The future of Missouri’s athletic program remains the biggest mystery in college sports, though a conference call Tuesday morning provided some clarity. The Big 12’s interim commissioner, Chuck Neinas, said Missouri would play in the league for the 2012-13 season, giving the university time to make its decision whether to stay in the league or attempt to join the Southeastern Conference.
Neinas said that the only decision that appeared to be settled about the potential size of the Big 12 was that it would not remain a nine-team league if Missouri left. He said that it was difficult to gauge whether to remain at 10 teams if Missouri stayed or expand to 12 teams until Missouri left for the SEC.
Neinas’s strongest words came for a report Monday that said Missouri would make “as much as $12 million each year in additional TV and cable revenue” if it went to the SEC. While the SEC’s commissioner, Mike Slive, has said that the conference has the capability to add a TV network like the Big Ten Network, which could increase revenue, the notion of Missouri making an additional $12 million if it left the Big 12 for the SEC has been viewed skeptically.
Neinas agreed with the notion, which was commonly expressed when Texas A&M announced it was leaving the Big 12, that the immediate financial gains for Missouri television by going to the SEC would not be significant.
Neinas said he was pleased with the progress that the Big 12 had made in adding Texas Christian, getting a six-year minimum grant of rights and agreeing to equal revenue-sharing.

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