College football expansion: Big 12 teases plan for adding teams
Amid the latest rumors around the college football expansion and conference realignment process, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark went on the record by saying that his conference has a plan in the works.
For what, exactly, remains to be seen. No votes on adding future members to the conference were taken at the meetings, but schools did discuss possible scenarios for expanding the conference, according to media reports.
Big 12 members are said to be happy with their current membership right now, but the conference is open to exploring "all options and considerations," as Yormark noted he wants to see the league create a national presence.
Those options?
The options in question now include adding a pair of renowned basketball schools, as insiders have revealed the Big 12 has been in contact with Gonzaga about possible membership, in addition to newfound interest in UConn, as well.
"We do see the upside in basketball moving forward for all the right reasons," Yormark told reporters after the meetings.
"We think it's undervalued, and if there's a chance for us to double down as the No. 1 basketball conference in America, but football is the driver and we all know that."
He added, "As we think about the future and ways to create value, there is always that option to decouple basketball from football to see if there's further value we can create for the conference."
Where else the Big 12 is looking
One name more traditionally associated with football has been Colorado, which multiple insiders have reported has been in private conversation with the Big 12 about a potential move, despite statements from CU brass that the school remains committed to the Pac-12 as it scouts a new media partnership.
But both chancellor Phil DiStefano and athletic director Rick George both appeared to leave open the possibility that they will do "what is best for Colorado," which certainly appears to leave the door open for any options moving forward.
Why the Big 12 wants to expand
The reason for the Big 12's aggressive expansion policy is only too obvious: after college football superpowers Texas and Oklahoma announced a bombshell move to the SEC in time for the 2024 season, the Big 12 responded by adding four new members in time for 2023 — BYU, Houston, Cincinnati, and UCF — and the league has been open with its interest in expanding further than that.
So much so that Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff took public issue with the Big 12's apparent incursion into its territory, accusing that league of "trying to destabilize our remaining conference."
Whatever move comes next in the realignment process, and whoever it de-stabilizes, it appears the Big 12 will be leading the charge.
More college football from SI: Top 25 Rankings | Schedule | All Teams
Follow College Football HQ: Bookmark | Rankings | Picks