Until TCU joined, there was no Big 12 school in the DFW market just like there is no Big 12 school in the Houston market. Although not exactly the same size, the DFW and Houston markets are very similar therefore “exposure” is also similar.
The Tex10 is dead.
Lets get into the AAU, then we can join the BIG. Driving around town, there are plenty of cheeseheads, buckeyes etc…
Market is important but when Big 12 picked TCU they needed a school that could replace A&M as an athletic program. TCU did that. If expansion happened today instead of 2011 to replace A&M then I think UH would of been picked over TCU. But back in 2011 UH wasn’t as big of a name as TCU. You have to remember TCU was coming off beating Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl.
Yes the Big 12 didn’t have a school in DFW, but with OU, OSU, BU, TT and UT fans and alumni, had a greater presence in that market than it did in the Houston market. Plus the SEC was no threat to be a major player in the DFW market.
TCU did bring a fair bit of recent football success, but I still think expansion into Houston would have made a lot more sense. The Big 12 has essentially seceded Houston to the SEC. only B12 school with a large following in Houston is UT.