limited. Minus OU and Texas, it's not a league blessed with a lot of brand appeal or valuable TV markets. Moving forward, any path towards remaining a viable power conference will include prioritizing its strengths and doubling down on them. That means strong football programs, passionate football fanbases, and strong recruiting grounds. Every school they've added to their league has checked at least two of those boxes. UConn offers a lot of potential, but doesn't really check any of them for now. [/QUOTE]