I disagree, I think the Big 12 is dunzo. There is too much animosity toward Texas and their deal. The conference hinges on Oklahoma and if they bolt Texas will have no choice but to follow and adopt the equitable PAC 12/16 television model. From what I've read, Texas wants Oklahoma to make the first move so they will have clean hands.
The talk of Texas becoming and independent is not realistic as their other sports will suffer greatly, and they'll have trouble putting together a respectable schedule in football. Not to mention, the impending superconferences will squash the independents as eventually the road to the BCS will be won through the conference championships. Notre Dame will be forced to join to a conference as well... eventually.
who gives a crap if people are jealous of texas. the fact is, like notre dame, the demand for their product is nationwide. nobody cares about oklahoma and texas a and m outside of their areas of operation. the sooner they figure that out...well who cares. if they walk away from texas they are putting a gun in their own throats and yes texas will have the last laugh. all the longhorns have to do is sit back and wait because they are going to make money and keep the best football players in the state no matter what happens.
If you ask me it makes more sense for the teams in the big 12 to stay and let texas do what they do. everyone knows that texas and oklahoma are the only two powerhouses in that conference. nebraska walked because of it. now a and m is walking because of it too. they are using longhorn network as a scape goat for moving and it is comical if you ask me.
if oklahoma goes to the pac 10 without the horns they are just hurting their own program in football for recruiting their best players that always come from texas. it makes sense for the big 12 to recruit teams if you ask me. notre dame is one I would go after...but not likely to happen because they run their own show and don't stress about money or who they will play.
If texas goes independent I don't think it will hurt them. they may be one of only two or three nationwide programs that can dominate in just about every sport because of their location and brand that is in tact. most of their players come from in state. many if not all all of the other major programs need other states and locations to recruit. texas doesn't and every now and then a big player from another state will come(jordan hicks of ohio, kevin durant of maryland etc). other programs will line up to play them as well. why would any team in the nation turn down an opportunity to play a game with texas? it only helps them in recruiting and money. they won't lose rivals unless they want to. oklahoma will still want to play them because of the demand in their state from their fans and for recruiting....bob stoops knows it. the aggies are still going to want to play them. and if the notre dame games go well in the future you could see more of that matchup as well. teams like baylor, tcu, arkansas, rice, texas tech, will always want to play texas because of the history and rivarlies that go back many decades. texas is a gold mine and the other teams are just having a hard time dealing with it.