In the wake of Big 12 commisioner Kevin Weiberg’s decision to depart for a lesser post with the Big 10, Tom Dienhart of The Sporting News speculates that certain Big 12 teams might also one day bolt for a better conference.

There’s limited growth potential in the Big 12. Why? A lack of big TV markets. It’s pretty simple. Denver? Kansas City? Dallas? Houston? St. Louis? San Antonio? That’s it, people. I don’t think that excites TV fat cats in New York. One solution is expansion. Another possibility is defections.

I have to think folks in Austin, Norman and Lincoln have had conversations about bolting for a better home. They’d be silly not to have an eye on the future. How about the Longhorns or Huskers joining the Big Ten to make it an even 12? Maybe the SEC can grab OU and dump, say, Vandy. The Pac-10 also has to be looking toward tomorrow and the possibility of becoming a 12-team league.

Personally, I’ve never liked the Big 12. I’m a Big 8 fan. So, if I were to do my own speculating (or maybe idle wishing is a better term for it), I’d say goodbye to Baylor, Texas Tech, Iowa State and Colorado.