The Big 12 has officially expanded to 14 teams for the 2023-24 academic year — and its preference is to keep that number even after Texas and Oklahoma leave to join the SEC.
BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF formally joined the Big 12 this past Saturday, but the exits of the Longhorns and Sooners in 2024 will leave the conference with 12 teams.
“I’d like to stay at 14, even with the departures of Texas and Oklahoma, candidly,” Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark said. “We’ll see if that’s a possibility or not.”
Expansion will once again be the hot topic during next week’s Big 12 media days at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. “We’re not chasing a number,” Yormark clarified. “Whatever happens has to truly create value for the conference.”
Colorado has been the most talked-about school regarding Big 12 expansion, with the Buffaloes strongly linked to leaving the Pac-12 and rejoining the conference they called home from 1996-2010. Utah would be a geographical fit for the Big 12 if Colorado joined, while an Arizona-Arizona State duo would be a seemingly strong fit as well.
On The Move
Beyond the Big 12 moves, the AAC has added Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, North Texas, Rice, UAB, and UTSA. Conference USA brought in Liberty, New Mexico State, Sam Houston, and Jacksonville State, while the Sun Belt welcomed Marshall, Old Dominion, Southern Miss, and James Madison.
