Brett Yormark explains Big 12's position on future expansion, potential league targets

Conference realignment in college football dominated the last two offseasons and recent comments by new Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark are a good sign that the topic won’t be dying off any time soon.

Yormark, according to The Athletic’s Justin Williams, wants to bring a west-coast school with “national recognition” into the Big 12 fold. Such a move, Yormark explained, would also put the league in all four major United States timezones.

“Well, I don’t want to get into the specifics, and I appreciate the question,” Yormark said. “But obviously going out west is where I would like to go. Entering that fourth time zone. A program that has national recognition. One that competes at the highest level in basketball and football, stands for the right things, is a good cultural fit. Because our alignment right now and the like-mindedness of all of our member institutions is fantastic. It’s never been better. So I don’t want to compromise that, and that’s critically important that there is the right cultural fit when you think about coming in and being part of what we’re building here.”

Big 12 commish Brett Yormark on potential future expansion, and what types of schools would be additive for the B12 moving forward: "Obviously going out west is where I would like to go, entering that fourth time zone. A program that has national recognition."

FULL QUOTE 👇 pic.twitter.com/IwYEfFDedF

— Justin Williams (@Williams_Justin) September 7, 2022

The Big 12, in the wake of Texas and Oklahoma bolting for the SEC, is already slated to welcome Cincinnati, UCF, Houston and BYU into its ranks. They will join the league “no later” than the 2024-25 academic year, according to a Big 12 release.

This is just another part of the Big 12 being open for business

For the first time as commissioner, Yormark is faced questions at Big 12 Media Day. He officially replaced Bob Bowlsby on Aug. 1, but had the opportunity to share his vision for the future of the conference.

During his opening comments, Yormark made his stance known of where the Big 12 stands in the frenzy that is college football realignment. He said the conference is “open for business” and his top goal as commissioner is to bring value.

“One thing is for sure: The Big 12 is open for business,” he said. “We will leave no stone unturned to drive value for the conference.”