WheredoBig 12 expansion plans stand? UConn waits as conference realignment looms

Jul. 19—The Big 12 is pondering expansion, with UConn viewed as a likely target. But the first domino that is expected to spur movement remains static — the Pac-12 will not unveil its new media rights deal at the league's football media day Friday, according to multiple reports.

Yahoo! Sports reported Tuesday that the wait for a new deal will extend into August.

With Colorado identified as a Big-12 target, the conference's expansion plans are expected to remain stalled until the Pac-12 media deal is made public. The Big 12 could also pursue Utah, Arizona and Arizona State from the Pac-12, but UConn has been most often mentioned in reports as the league's Northeast target.

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark said last week at the conference's football media day that the league does have an expansion plan and "hopefully we can execute that plan sooner than later."

He was also asked about the conference pursuing non-Power Five programs. UConn sits outside of the Power Five alignment as a member of the Big East with an independent football program..

"Obviously there's lots of different routes you can take with expansion," Yorkmark said. "As I said, we have a plan. But as it relates to a school that's a non-Power Five, if they create value and they align well with our goals and objectives, it's a conversation we'll consider having.

"The great thing about my board and my AD partnership is that we collaborate all the time, and we can agree to disagree on certain things, and we have throughout the year. I've learned a lot from both governance groups.

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"But again, if within the value equation there's alignment, Power Five or non-Power Five, we'll look to pursue it."

Yorkmark has continually talked about the value of basketball to the Big 12. The conference is adding Houston and Cincinnati, along with BYU and UCF as it offsets the loss of Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC.

On Tuesday, Big 12 men's and women's basketball coaches hosted a clinic at New York's historic Rucker Park — the most tangible proof yet that the Texas-based conference has an eye on the Northeast basketball world populated by Dan Hurley and UConn.

Given an estimated $30 million boost in revenue expected from a move to the Big 12, UConn may be lured by an offer — even after winning a men's NCAA title out of the Big East.

Not everyone of influence supports that, though. U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, an avid UConn sports fan, told CT Insider Monday that he opposes a move.

"I think UConn belongs in the Big East," Murphy said. "I don't think we should make the mistake of chasing the money."

On Tuesday, Gov. Ned Lamont told CT Insider that he would support whatever decision the UConn hierarchy makes.

"I can see the pluses of going to the Big 12," Lamont said. "I hear there's some enthusiasm from the players and the coaches, but I think they ought to look at it in terms of the regional competitions they've got going right now in the Big East. ... They'll figure it out."

But Lamont, who played a role in the hiring of football coach Jim Mora, will likely need to sign off on a conference move. Among the considerations: UConn's Big East exit fee is $30 million for the first six years in the league.

Speaker of the House Matt Ritter, another UConn fan from the political world, recently weighed both sides of the decision.

"You're playing, certainly at the football level, better teams," Ritter said. "There's also a lot of appeal for people like me who grew up going to the Big East Tournament in New York City and loved playing St. John's and Providence and Villanova and those teams. I just have to trust the athletic department and the trustees to sort through it and make the best decision.

"At the end of the day, one thing we don't want to have happen is move to a conference where basketball suffers. And at the same time, we don't want to be left out of realignment and wake up one day where we're in a bad spot because we didn't make the move. I think at some point, there's going to be another move for UConn. I think it's inevitable, whether it's the ACC or the Big 12. The question is, is now the right time?"

Staff writer Joseph Villanova contributed to this story.