The Big 12 and UConn have paused discussions over potential expansion after engaging in conversations over the past several weeks. Despite a late push, both sides ultimately opted to move away from the bargaining table for now.
“As commissioner, it is my responsibility to explore a variety of value-creating opportunities on behalf of the Big 12,” commissioner Brett Yormark said in a statement. “Following detailed discussions with my conference colleagues alongside UConn leadership, we have jointly decided to pause our conversations at this time. We will instead focus our attention and resources to ushering in this new era of college athletics.”
Yormark came to the Big 12 with a deep background both in the Northeast and basketball. While football has driven nearly every FBS expansion decision, conference officials have continuously been intrigued by the upside of basketball, going as far as considering splitting basketball from the conference’s media contract and selling it separately.
UConn has become one of the premier basketball schools in the country with its history on both the men’s and women’s side over the past 30 years. The Huskies won back-to-back men’s national championships and have won six titles overall since 1999. The women have 11 titles since 1995 and stand apart as the top program in the history of the sport. Dan Hurley and Geno Auriemma are now both arguably the faces of their respective sports.
The football program, however, is a giant black mark in expansion discussions. While Jim Mora Jr. helped the Huskies unexpectedly make a bowl game in 2022, the program has won three or fewer games six times over the past seven seasons while competing as a non-power. Since leaving the American Athletic Conference to compete as an FBS independent, the Huskies are 10-28. Under one proposal, UConn football would not become a full Big 12 football member until after the next…
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