That Guy,
Do you attend football games? If not, I have two tickets for you for the opener against NC St. The only catches are a) you have to get to my tailgate to pick them up 9I'll be happy to provide you with some food and drink before the game) and b) you'll need to stop by after the game for a beer as evidence that you remained for the game.
Our chance to land in a power conference will come if our football program starts winning games and drawing fans. While I believe it was being very narrow minded, I can see the concern many B-12 schools had about our football program and why they would prefer the safe play (adding schools that do have a football track record, even if some of those aren't anything special) over one that doesn't.
If our football program can reach, or ideally succeed what we did from 2007-2010 and we fill the house the way we did then, we will be in the conversation.
The B-12 (if we got there) was little more than a bridge. A bridge that offered large financial and competitive benefits over our current situation but still a bridge. When they reach the point where they have to negotiate their next media deal (~2030) they'll be where the PAC was the past few months. If the goal is to get full membership in the B-12 when they next need to replace someone, our chances would be pretty similar if we remain where we are or joined them for basketball only (unless they offered considerably more money than the BE pays). Beyond that, at that point joining the B-12 would possibly be permanently limiting us to second tier status.
Do I like where we are at the moment? No. Am I ready to give up on the future? Not yet.