The Big 12 Conference announced on Thursday it will pause conversations about expanding the league with the UConn Huskies.
The conference put out a statement on Thursday from Commissioner Brett Yormark, saying, “As Commissioner, it is my responsibility to explore a variety of value-creating opportunities on behalf of the Big 12. 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.”
There had been multiple reports that there was hesitation amongst some Big 12 athletic directors and presidents about the possibility of bringing in the Huskies. The reporting suggested that the Big 12 would possibly add UConn basketball as early as 2025-26, while the football program would not be added until 2031, when the next television contract would be negotiated.
UConn Support
There were notable figures around UConn who had supported a move from the Big East to the Big 12, including megabooster Marc D’Amelio. D’Amelio, a Norwalk native and 1991 UConn graduate, has increasingly become a prominent figure in the UConn athletic world. As name, image and likeness (NIL) changes the college sports landscape, D’Amelio stepped forward for his alma mater and created the D’Amelio Huskies Collective.
After the reports started to break, he wrote on X, “We need to control our own destiny and it seems like the Big 12 is the right and only opportunity we have if you believe the future of college athletics includes football.”
It’s also been reported that head basketball coach Danny Hurley is not against the potential move.
ACC Moves Still Possible?
We know that Yormark is going to be aggressive, UConn or not. And it’s still believed that the Big 12 is eyeing ACC teams for possible expansion.
“Keep your eye on what happens in the ACC,” a source recently told Action Network’s Brett McMurphy.
McMurphy adds that depending on Florida State and Clemson and their efforts to leave the ACC, other ACC schools also could become available, some of which have natural rivalries with Big 12 programs.
This shouldn’t come as a shocker to Big 12 fans who have been monitoring the college sports landscape.
It’s well reported that Florida State and Clemson want to get out of the ACC. So the next question becomes, how can they get out, and when can they get out? Which would then lead to the question of whether or not the SEC or Big 10 would want them?
As Paul Finebaum noted an in exclusive Heartland College Sports interview last month, there doesn’t appear to be an apetite to add those schools by the SEC.
“I don’t think there’s any appetite right now. I mean, I’ve watched this thing over three years trying to incorporate two programs into the SEC. It’s very difficult,” Finebaum said. “They didn’t even come up with a plan until Wednesday of this week for a tiebreaker system, and even that one goes on for about 60 pages. So things are complex. I think a lot of folks are still wrapping their arms around it.”
“Every time you bring in a new school, that means the pie gets divvied up even more. They are just now, starting next week, the brand new ESPN-ABC contract. Working at ESPN, I don’t think they’re eager to pay more money just to get a couple of more schools and, who would they get? North Carolina is the name you hear the most. Well, okay, I mean, does that mean anything to sec fans in Alabama or Louisiana or Texas? Not really,” Finebaum added.
