UConn to the Big 12 is the perfect offseason story. Spoiler alert: the prospect of such a move is going to extend into the football season.
It has to. Commissioner Brett Yormark will not stand still. He is advocating for UConn while the biggest Big 12 ever (16 teams) kicks off for the first time. At the same time, Yormark has to balance the prospect of naming rights, the House v. NCAA settlement and revenue sharing, all of which will impact his league.
If UConn happens, it might be the first Power Five expansion based on basketball. While UConn is an undisputed men’s and women’s basketball brand, football just does not pull its weight. Not yet.
That’s why the Big 12 expanding to a 17th team perhaps as soon as 2026 remains a contentious subject to some within the league. Football has and will continue to drive realignment.
Talks have been going on for a while but have intensified lately; Big 12 presidents were briefed on UConn on Monday.
What’s next?
Does Yormark have the votes?
It’s not clear, but at this stage, indications are that he does not. That’s what Monday’s presentation was about. Any such expansion requires a “super majority” of Big 12 presidents voting in favor of expansion. That is, at least 12 of the 16 schools must approve. Discussions are ongoing, but it’s worth mentioning that Baylor president Linda Livingstone is the current Big 12 chair of the conference board of directors and the chair of the NCAA Board of Directors. What she thinks matters. CBS Sports reported Monday the current count is 6-2 in favor of the move. That two against might be a conservative estimate. Sources have indicated a handful of schools are either outright “no” votes or highly skeptical of the proposition at this stage.
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