Sorry, but I'm in the overexpand boat too. The B12 expansion talk seems to be only driven by what is the least possible means necessary for a Championship Game. I can understand that view, especially when it's baked into the whole "12 team pie split 10 ways" argument. But of greater concern to the majority of the conference (read: anyone not named Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas) is the long-term viability of the Big 12.
Individually, the remaining 7 schools don't have much of a leg to stand on. But collectively, they should have more of a forum. And their forum is simple: "we don't want to be relegated to G5 status once you three leave in 2025." To do that, you have to think about who is attractive to other conferences (read: the ACC) and would hurt their "P4" profile.
If the B12 added, in one fell swoop, UConn, Cincinnati, USF, UCF, Memphis, and Houston to get to 16, they could form an East division and West division and virtually guarantee that the best team out of the OU, Texas, TCU, Baylor grouping will play a weaker East team in the Championship Game and get to the Playoff. A bigger move like that also takes every single viable ACC option off the table should a school bolt the conference to join the B1G or SEC. Then once that train gets rolling, the B12 could poach UL and Pitt and 2 others to get to 20 and secure its hold as a P4 conference.
Believe me, I know that such a move is the longest of long shots and the odds of me winning $1B Powerball are greater than the B12 thinking about its long term interests, but it is certainly an option that should be explored. Even if it's over some moonshine, BBQ, cheese and crackers, and clogging.
