[Jim Noble]

if the conferences constituted themselves to foster fan enjoyment, rather than competing to gobble up TV markets

Why would they do that?

The PURPOSE of these programs is money.

[RonnG]

Notre Dame is the only winner in that scenario.

[dangus]

Because fans are what generate the money. The TV wars are just that ... wars. And wars hurt. Reconfiguring the conferences would mean no fewer net viewers; the problem is that reshuffling means there are winners and losers, and the would-be losers won’t care what’s best in total.