EXACTLY! I acknowledge the B10 could tell Iowa to take a hike because they don't bring as much to the table as a 'large population' school, but that's not the point. The original intent was for b10 expansion, not to loose original B10 members in the process. How do you think it will sit with Minneasota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and others to loose Iowa in this process, a LONG time conference partner? If the BOR took this stand, they would (despite cries from UI fans) be leveraging Iowa's position in the B10 to save ISU. We rise and fall together, all the state schools, and that's what this is all about.
It would be incredibly stupid to do such a thing. The Big ten would likely let IOwa go and the U of I would lose millions in research collaboration dollars and their multi-million dollar sports program would go to the graveyard. That would be nothing more than sacrificing both in state schools. I am sure the BOR is VERY concerned about ISU. However they are not stupid enough to kill both programs over it.