ISU unfortunately has very little to enhance the B10, in either eyeballs for the big money sport where they have little tradition or history of success, or university academic stature that ranks as high as B10 members. The B10 is more than just athletics. There are other expectations involved. Iowa is very fortunate to be a member of the B10, a charter member I believe. It's not easy to win at Iowa. It's even harder at ISU. Thats just the cold hard facts. ISU certainly currently has a strong basketball team, and a passionate fan base.
The current round robin B12 schedule is tougher than the current B10 schedule, particularly the B10 West. I believe that to be a fact. I believe there would be more winnable games for ISU in the B10, but they would in most years still be at or near the bottom of the 14 team league, but with probably more chances of reaching bowl eligibility.
The B10, in general, builds football teams more suited to compete in a nastier cold weather climate where brute force and bruising defense frequently trumps pin ball offenses. This fact works to the B10s detriment for bowl games.
The B10, in general, has higher academic admission standards for athletes. My sources, for what they are worth, are a respected sports writer and a junior college football coach who sends players to D1 every year. These standards, written or unwritten, are not public information. I don't claim to know the standards for Iowa or ISU, or how defined and rigid they may be. Passing Clearing House is not always the ticket for all programs. If somebody does know - please share. My point is that ISU may have less leeway in the B10 than they do in the B12. Leeway to bring in tranfers that were dismissed from other programs. Leeway to bring in bulk numbers of junior college transfers if they were not D1 qualifiers out of high school. In other words, the rosters that ISU is fielding, for prime example the football defense this Fall, may not closely resemble a team ISU could field in the B10, or even recruit. Be careful what you wish for.