Did you see
this one - a March Madness-type haul for the SEC? $2.25 billion over 15 years for all TV rights, other than those CBS gets. And this is how the BCS arms race will continue to spiral up and away from the other conferences. At about $15M per year per school, that means even Vanderbilt and Kentucky will be getting as much TV revenue as Notre Dame (as an example).
At about $15M per year per school, that means even Vanderbilt and Kentucky will be getting as much TV revenue as Notre Dame (as an example).
That is a thought-provoking example. A 12-member Big 12 with ND as the 12th might be even more valuable, which could make the Irish's decision less certain than it has been.
The Big Ten with ND probably would command more TV money than that. ND would give the Big Ten a greater reach outside the Big Ten's footprint than the $EC has outside its own footprint.
But, the last time the Big Ten discussed this possibility with ND, fans at ND basketball games started chanting "No Big Ten! No Big Ten!". The Big Ten isn't going to let that happen again. Either ND has to make the first move or the deal has to be signed, sealed, and delivered before it becomes public, and either of those is very unlikely to happen, even if all of them would end up with more TV revenue than the $EC schools.
I am sure in Big 12 circles there are many who trade the Baptists for the Catholics.