One conference heavily involved in expansion discussions could be finished with realignment — at this point in time.
According to Jason Scheer of WildcatAuthority.com, Big 12 Conference commissioner Brett Yormark met with media and said that expansion among the conference “is over for now.”
The Big 12, in the past four weeks, has added Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah from the Pac-12 Conference. The Pac-12 has been left with four member programs: Cal, Oregon State, Stanford and Washington State.
The additions to the Big 12 will bring the conference to 16 member schools in 2024. Yormark told reporters that the conference has “reached their goal,” according to Scheer.
Among the next focus and steps taken for Yormark and the Big 12 will be “integrating the new schools” and “figuring out scheduling,” according to Scheer.
The Big 12 reportedly had discussions and determined it wouldn’t add also Oregon State or San Diego State of the Mountain West Conference.
The Pac-12, on the other hand, is left searching for options. Yormark and Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff reportedly met over the phone where the former told the latter he was sorry that the Big 12’s “gain is your loss.”
One pathway that the Mountain West is reportedly “receptive” to is a possible merger between the two conferences.
