Why they left?
Why did Nebraska leave? Tom Osborne thinks way more of his athletics program that the rest of the nation does and was pissed off that UT got not only more money, but more attention. The TV rights were broken up originally into the person on TV the most, and when it became evident that more people wanted to watch UT during those years on TV than wanted to watch boring grind it out Nebraska, he pitched a . He disguised it under the supposed 'we need a smarter conference' when Nebraska ranked just above average in the B12 and now is undeniably last in the B10. Why they left? Osborne refused to play second fiddle to UT; now he gets to do it with Ohio/Mich/Penn. Heck even Wisc. How's that working out for you Dr. Tom?
Why did Colorado leave? Colorado left because for YEARS there has been speculation they were a better fit in the P10 than the B8/12. At the very least, the P10 had people in their time zone. When everyone was already reporting that Mizzou was gone to the B10 and Nebraska suddenly went before Mizzou did, CU heard from Dodds and Boren about moving to the P10, which was the original plan. CU wanted to be proactive and make a move that many thought they should have years ago and go before anyone else did. In hindsight, they may have very well not moved if they knew only Nebraska would jump ship in the beginning and everyone else would stay put. Why did CU leave? They jumped the gun.
Why did atm leave? They were tired of being second fiddle to UT. They got less exposure, less money, less attention and less wins than UT did and they didn't like it. atm has one of the most over inflated self-opinions that you will ever see anywhere on the planet and they weren't about to play second fiddle to a team in their own state. Additionally, their AD was so far in debt (15-25 MIL by most estimates) and they were about to come due on a huge loan they couldn't possibly pay off, and the UT goes and brokers a deal for CU and Neb to pay way less and the money would not go to individual schools like had been first proposed. atm was so super pissed UT did that without their 'permission' and had no way to pay off their debt, so they turned to the SEC. SEC was more than ecstatic to get a foothold into Texas recruiting so they quickly pulled the trigger, agreeing to pay off atm's AD loan and their exit fee with their huge coffers. atm got out of UT's shadow and got their debt paid off. Now they just have to worry about fighting Mississippi State and Ole Miss for 4th in their division. Why did atm leave? Penis Envy and empty pockets.
Why did Mizzou leave? Mizzou has been on the lookout for a better deal for years. They pros uted themselves to the B10 over and over and the B10 chose Nebraska, instead. Mizzou has long been ing about the fact they get picked last every year in Bowl destinations, still complains daily how they beat KU and yet KU still got the Orange Bowl, and is in general just a whiney kid on the playground that thinks everyone needs to cater to him and is constantly on the lookout for a better deal. Now they just have to worry about fighting Vanderbilt and Kentucky for last in their division. Why did Mizzou leave? They wanted to be a whipping boy for LSU and Bama instead of UT and uo.