The Big 12 staved off extinction last summer with the 10 remaining school pledged to stick together. But one year later Texas A&M is making noise about leaving for the SEC due to dissatisfaction with Texas and its Longhorn Network.

While the conference is saying it will survive whether Texas A&M stays or goes, there is movement toward making some safeguards that ensure school don't exit in the future.

"We do have to do get something to secure our future ... and that probably means putting your name on the dotted line," Texas Tech president Guy Bailey told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "Doing that in a legally binding way is pretty important."

Bailey suggests written agreements with "real enforceable commitment" would help as the league expands by one or three schools if Texas A&M leaves, which he said the conference has to plan for to protect itself.

"It's incumbent on us to be aggressive in assuring the future of the conference," Bailey said. "If not, we're going to be in the same boat again next year or the year after."