conference realignment jibber-jabber is that:
1) TCU's administration is upset (rightfully so) that they paid a premium to join CUSA and now the league has been devalued and is allowing SMU, Tulsa and Rice to waltz right in at a discount fare. TCU stays out if they get concessions from the league that they got hosed on their investment.
2) TCU's administration also knows they have not done much to add value to CUSA until this year. The TV contract was in place when they got there and was driven by the reputations of Louisville, Army, So. Miss, ECU, etc... Clearly TCU has done nothing to contribute towards CUSA's bball reputation and whether they care to admit it or not, TCU and ECU's coming into the conference provided motivation for Louisville, Cincy, Marquette & DePaul to consider other options (even if the Big East deal hadn't fallen into their laps)
3) The MWC undoubtedly thinks they've got a shot at competing with the Big East in the event the BCS cartel votes the Big East out and throws one spot in the BCS bowls up for grabs for the "have nots" to compete for. The MWC will follow CUSA's lead and go to 12 teams, but the bickering will be intense as they try to pick from among Hawaii, Fresno, Boise, Nevada, TCU and possibly some consideration for Houston or UTEP.
4) The MAC, having made great strides in recent years, will suffer from the defections of Marshall and UCF as they may also lose some programs to the 15k attendance rule and find themselves without a championship game. Just as quickly as they have gained some noteriety, it could fade.
5) CUSA, at least on the surface, suddenly has the potential to become one of the more stable leagues among the non-BCS group.
Of course, everything changes again if the Big 10 or PAC 10 decides to expand to 12 and join the championship game crowd. At that point, all bets are off!!!