Semi-random thought on this subject, but color me skeptical that the "big-time programs" or whatever will ever want a league made up solely of ... programs who view themselves just as highly as they do. Does Ohio State really want a league of 15 other Ohio States? These programs probably have to have some inferior teams in the league ... there is a huge difference between Florida State wanting out of the ACC because it believes it is setting itself behind the curve and Michigan raking in the dough in a "big-time conference" and being favored in nearly all of its games; I maintain only one of those programs would want to shake things up, and I definitely don't think there will ever be a day that our Big Ten membership is in jeopardy.
Yes, I know that it's not like "Michigan" is sitting in some room deciding this and that TV executives are running this show. However, last year the Illinois/Michigan game drew 5.47 million viewers -
over 40% more than Nebraska drew on the exact same channel vs. Michigan the week before. Michigan is going to be favored when playing Illinois 8 times out of 10 ... why the hell wouldn't they want an 8-4 type Illini program that will more than hold its own as far as "value added" goes and that they can expect to beat most times in the conference? Hell, we are like the perfect in-conference neighbor.