After months (and perhaps, years) of debate and speculation, it appears that the Big 12 Conference is finally expanding to 12 or 14 teams. About two weeks ago, Oklahoma president David Boren announced that the conference would be evaluating interest of schools hoping to join the league. The two motivating factors for Big 12 expansion are to add schools for better (perceived) conference stability to create a conference championship game and, of course, money. As the Big 12 expands, so do its television rights with ESPN and FOX, according to SI.
(You can discuss this on the BSL Board here.)
Of course, expansion also comes with caveats for the conference. The two behemoths, Texas and Oklahoma, would be welcomed with open arms to any of the other power conferences if the two schools so choose when their television contract expires in 2025. It is a delicate, fine line that the presidents of all of the Big 12 members have had to consider throughout this endeavor.
There are various schools that are top candidates for the two (or four) potential openings in the Big 12 that have been discussed ad nauseum on various conference realignment message boards. To summarize, I will briefly list those with some major advantages of each school.
Houston: Large public school in a major media market with recent football success and a large history with the majority of the current Big 12
Cincinnati: Large public school in a major media market that has had moderate success in football and basketball and would also create a geographic bridge to West Virginia
BYU: Large school in Utah that has a national following of its successful football and basketball schools. Would give the Big 12 conference additional national following
Memphis: Large school in a major media market that is a nice geographic bridge to WVU that has a solid basketball history and potential for football success. Also supported by a large international corporation (FedEx)
UConn: Large public school with incredible basketball success but a small football history but would has access to the coveted NYC and East Coast media market
UCF: Large public school in a recruiting-heavy state that the Big 12 would love to have a foothold in
USF: Large public school in a recruiting-heavy state that the Big 12 would love to have a foothold in
Colorado State: Public school that allows the conference to re-enter Colorado
Boise State: Smaller public school that has football success in the last 15 years
As of yesterday, it appears that Big 12 expansion is moving full steam ahead. American Athletic Conference commissioner Mike Aresco even noted that his conference expects some of its members to be invited and leave for the Big 12 sooner rather than later. Aresco noted to the media that “I’ve been talking to the (athletic directors) and the president of the schools that might leave, and it looks like some of them will. We’re talking to each other and trying to figure out the future. We expect everyone who leaves will leave on good terms.”
Message board enthusiasts have been quick to point out possible news of an expansion announcement. Yesterday, a private jet from Cincinnati landed in Dallas eight miles from the Big 12 office. Athletic departments Twitter accounts from the AAC are even lobbying for their inclusion in the Big 12. I am sure that there will be countless other mentions of such travel arrangements as the hot stove of conference realignment continues to heat up over the next few months.
In terms of my prediction for the conference, I believe it would be prudent for the conference to expand to 14 teams for better security. I believe that those 4 teams who will be invited will be BYU, Cincinnati, Memphis and Houston. Houston would be a natural fit for the conference and has already been supported by Texas president Greg Fenves, which is as big of an endorsement as you can get. I would also choose BYU for its national following and Cincinnati and Memphis due to its media markets, overall athletic success, access to key recruiting areas and a geographic bridge to West Virginia.
I do not really have a best guess for a timeline for their inclusion but I think that Big 12 invitations and acceptances will be made sooner rather than later, perhaps even before the college football season begins next month. It will be the latest round of conference realignment that has been going strong since the ACC added Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College in 2004. And yet again, UConn may be left on the outside looking in, wondering what a 4-time NCAA Men’s Champion is doing as an outcast and wondering where they will go next. For now, that school and its fans, along with all of the hopeful invitees, will be hoping and praying for the Big 12 to come calling.
A graduate of Xavier University, Chris began his writing career as a Xavier Musketeers Athletic Communications Intern where he wrote previews and post-game recaps for men’s basketball, women’s basketball and other Olympic sports. He has worked in the sports industry in various capacities for over 5 years. Chris is a fan of the Xavier Musketeers, the Baltimore Ravens and the Baltimore Orioles. Other hobbies and passions includes Game of Thrones and, as an Eagle Scout, volunteering as a Boy Scout Troop Assistant Scoutmaster. Chris was born in Baltimore, raised in Baltimore County and currently resides in Canton.