This would in fact the first smart thing the Big 12 has done in about 15 years.
Why? Because a 12 team league is the smallest that is stable and the advantages to 12 should be clear to anyone over 30.
The B1G derailed under 10 team alignment and expanded to 12 and shot up in prestige on the field.
Big 12 had reverse happen. Again, Why? Because 10 with a true round robin is literal trash.
You get a GTD repeat of 1 vs 2 for the conf CG which means 1 extra loss to your best teams.
9 conf games plus 1 OOC P5 means a tougher schedule that penalizes teams an average of about .65 games per season.
As to HOU that is a good get and a major shot at UT. UT was the one flexing on Houston. Now they are bailing and this is a sharp stick in their eye.
HOU plus TTU make for a solid TV showing in that monster and growing market.
It also puts OUT on the shakiest of ground. They pay full freight or they stay.
This revamped league would be far better than the AAC but also at a level where any of the 12 teams could compete.
And this deal would be the biggest kick in pants possible to all 3 of ESPN (who has to pay new teams same rate as current ones through 2024), UT(who fought HOU inclusion mightily), and SEC(who wanted to own the Houston market but will see a HOU promotion to P5 (and B12 teams playing there yearly nibble at that).