Cal, Stanford Reportedly Want To Join Big 12 If ACC Talks Stall

The 2023 college football season begins in earnest this week but two of the remaining four Pac-12 teams are putting all their focus on finding a home for 2024.

Stanford and California have been linked to potential ACC expansion, but progress has been slow. Now, the two schools may be thinking about finding a way into the Big 12, too.

According to a recent report in the San Francisco Chronicle, Cal and Stanford have already begun exploring the possibility of joining the Big 12 in the event that joining the ACC doesn’t work out. It is unclear what steps the schools have taken in relation to a potential Big 12 move.

Despite the reported new efforts, the Big 12 may not even be interested in the two universities. The Action Network reported the conference has not had conversations with any of the remaining Pac-12 schools and has no intention in engaging with those schools.

Earlier this month, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yorkmark said the conference was done expanding “right now” and was happy to have 16 teams for the 2024 season.

Taking The Blame

Arizona State — one of four Pac-12 schools joining the Big 12 next year — issued a self-imposed one-year bowl ban amid an NCAA investigation for possible infractions incurred under former head football coach Herm Edwards.

ASU finished 10th in the Pac-12 last season, with a 3-9 overall record. The Sun Devils made three bowl games under Edwards from 2018-21.