Let me just say in general, I like Iowa State...similar to Nebraska, good down to earth people.
With that said, I hear a lot of "hope" in your comments - Four 20-team conferences doesn't really sound very appealing on any sense, I can't see that happening honestly....maybe five 16 team conferences, if so, one of them will be the JV league and I would imagine that Big XII leftovers plus some Mountain West teams and others would be that conference. It's really the best ISU can hope for, Clones really don't offer much at all to a new conference home honestly.
Yes ISU's academics are solid and their athletic department is fine I guess....but at the end of the day, eyes matter and ISU doesn't bring very many of those at all.
I wish it weren't that way but it is....