Big 12 Football: Conference Should Stay at 10 Unless Notre Dame Wants In

For Florida State and Clemson, the Big 12 is a destination to help raise their funds from the ACC's less-than-awe-inspiring television contract. For Boise State, the Big 12 is a dream destination that would actually help give it a true sense of "belonging" with the big boys.

Louisville and BYU are other names that have been bandied about with possible interest in joining the Big 12.

However, given the recent comments from former interim commissioner Chuck Neinas, the Big 12 would be wise to tell all of those schools to hold their proverbial horses.

As Neinas told The Oklahoman: "Our television partners agreed that the only new member that would enhance the Big 12 value for television was Notre Dame."

That means not you, Seminoles, Tigers, Cardinals, Broncos or Cougars; just the Irish. That sound you're hearing is the reminder that Notre Dame is still one of the most relevant football programs in the country.

Notre Dame, a school that has not been to a BCS Bowl game since 2006, has not won a title since 1988. Yes, that Notre Dame is the only real value in the marketplace.

Well, at least in the marketplace that the Big 12 can expect to court. It already has Texas. It's not going to coax Alabama, Florida, USC, Ohio State, Penn State or Michigan out of their current spots. Notre Dame is the only legitimate, available commodity that it has a viable shot at.

You see, with the addition of Florida State or any of the other schools, it would be largely beneficial in only one way. Unlike TCU and West Virginia, the Big 12 does not need anyone to fill out the schedule and give it more game inventory to market.

The addition of a non-Notre Dame school would be an almost parasitic venture; the new school sucking the new, improved cash number out of the Big 12 while the league gained little in return.

Make no mistake, the cash would increase for the total deal, but as a whole, the payout would be marginal when compared to its latest deal, on a per-team basis. The league would be getting more inventory but not substantially more in the way of real value to market.

That's not to say that the other programs are worthless, rather that the Big 12 has nearly maxed out the amount of blood it can squeeze from its stone. Only Notre Dame changes that fact to the people looking to spend on games.

When that is taken into account, the answer is clear: Stay at 10 teams.

The path to the playoff is laid out in gold for Texas, Oklahoma and the rest of the league. Win your nine league games, get out of the non-conference unscathed and get ready for your semifinal.

Unless, of course, the Big 12 can get Notre Dame into the fold; that's a game-changer that would warrant expansion thanks to the dollar signs involved.