This is exactly what I don't get... isn't South Florida just as bad a football product as UConn is right now, if not worse? But the Big XII would take them over UConn? ...Really!??!?
Big XII: "Hey, we got four openings. Let's raid the American and pickup Central Florida, Cincy, ECU and... let's keep the UConn shutout streak going and grab South Florida. You know, that program that has absolutely nothing to offer us in neither football or basketball. Besides, we need to include the Florida market, and it's not like Central Florida alone isn't the closest thing to a Floridian college football powerhouse right now outside of Florida State. So let's add South Florida, just for good measure in that regard. As for UConn... ? It's not like they bring anything to the table, like a nationally decorated and recognized co-ed basketball powerhouse; or a football program with a promising, young first-time head coach, that could potentially be on the upswing in the next few years. We'll ignore the fact that just their brand alone is more nationally recognized than anything about South Florida could ever hope for. Yeah, we'll roll with South Florida in spite of that... because that's the safer choice, and the future of our conference is on the line, which we can ill-afford to jeopardize for the sake of UConn.
May God have mercy on their souls..."
It's literally like UConn has coodies, and the P5 is the vaccination. Worst case scenario, we continue to compete heavily in basketball, but risk initially being a basement team in football, although the program could hope to potentially climb to middle of the pack-status years down the road, which is still miles better than where we are now. Yet that's still more of a risk than South Florida, who haven't been relevant in any sport for about as long since UConn last appeared in the Fiesta Bowl. No, really, it positively makes sense.