Big 12 College Football Conference Expansion: TCU Plus Three More?

By now, most college football fans know that TCU has been invited to the Big 12 Conference. 

If TCU accepts the invitation, and all indications are that it will, then that would bring the conference back to 10 members.  However, the rumor is that Missouri will probably jump out of the Big 12 hoping to land in the SEC.

If the Missouri departure happens. what will the Big 12 do?  With the addition of TCU and the subtraction of Missouri, that would leave the conference with nine teams once again. 

My question is; Will the Big 12 add one more team after a Missouri exit, or will it add three teams to take it conference back to twelve?  Or, will it do something dramatic and go all the way up to the new magic number of 16?  Well, I doubt it will go that far, but what will it do?

My guess is that the Big 12 has had plenty of discussion about adding teams this last week, and it probably has a short and long list of schools on its invitation radar.  The conference probably has come up with several scenarios, just to be ready in the event of something dramatic. 

I have looked high and low for stories, comments, interviews, rumors and more to come up with the list that I believe the Big 12 probably has in its back pocket.  

If the Big 12 decides to only add one more team to its conference in the short term, I think that team will probably be BYU.  However, if it chooses three teams, who would be the most likely candidates?

Here is my version of the Big 12 short list:

1. BYU

2. Louisville

3. West Virginia

So what about the long list?

4. Air Force

5. Boise State

6. SMU 

A lot of Boise State fans are wondering what the chances are that the Big 12 will invite their beloved Broncos to join the conference.  Well, the only chance I see for Boise State is a perfect storm of events. 

If the Big 12 decides to go to 12 teams and Missouri leaves, the chances for Boise increase slightly.  If either Louisville or West Virginia decide to go elsewhere, then the Bronco's chances increase again. 

If Both Louisville and West Virginia go elsewhere, along with the Missouri exit, and the Big 12 wants to go to 12 teams, then Boise States' chances increase greatly.  I would say in that scenario, the Broncos have a pretty good chance of being invited.  

Now, do I see that perfect storm happening?  After what I have seen in college football the last two years, I have no idea. 

If nothing else, it will be very interesting to watch.  I have a feeling the conference expansion bus hasn't come to its final stop.