College football expansion: Big 12 boss reacts to Memphis rumors

Once again, the Big 12 is the subject of more rumors surround possible college football expansion and conference realignment, but this time the league's commissioner is getting out ahead of the speculation and going on the record about his perceived interest in a new school.

With rumors emerging that Memphis was being considered by the Big 12 as a possible member, commissioner Brett Yormark went public, denying that he has had any conversations with that school about a potential expansion move.

“I’ve never met with anyone at Memphis about adding them to the Big 12, nor have I been on campus,” Yormark told ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel.

A report said that a Big 12 delegation that included Yormark flew into Memphis and conducted an ‘under the radar’ visit to see campus facilities and met with city officials and some of the school’s regents.

But, as the commissioner denied any such thing took place, the Big 12 has been the center of intense and continued speculation after Yormark teased plans for his conference to embark on some expansion plans in the near future.

That was in reaction to the Big 12 losing football superpowers Texas and Oklahoma, who are set to join the SEC in time for the 2024 college football season, and after the league added four new members in response ahead of this fall's kickoff: Houston, BYU, Cincinnati, and UCF.

Speculation has connected the Big 12 to reigning college basketball champion UConn, in addition to Gonzaga, another elite basketball program, and two notable media reports have indicated that Colorado and the Big 12 have had prolonged talks over the last several months about a potential reunion.

(Thamel)

More college football from SI: Top 25 Rankings | Schedule | All Teams

Follow College Football HQ: Bookmark | Rankings | Picks