Big 12 expansion rests, indirectly, on a perceived gentleman's agreement with the SEC. The league supposedly would not expand to states where there currently are teams. That seemingly takes Florida State, Clemson and Georgia Tech out of the mix.
If the SEC honors that agreement, then the SEC might go after NC State and/or Virginia Tech if Mike Slive feels like he has to respond to the Big Ten's recent moves. In that occurrence, Florida State, Clemson and Georgia Tech would be in play for the Big 12.
IMO, This is such an ignorant article. If your cross town rival came in and pillaged your neighborhood of valuable assets would you then have a gentleman's agreement protecting their neighborhood? Doubt it. I would think you would forever be in protect mode.
He also thinks they are locked in because of a 13 year TV package? The fact is that 13 years is a long time to be locked in to a programming package. It's good now but still not at the level of the other major conferences outside of the ACC. Do you think the Big 12 can sit on their hands and allow the SEC and B1G expand, therefore allowing for further media riches? In 5-7 years both of those conferences media deals will make the Big 12's deal look like the CUSA. We are going to assume that everyone in the Big 12 will just sit around and wait it out until they can renegotiate. No chance. They will position their conference to keep up with competing media deals.
This is survival of the fittest, everyone is eating their own and protecting their ###. Maybe there is/was a gentleman's agreement, do you think anyone cares when your ship is sinking? Each conference for their own at point. The Big 12 will make moves because they are not any less vulnerable right now then the ACC at 10 teams. This vulnerability will only increase with further financial disparity. At that point leading Big 12 brands could move to the B1G, Pac 12 or SEC.
The Big 12 will look to expand quickly and into the SouthEast. This will protect them going forward. The ACC is simply dead man walking.