Big 12 officials are set to discuss the potential expansion of the conference to include UConn in an upcoming meeting, according to two sources familiar with the situation.
UConn officials recently made an in-person pitch to the Big 12, which included a significant investment in the university’s struggling football program.
The proposal being considered would allow UConn’s football team to remain independent until 2031, after which it would join the Big 12. Importantly, this move would not require current conference members to take a reduction in their expected revenue from the Big 12’s new six-year agreements with ESPN and Fox, set to begin next year and pay approximately $31.7 million per school annually.
The discussions remain private, with the sources speaking on the condition of anonymity because the conference and the university have not made the talks public. The Athletic initially reported the Big 12’s renewed interest in UConn.
Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark, a former Brooklyn Nets executive, has shown a long-standing interest in expanding the conference’s presence in the New York market, where UConn maintains a significant footprint.
Despite this, Big 12 members have expressed reservations about adding UConn, primarily due to concerns about the university’s football program, which has struggled in recent years. The potential cost-neutral addition of UConn, however, may present a more appealing option.
While interest in UConn waned following the Big 12’s addition of Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah from the Pac-12 last year, Yormark’s interest in UConn has persisted. The Big 12 is now entering its first year as a 16-team conference.
UConn rejoined the Big East in 2020 for most of its sports after leaving the American Athletic Conference. Since then, the Huskies’ football program has been independent, with a record of 10-27 and one bowl appearance. Meanwhile, the men’s basketball program has regained prominence under coach Dan Hurley, and the women’s basketball program continues to be one of the top teams in the nation.
A final decision on UConn’s potential addition to the Big 12 is not expected soon, as Yormark will need to build consensus among the conference’s members before moving forward.
