This is a hubristic observation:
… Some think the Big 12 could make up some of the difference with higher penetration from a more loyal fan base. Officials at Nebraska, for instance, think its market penetration would be higher than any school in the Big Ten or SEC.
Do they now. So how come they aren’t getting paid like a Florida or an Ohio State already? My guess is that Stewart Mandel’s buddies from Montana are as aware of the Nebraska brand as they are of the other two schools, so either the Cornhusker brain trust is more inept than its peers in wringing value out of that, or they’re talking out of their asses.
I’m picking the latter. ESPN isn’t known for leaving broadcast revenue on the table. Good luck with that whole Big XII Network thing, guys.
Get The Picture 
There are only 1.7M people living in Nebraska to being with. They would better served to compare their potential market penetration to a school like West Virginia which has a slightly higher population and is a rural state with extremely devoted fans. Per capita, both are great, but there just isn’t enough “capita” there to excite the networks. If you’re a TV executive which would you prefer, 25% of potential viewers from Florida’s 18M+ for a Gator game or 50% of Nebraska’s to watch the Huskers?
With so many games being televised, the name cachet for Nebraska isn’t what it was back when ABC had a monopoly on national college football broadcasts and players from around the country went to NU because they were always on TV, along with Ohio St., Mich, USC, Bama, Okla, Tx, and of course Notre Dame. Today there is no reason for a kid from the Southeast or California to play for Nebraska in order to get national exposure and a shot at a title. The better question is, “Why would he?”. From looking at how NU football has performed from over the past decade, it becomes clear that the 85 scholarship rule, increased national competition for recruits, and being a small population state without great instate talent are major factors in Nebraska’s inability to maintain the dominance it exhibited through the mid 90’s.
Outside of Texas, sparse population over the Big XII footprint can’t be understated.
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ECD, you just made a great argument for Texas leaving the Big 12. In fact, that is a really good argument for the entire Big 12 South to leave and form a new conference with a couple of other teams like Houston and TCU. Hey, they could call it the South West Conference!
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Houston and TCU? Wow can they get SMU, Rice, and North Texas State too?!
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