One of the more active conferences when it comes to realignment and expansion as of late has been the Big 12. Commissioner Brett Yormark hasn’t shied away from it.
The newest commissioner wasted no time when he brought Cincinnati, Central Florida, Houston, and BYU into the fold. All four teams are set to join for the 2023 college football season. For one season there will be 14 teams in the conference and then back down to 12 in 2024 as the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns leave for the SEC.
But don’t expect Yormark to stop there.
“The third priority for me has been to explore expansion for all the right reasons,” Yormark stated.
“As I’ve said before, it’s gotta be additive. It’s gotta be accretive. But we are focused on it. We’re exploring every and all possibilities. I say that while also saying that I love the composition and the makeup of this conference going forward.”
“I love the four new schools that are coming in July (and) the continuing eight. I think we’re in a great place. But if there’s a chance to get better, it’s incumbent on me as the commissioner to explore those possibilities. And that’s exactly what I’m doing.”
Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark on expansion:
"We are focused on it. We're exploring every and all possibility." pic.twitter.com/aGTFBWn4Ub
— Zac Carlson (@zaccarlson) March 8, 2023
Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah have been the main targets for more expansion in the Big 12. With the Pac-12 losing UCLA and USC to the Big Ten, they have been the target for the Big 12. Not to mention they have yet to sign a new TV deal.
If the Pac-12 doesn’t get a new deal in place and add potential schools to the conference, expect other conferences to look at some of the big names out west including Oregon and Washington.
It could be open season for the Pac-12 and the Big 12 is looking to go big game hunting.
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