Texas can have their “fiefdom” in the SEC as well, if the SEC goes to 4 four-team divisions. The SEC would be THE conference. A lot more money than if they go to the PAC-10.
They could have a “Texas Division” either way, but the TV markets demographics actually favor the PAC 10. I personally think that would be a bad choice, but money talks in this little drill.
The team for Texas to beat in the Big 12 is Oklahoma. Win that game, and they punch their ticket to the title game. (unless there is a three way tie in the South). Even if they lose the title game, they still will likely get a BCS at-large bid. In this “Pac-16” scenario, the same would be true.
That absoultely would not be true in the SEC West. Texas would have to get past LSU, Alabama and Auburn (and Arkansas is no pushover) just to get to Atlanta. That’s more talent than Texas faces in the entire Big 12 or would face in an entire “Pac 16”. If it doesn’t win the SEC, then Texas has to compete with those schools, plus Florida, Tennessee, Georgia and potential SEC East additions for an at-large birth or even a tier-one bowl.