As I've said repeatedly here over the past few years, UCF is a natural for the Big Ten. It's our BEST chance to get into the P5 before the final expansion occurs and that window closes. Everything we do must be focused on that effort because:
1. The Big Ten is the only conference without a school in the Sun Belt where all U.S. population relocated in the past 75 years! And the eastern teams in the Big Ten have always relied heavily on Florida recruiting, especially for speed. A Houston and UCF expansion to 16 schools makes perfect sense to better access their two best recruiting regions.
2. You can go months in Central Florida without hearing a Southern accent because it's filled with migrants from Big Ten states of the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic areas. It's a natural fit. More natural interest in football up north and lack of connection with SEC-type values.
3. UF, Miami, and FSU will continue to block UCF from getting into the SEC and ACC. It also makes no sense for them to add another Florida school because they already have that market and recruiting territory fully covered by statewide schools.
4. The Big Ten and the SEC are far more profitable than other conferences. The Big 12 is highly likely to implode (when Texas and Oklahoma join the SEC), leaving a P4 of 16 schools or fewer each.