Though this is only my interpretation of what PBC has laid out here is my summary of the events thus far, and what lays ahead (italicized).
Bringing Texas home:
1. UT and B10 have eyes for each other from the start.
2. April 18th, AAU conference - many side meetings occur on expansion including discussions with Nebraska, UT, Mizzou, Rutgers at least.
3. April 20th - email between Gordon Gee and Delany, discussing need to call Bill Powers to discuss Tech problem.
4. Leaks that Mizzou and Nebraska are heading to the B10
5. Texas arranges with Larry Scott Texas 6 to Pac 16 proposal and delivers ultimatum to Nebraska and Mizzou. Reported by Chip Brown as a way to force NEB and Mizzou back into the fold and save the Big 12, and also shows that Texas is prepared to take care of her little sisters
6. TX legislature and TX talk about substituting Baylor for CU. Again, looks like TX is being the repsponsible one.
7. CU, who has been coveted by the PacX all along, accepts invite to join the Pac-10. Kills Texas schools staying together.
8. NEB accepts B10 offer to join, calling TX bluff. TX looks like it was the failed hero who tried to save the Big 12.
9. Texas 6 fails to move to PacX as Chip Brown reported they would if Nebraska called the offer.
10. Rumors that SEC is courting TAMU and OU (not rumors, true).
11. Texas claiming they did everything they could to save Big 12, but it's failed. Starts talks with TAMU (reported by Chip Brown to discuss whether to continue with the Big 12 or to go to the PacX). Baylor and Tech NOT included.
12. KC station reports Texas and TAMU petitioning to join the Big 10. Actually, TAMU still considering SEC to break away from big brother.
13. Texas would rather TAMU stays together, but OTOH, TAMU going to SEC on it's own first, gives UT all it needs to ditch other little sisters, to look after own interests and go to the B10 alone. Alternatively, Texas will appease Governor of TX requirement by "brokering" a deal preset months ago to get TAMU and TX into the Big 10. Either way, they will get 4X the TV money they get in the B12, 2X what they would get in the PacX, and CIC affilaition which could net increases of hundreds of millions in federal research funding if Penn State's experience after joining the B10 is any indication. They happen also to play in a conference with the top 5 winningest programs in the history of the game (if ND also joins) and they rid themselves of any affilation with non-AAU schools that have disgusted them since the SWC days.
14. PacX picks off the best wounded remaining from the Big 12, including Kansas (and probably Kansas State). They also get a network deal brokered by Delany with Fox (who runs the B10 network).
15. PacX network and BTN are bundled to land in basic cable carriage across a MASSIVE footprint stretching from the Pacific to at least Pennsylvania, Canada to Mexico. PacX gets lower cut of royalties, but both parties get upside they couldn't have gotten alone. Rose Bowl is truly the Granddaddy of them all.
The Campaign for Notre Dame:
1. Lots of hints that B10 will go after BE schools. Pitt, Syracuse, Rutgers named as high potential candidates
2. JoePa and others talking about how they want to go East
3. Randy Edsall says they need to give ND an ultimatum
4. Rumors of Rutgers and other BE schools on verge of getting an invite.
5. Somewhere, Delany and Tranghese talk. Delany cuts a deal - at some point, BE needs to push ND away, in return B10 will not raid the rest of the BE and leave it intact
5. B10 is courting ND, setting the stage. Texas gets involved, and the schools develop a warm relationship. ND private jet is sighted in Austin. There is talk about creating a super conference with TX and ND set up as protected rivals, adding an annual marquis non-Midwest conference matchup in important recruiting country. ND talks about multiple conditions, including sufficient OOC scheduling to maintain a national schedule.
6. B10 makes it clear that championship game will not be pursued. Instead current rotation model will continue all teams will get 13th game - this gives more BTN programming (and ad $$) but also helps to address ND's desire for 5 OOC games.
7. June 10, ND and BE rumored to be in discussions on forcing ND to choose football membership in the BE or get the hell out (sweetheart deal with BE taken off the table as planned)
8. Chip Brown still reporting that Texas 5 (without possibly TAMU) are heading to the PacX. And that this could result in 4 mega-conferences with champions playing a playoff for the national title (meaning ND would be locked out). Well done Chip. Will the Irish blink and pull the trigger?
9. At some point UT makes it clear their intention (to ND, not necessarily to the public). With Nebraska and Texas in the fold, BE no longer offering the sweetheart deal, all of a sudden, the new Big 10, with the other 4 Top 5 winningest programs in college football in line, looks really good and slightly less regional. Plus, there is the CIC that delivers academic prestige and research money as a bonus (which ND faculty have overwhemingly been craving). If they pull the trigger now, the Big10 stands pat at 14 schools (15 if TAMU comes).
10. If ND balks still, the deal with the BE is off. B10 will take Rutgers to access the NYC DMA and either one other BE or ACC school and put more pressure on the Big East to crumble (if an ACC school, ACC will likely raid BE (bye bye Syracuse) to replace, pushing ND again towards the B10.
11. With B10 at 15 schools, and all other conferences moving to 16 school mega-conferences (ACC will be raided by SEC for Va Tech at least, possibly up to 2 others (OU will have already joined), and subsequently the remaining ACC schools ravage/merge with the remainder of the Big East), ND is on the verge of being left out of the national championship (champions of each conference are the semi-finalists). They have no choice but to join a conference, and there is no question who is the belle of the ball.
