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Whether Memphis is part of Big 12 expansion plans or not, school officials are keeping their cards close to the vest. Last week, a delegation of Big 12 officials (which included commissioner Brett Yormark) reportedly toured campus as well as Memphis' athletic facilities, while also meeting with key city and university figures. The visit was reportedly part of the Big 12’s “due diligence” as it continued to explore the prospect of expanding. Yormark subsequently issued a statement to try to poke holes in the initial report. “I’ve never met with anyone at Memphis about adding them to the Big 12, nor have I been on campus,” he said. On Wednesday, when asked to address the validity of Yormark’s reported visit, Memphis president Bill Hardgrave declined. “Yeah, I’m not going to talk about any of that,” he told The Commercial Appeal. Memphis vice president and athletic director Laird Veatch also neither confirmed nor denied that any meetings took place. Memphis officials have made it clear in recent years how motivated they are to level-up from a conference affiliation perspective. The school is on the verge of embarking upon a massive renovation project for Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. The plan is for $150-$200 million worth of work to begin shortly after the 2023 football season and have it completed by before the start of the 2025 season. read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/memphis-president-ad-react-to-latest-big-12-expansion-realignment-reports/ar-AA1czZUR

The Big 12 is involved in deep discussions to add multiple Pac-12 programs as a way to shore up its membership in the wake of the USC and UCLA defection to the Big Ten, sources tell CBS Sports. At least four teams are being considered with the potential for the Big 12 to add more as realignment continues to shake out. Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah were mentioned specifically as the teams being targeted by the Big 12, sources tell CBS Sports. There is also consideration of adding Oregon and Washington to make the Big 12 an 18-team league, the largest in the FBS. A merger of the Big 12 and Pac-12, in some form, is also a possibility. "Everything is on the table," said one Big 12 source. There is "no question" the Big 12 has to be aggressive in expansion, another conference source said. Despite the Big 12's attempts, the Pac-12 released a statement Monday saying it would immediately begin negotiations on its next TV contract, intending to go forward with at least its 10 remaining members. There is a possibility more could be added to the mix, according to a Pac-12 source. The Pac-12's current deal expires in 2024 read more: https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/big-12-in-deep-discussions-to-add-up-to-six-pac-12-teams-after-usc-ucla-defections-to-big-ten/

It was reported by the Houston Chronicle that Cincinnati, Central Florida and Houston will have to pay a hefty fee of $45 million to leave the American Athletic Conference by 2023. The three future Big 12 schools are contractually required to remain in the AAC until 2024. In the article, it states that on top of the $10 million required exit fee that Cincinnati, Houston and UCF are also required to pay a $35 million fee to leave the AAC prior to the 2023 fall season as opposed to the 2024 fall season. AAC bylaws require a $10 million exit fee and a 27-month prior notice to leave, hence why the school’s are contractually obligated to stay until 2024. read more: https://wvsportsnow.com/aac-charging-future-big-12-schools-45-million-to-leave-by-2023/

The Big 12 has two choices. It can re-stock, looking for inventory to replace Oklahoma and Texas, rebuilding to at least 10 schools or it can make a major move and add two, four, six or 8 schools to reach the 16-team super conference level. The Big 12 had a chance to expand a few years ago and chose to maintain the status quo, a ;move which was made from a position of strength. That no longer exists. Sources in the AAC say Aresco has been working the phones and the zoom call network constantly for the past several days, putting together a deal that will be more proactive, rather than reactive. read more: Sources in the AAC say Aresco has been working the phones and the zoom call network constantly for the past several days, putting together a deal that will be more proactive, rather than reactive

IRVING, Texas — The SEC should just dispense with the formalities, move forward with its master plan of world domination and go ahead and bankrupt the Big 12 and ACC by buying FSU, Clemson, Texas and Oklahoma. One of the most powerful men in the SEC — Florida Gators athletics director Jeremy Foley — has a philosophy that he borrowed from Henry Kissinger: "Whatever must happen eventually should happen immediately." And what will happen eventually is that football powerhouses in the Big 12 and ACC will start to lose massive ground to their rivals in the SEC and Big Ten and will have no choice but to bail and bolt. Can't we just fast forward seven or eight years, save ourselves the controversy and consternation, and get on with the process that renowned college football analyst Charles Darwin introduced 150 years ago: ACC commissioner John Swofford told reporters at the league's annual spring meetings that there is no news to report on the potential conference network his league has been pursuing for years. The reason there's no news is because there's no demand. As Boren pointed out, ESPN has lost millions of subscribers in recent years due to cable cord-cutters who now watch TV via online streaming. As a result, the Worldwide Leader is no mood to dump hundreds of millions of dollars into a conference network. What this means is the SEC, Big Ten and possibly the Pac-12 (although its network isn't nearly as successful) will continue to reap additional money from their still-growing networks while the ACC and Big 12's TV money stagnates. Consequently, Big 12 and ACC coaches will soon start sounding as frustrated as the non-Power 5 coaches who currently wonder how they will be able to keep pace in the arms race that is college football. It's like Houston coach Tom Hermann said the other day when he was talking about how the American Athletic Conference needs more TV money so its schools can build the palatial facilities and offer the cool amenities that entice the best recruits. read more: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/florida-gators/os-big-12-meetings-mike-bianchi-0605-20160605-column.html

If Texas and Oklahoma officially make plans to leave, the strongest move the Big 12 could make is aggressively going after the top layer of the Group of Five, with a special focus on tying together a strong geographic league. Houston should be a first call, like it should have been last time. SMU should come. BYU, Memphis, UCF, Cincinnati, Appalachian State, Louisiana, Boise State should all be considered. Pick four of the schools, whichever ones make sense competitively, geographically and culturally. All of the schools I mentioned have perennially been in the top 25 discussion, both in football and basketball. While nothing will make up for the vacuum at the top of the league, it immediately would make the Big 12 a deep league filled with great programs. Let’s say for argument’s sake that the new league takes SMU, Houston, UCF and Memphis. The league would have a handful of conference championships and New Year’s Six bowl wins to its name, along with a solid geographic footprint and some fast-growing brands. Mix that with what Baylor, Iowa State, TCU and several others have done over the past few years and you have a very exciting football league. Read more: https://www.texasfootball.com/article/2021/07/23/why-the-big-12-should-bet-big-on-expansion?ref=article_preview_img

July 23, 2021 Media Contact: Baylor University Media and Public Relations, 254-710-1961 Follow us on Twitter: @BaylorUMedia WACO, Texas (July 23, 2021) – The following message was sent to the Baylor University Family today from Baylor President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D., and Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Mack B. Rhoades IV. Dear Baylor Family: As many of you are aware, news broke this week of an alleged change in the Big 12 Conference membership, linking the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma with a possible move to the Southeastern Conference. Since that time, we have heard many of you express concerns about the uncertainty of our conference and the potential impact on Baylor University – a concern we share with you. We understand the significance and urgency of this matter, as our conference membership impacts not only Baylor, but also the Waco community, the state of Texas and beyond. Conference affiliation has the power to greatly enhance our institution’s academic and athletic national standing and visibility while also expanding academic and research opportunities available to faculty, students and our communities. For our state, it is critical to our economy and Texas’ overall reputation to maintain five “Power Five” institutions, reinforcing the Lone Star State’s athletic preeminence. Rest assured, we, along with the Board of Regents, members of the Baylor delegation in the Texas Legislature and other Baylor leaders, are actively engaged in conversations with our Big 12 colleagues and others to ensure our University is in the strongest position possible now and into the future. In the midst of what promises to be a lot of angst and speculation, we will continue to focus on what we can control and support our student-athletes and staffs. And, as the landscape of college athletics continues to change, we maintain an unshakable belief in the strength and resiliency of Baylor and the Baylor brand. Thank you for your enduring love of Baylor University and the vital role you play in helping Baylor carry out its Christian mission while competing academically and athletically at the highest levels. Sincerely, Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D. President Mack B. Rhoades, IV Vice President Director of Intercollegiate Athletics LINK: https://www.baylor.edu/mediacommunications/news.php?action=story&story=224124

East Carolina's bid for membership to the Big 12 Conference has ended for now after being formally notified it is no longer an expansion candidate. ECU chancellor Dr. Cecil Stanton was informed of the decision late Tuesday afternoon by Big 12 officials. Since the Big 12 announced plans to pursue expansion by a vote of its board of directors on July 19, ECU athletic director Jeff Compher has strongly promoted his school as a candidate. The school's athletic teams currently compete in the American Athletic Conference, but joining the Big 12 would put the Pirates in one of the Power of Five leagues that have the highest profiles, especially in the sport of football. read more: http://www.fayobserver.com/sports/college_sports/ecu-formally-notified-it-s-no-longer-candidate-for-big/article_d37edec2-6f7d-11e6-a010-a7e31db3535f.html I just want to add this development -- it appears very possible that the Big 12 will add one of the Florida schools. The thought process is it place the Big 12 in talent rich Florida, similar to what the SEC did when they added Texas A&M.

"The concern is, and where that comment is coming from, is if your northern schools put a southern school, and another school in Texas, in the same league, that essentially is going to pull recruits from all of us," Gundy said. "That’s what it comes down to." "Anyone that’s not in Texas will have a more difficult time recruiting Texas if another Texas school gets in this league," he reiterated.

So SMU is being mentioned as a possible Big 12 addition. The Texas Attorney General and others have shown support for your candidacy. How about you show the Big 12 how well your fans support the program through your attendance to games? Last time we played you in Denton it was frankly embarrassing how few fans you brought. There were plenty of excuses like the game time being too early, the heat, June Jones. Programs that are looking to move up the food chain don't make these type of petty excuses. We brought a respectable crowd to the Hilltop last year, so now is a good time to repay us. This is essentially a home game for you guys. You can do better than 150 fans!

We need reconsider our "Big 12 aspirations". The market right now is saturated and they have diluted a lot of what makes college football unique and great with conference realignment. And TV executives aren't all in like they were in the first round of super-conference creation. It looks like the only way a Big 12 expansion would be approved by their TV partners would be stealing a popular team from one the other P5 conferences. BYU is the only team available that actually has a good foothold in a new market for the Big 12. Take a look at this story featured at the link below. If you were AD besides just winning what would you want UNT to try to do in light of this information? http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2016/08/01/Media/Big-12-TV.aspx

The groundswell of support for the University of Houston’s bid to join the Big 12 Conference seemed to come out of nowhere. For two decades, the Cougars' major athletic conference dreams seemed hopeless. Then on July 21, Gov. Greg Abbott declared on Twitter that Big 12 expansion was a “non-starter” without UH. Within hours, more state politicians, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and leaders of other Texas Big 12 schools were voicing their support, too. Suddenly, the idea of UH rejoining the highest possible level of college athletics didn’t seem so far-fetched. The show of support for UH was surprising and impressive. But it didn’t materialize from nothing. The university's most powerful supporters have urged state leaders to back their bid for months. Aware that college sports and politics are inextricably linked in Texas, university boosters have used friendly political allies, face-to-face lobbying and campaign contributions to make their case. It seems to be working. Read More University of Houston Pours Millions into Athletics An invitation to join the Big 12 is far from a sure thing — the conference could still choose not to expand or to pass over UH for other teams. But UH is being hyped lately as a leading contender, and it appears to be in its best position for a major conference spot since the 1990s. read more: https://www.texastribune.org/2016/08/10/inside-university-houstons-political-push-join-big/

It's no surprise that demand for an expansion berth in the Big 12 Conference has two dozen or more universities queuing up with last-lifeboat urgency. A chance to join a "power-five" conference, with all the cache and revenue that go with it, is increasingly rare. So if the Big 12 wants to add two or even four schools, why not Southern Methodist University? If you've examined the lists of top contenders -- Brigham Young, Houston, Cincinnati, Memphis, Connecticut and Central Florida, among others -- you may have wondered what happened to Dallas' university. Since the Southwest Conference dissolved in 1996, SMU has found homes in three minor conferences, most recently the American Athletic. Many of its SWC rivals combined with the former Big Eight to create the Big 12 and, in a bit of irony, put its headquarters just outside Dallas in Irving. Big 12 championship games and tournaments have filled AT&T Stadium and the American Airlines Center. The region is laced with enthusiastic fan and alumni bases from Texas, Baylor, Texas Tech, TCU, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas and former Big 12 member Texas A&M. In fact, that's one of the arguments used against SMU, that the Big 12 owns much of its turf already. Yet that's also a potential weakness in Houston's bid, and that didn't stop Texas' governor and lieutenant governor and University of Texas president from publicly backing the Cougars. What SMU offers the Big 12 is a stronger case to consolidate a top-five U.S. media market around one power-five conference. That unified presence would only increase penetration and market share in a market that truly matters. And no offense to Cincinnati, Memphis, Orlando or Provo, Utah, but there's no fair way to compare them to Dallas. read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/20160803-editorial-dallas-university-smu-has-a-case-for-big-12-membership.ece

He speaks about investing in your program and playing out West: The coach noted the renovations on Amon G. Carter Stadium were already underway. The $105 million improvements started after TCU beat San Diego State in 2010, the year the Frogs won the Rose Bowl and finished second in the final Associated Press poll. That was still when TCU was in the Mountain West Conference. Patterson recalled getting home from West Coast conference games halfway through the morning and then practicing later that day. He'd like to leave those late nights in the past. "I would prefer not to have to get home at 6 o'clock in the morning like they used to do in the WAC [Western Athletic Conference] and the Mountain West," Patterson said. read more:. http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/college-sports/collegesports/2016/08/03/gary-patterson-expanding-big-12-conferences-job-make-university-better

Probably not just Baylor. Throw in Iowa State, Kansas probably OU... This thing is getting real interesting. Also, of interest, there appears to be a bond between the privates and the public schools in all this. Abbott and the UT bigwigs bonding towards UofH seem to support this theory. http://www.ourdailybears.com/2016/7/24/12265856/baylor-should-oppose-houston-s-big-12-bid

You heard it here first. Looks like the AAC has to replace three. Probably Southern Miss, FIU and Marshall is my best guess. Maybe Rice or SMU for academics.

With Baylor facing scrutiny for allowing a football player with a troubled past to transfer to the school, the Big 12 is crafting a new policy that will require more diligence when looking into athletes' past disciplinary issues. Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby told The Associated Press on Wednesday he expects the new rule to be structured like the one implemented by the Southeastern Conference. The SEC prevents schools from accepting transfers who have been dismissed from another team for "serious misconduct," defined as sexual assault, domestic violence or other forms of sexual violence. Bowlsby said he expects the Big 12 rule to "cast a broad net" with its transfer policy and for schools to consider more than just violent acts. He added that decisions on transfers should involve more than just coaches, but the league office won't be making the call on whether a player should be accepted. read more: http://www.thonline.com/sports/other_sports/article_ff897e75-6a61-5bdd-b154-fd68919dae0a.html

“When all things are equal with records and whatnot, if someone has played a tougher nonconference schedule, it would usually benefit you,” Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said, while noting he believes tough nonconference games would have helped in the BCS era as well. “Otherwise, why play? Otherwise, you might as well just schedule three yawners that no one will pay attention to and not put yourself at risk of losing that game.” Any nonconference slip up from a Big 12 favorite could come back to haunt the conference as a whole, particularly since the last conference champion to finish the regular season undefeated was Texas in 2009. A one-loss Big 12 champion opens itself up for debates over its worthiness for a College Football Playoff Berth and a softer résumé won’t help its cause with the SEC, Pac-12, ACC and Big Ten likely to have teams in similar situations. Read more: http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/97426/planning-for-success-big-12

Texas The Longhorns start the Charlie Strong Era by playing host to North Texas, a team that went 9-4 and won its bowl game. Strong and Mean Green coach Dan McCarney, who began his head coaching career at Iowa State, were on the staff at Florida when the Gators beat Oklahoma for the 2008 national championship. "From getting to know coach McCarney when we were together at Florida, I know his team will be very physical and won't beat themselves," Strong said. "Watching their games from last season, they just found a way to win. They'll be well prepared and focused. What they did last season, winning nine games and a bowl game, speaks volumes about the job he's doing there." Strong said that senior wide receiver Jaxon Shipley is "day-to-day" after suffering a hamstring injury just under two weeks ago. Other than Shipley, Texas has two receivers that have productive game experience – juniors Marcus Johnson and Daje' Johnson. read more: http://www.big12sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=209616886&DB_OEM_ID=10410

DALLAS -- Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby joked that he's glad to avoid the topic of conference realignment, but he had plenty to say on another topic Monday: NCAA reform. During his 45-minute state of the conference remarks to open Big 12 media days in Dallas, Bowlsby stressed the importance of achieving "transformative change" to the NCAA, its leadership system and its future. "I really do think we need to reconfigure the leadership of the organization," Bowlsby said. "I don't think we can at this point in time move forward, and we certainly haven't been able to configure an agenda that made the changes we need to make." Bowlsby expressed his concerns about the effectiveness of NCAA enforcement and the difficulty of advancing real changes to the system. And he certainly has major changes in mind. Bowlsby believes it's time to look at establishing new federations to separate sports and how they're supervised. "It's probably unrealistic to think that we can manage football and field hockey by the same set of rules," Bowlsby said. "I think some kind of reconfiguration of how we govern is in order." Read more: http://espn.go.com/dallas/college-football/story/_/id/9499316/big-12-commissioner-bob-bowlsby-says-ncaa-transform

IRVING The Heart of Dallas Bowl will continue a tie-in with the Big 12 as part of the conferences bowl lineup for 2014-19. We want to be good corporate citizens and community citizens, Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said Friday on the final day of the leagues spring meetings. Im serving on the board and trying to help [Conference USA commissioner] Britton Banowsky to put something together to benefit the area. Big 12 spokesman Bob Burda confirmed that the Big 12s six-year bowl lineup will include the Allstate Sugar (New Orleans), Valero Alamo (San Antonio), Russell Athletic (Orlando, Fla.), AutoZone Liberty (Memphis, Tenn.), Buffalo Wild Wings (Tempe, Ariz.) and Meineke Car Care of Texas (Houston), as expected. Big 12 will be part of several conferences providing teams to the Heart of Dallas Bowl at Cotton Bowl Stadium on a rotating basis. Read more: http://collegesportsblog.dallasnews.com/2013/05/big-12-will-provide-teams-to-heart-of-dallas-bowl-on-rotating-basis-from-2014-19-conferences-other-bowl-lineup-confirmed.html/