The dust is starting to settle, the Big 12 was left for dead years ago. And then again when the Texas and Oklahoma left. Now they are seen in a position of strength.
These things change all the time. The ACC is locked unless something drastic happens. When the Big 12’s contract comes due next, I believe 2030, if necessary, the ACC could most definitely steal some teams that fit geographically.
ESPN lost this series of conference realignment. If they settle down and get everything in order, they may be in a better position in 7 years where they want to take back some teams.
Ultimately, what’s best for the athletes and the fans? A system similar to the NFL. 80 teams under one umbrella. Small pods of “divisions” based on geography within a larger subset of conferences also based on geography. You get rid of the 1aa games and the non p5 puff schools and every week is a must watch game. At the end of the year, 12 teams or 16 teams make the playoffs.
This allows football to make absurds amount of money and the Olympic sports play local games with lower travel costs.
The biggest problem with this? The confrence affiliates will lose their lunch money. This is in the best interest of all the schools but all the conference employees and all the conference commissioners would be jetsoned aside and lose jobs and income. Instead of 15 commissioners that line their pockets and the NCAA, only 1 commissioner would line his pockets. For this reason, the Big10, SEC, etc will never advocate for this model. They will do whatever they can to keep status qou and keep growing to save there jobs and income.