UConn and Big 12 continue to negotiate expansion

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The Big 12 and UConn “continue to have serious negotiations about the Huskies joining the league as the newest expansion member,” sources said. UConn representatives visited Big 12 athletic administrators in Dallas last week. Although “nothing is imminent,” the in-person presentation is a “sign of the seriousness of the talks.” Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yorkmark “will make a similar presentation to the league’s presidents next week.” The move could bring together “arguably the strongest basketball conference in the country and perhaps the best basketball program in the country.” The expansion requires a three-quarters majority, or 12 of the 16 members. UConn would join the conference as a “member in all sports except football beginning no later than 2026.” Depending on the school “reaching certain investment thresholds in the sport, UConn football would join the Big 12 in 2031.” The move, if completed, would be a “blow to the Big East” (YAHOO SPORTS, 23.08.).

According to sources, there was “resistance from several members” that the Big 12 “needs to be overcome.” Part of UConn’s presentation “covered how the Huskies would be willing to build and spend money on football like the current Big 12 programs.” However, some of the resistance is “due to the timing of the discussions” as league officials are “preoccupied with the House-NCAA agreement.” There are also “questions about how much the move would benefit the conference in football” (ESPN.com, August 23). For UConn, the “primary desire to join the Big 12 would be to strengthen its ailing football program,” which has been independent since leaving the AAC (THE ATHLETE, 23.8.).