![]() It’s also possible the conference will look to add nearby schools like Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State, SMU or UNLV. It’s conceivable that the Pac-12 will continue as the Pac-10. When Oklahoma and Texas left, the Big 12 found the best four schools available and marched on. When Missouri and Texas A&M left, the conference expanded with TCU and West Virginia. When Colorado and Nebraska left for greener pastures, the Big 12 carried on with 10 teams. It’s happened before several times in the Big 12. No matter what happens, it’s always possible the remaining Pac-12 schools will remain unified and continue to build a future together. ![]() ![]() Who knows? Maybe the Big 12 won’t even extend them a formal invitation. Perhaps the Big 12 won’t be able to lure any of them to the east. Maybe none of the Pac-12 schools are into the idea of joining the Big 12. This move could solidify the Big 12 in that slot. The race is on to see which conference will emerge as No. Such a move would unlikely create a financial windfall for the Big 12 like retaining Oklahoma and Texas would, but it wouldn’t hurt the conference’s bottom line, either. Travel could be an issue at times, but every school would have neighbors. If they all came aboard, the Big 12 would have a strong presence in three time zones, with the possibility for four if other Pac-12 schools (Oregon, Stanford, Washington) also expressed interest. Arizona State would bring the Phoenix TV market. And BYU and Utah are longtime rivals from the Salt Lake City area.Īrizona men’s basketball would fit perfectly in the Big 12. Heck, the Buffaloes used to be in the Big Eight and the Big 12. It would also give schools like Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah stable ground in a conference that is a decent geographical fit. Absorbing more schools with a power-conference background would give the Big 12 strength in numbers. If the Big Ten and SEC truly aren’t accepting new members, that leaves three potential scenarios for the next move in realignment, which could all define Yormark’s early tenure with the Big 12. The eye of the storm may have arrived, unless the Big 12 is ready to do something bold. Iowa athletics director Gary Barta has publicly said that he doesn’t expect the Big Ten to add new teams in the “near future.” School presidents within the SEC have also reportedly decided that they have little interest in expansion for the time being. Whatever happens, at least no Big 12 school has to worry about the future of its conference.įor now, here’s what we know. Some have suggested that the Big 12 has been in “deep discussions” with all four of those schools, plus Oregon and Washington. Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah are obvious expansion targets. The Big 12 has reportedly expressed interest in staying aggressive. But things changed quickly when the Big Ten voted to accept UCLA and USC the following day. Topics such as scheduling formats, divisions and even the Big 12’s next media rights deal (following the departures of Oklahoma and Texas in 2025) feel secondary at the moment.Ĭonference realignment was hardly on anyone’s mind when the Big 12 announced Yormark’s hire earlier this month. That feels like the most important question that new commissioner Brett Yormark must answer as he settles into his new role. ![]() Put it another way: Will the Big 12 continue hunting? Will it look to raid the Pac-12 and deliver a knockout blow to that league while it scrambles to move forward without UCLA and USC, who are leaving for the Big Ten? Or will the Big 12 stand down? Will the Big 12 stay aggressive now that the tables have turned? After all, it is suddenly one of the conferences on stable ground with a new commissioner. After ending up on the wrong end of realignment for more than a decade, the league was finally on the offensive. It added BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF. When George Kliavkoff announced that his league had no plans to add schools looking for a life boat following the surprising defections of Oklahoma and Texas to the SEC, the Big 12 went to work. At about this time last year, the Pac-12 and its new commissioner made a decision that transformed the Big 12 from prey to hunter in the world of conference realignment.
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