Big 12 Interim Commissioner: Irish only team that would add value to TV deal

The Big 12 expansion committee thinks Notre Dame is the only team that would add value to the conference. (Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

The Big 12 Conference currently has 10 teams. When looking to expand for more visibility and no doubt more money, a memo to the Big 12 expansion committee obtained by The Oklahoman said Notre Dame would be the only school that would add any television value to the conference.

The Big 12 expansion committee is made up of Oklahoma State president Burns Hargis, Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione, Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds and Kansas State president Kirk Shulz. The memo was sent out in January and obtained through an open records request.

“Both representatives of ESPN/ABC and Fox Sports indicated that Notre Dame's involvement with the Big 12 Conference would increase the value of the conference relative to future television and also improve the image of the conference nationwide," interim commissioner Chuck Neinas said in the memo.  “Our television partners agreed that the only new member that would enhance the Big 12 value for television was Notre Dame."