Conference alignment symmetry is for OCD message boards. Not going to happen.

The Big Ten was at 11 members for 20+ years and is now at 14. The PAC grew to 12 and has buyer's remorse. The Big 12 has 10 and recently decided against expansion. The ACC has 14 +1.

The powers-that-be decided that it's okay to have a conference championship game with only 10 schools to avoid "the tail wagging the dog." They rejected the idea of full deregulation that might alleviate some of the cross-division scheduling pains felts in the ACC and SEC - to avoid "some odd structure that's unfamiliar." (quotes from B1G commissioner Jim Delany).

With that said, I could see the Big 12 lose its heavy hitters and the "power" perception such that it becomes a de facto P4. But I don't see 4x16, and even if the Big 12 loses both Texas and Oklahoma, the conference still has a vote in the autonomy structure, so it won't be completely cast aside - likely fill a role similar to the Big East in the BCS system.