ESPN insider provides framework for how the Big 12 can respond to conference expansion

The Big Ten and SEC are starting to get ahead of the other conferences in the conference realignment arms race. That means leagues such as the Big 12 will have to find a way to keep up, and ESPN’s Pete Thamel provided some framework on Friday.

Rumors are swirling about potential additions to the Big 12, which is already bringing in four schools to help with the losses of Oklahoma and Texas to the SEC. Four Pac-12 programs — Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah are at the forefront of the conversation as Brett Yormark tries to get settled in as commissioner.

Thamel said the previously reported interest might not be as strong as people think, but there’s been dialogue. It’s a matter of how aggressive Yormark wants to be.

“The extent of the Big 12’s discussions with Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah were overstated in reports this week,” Thamel wrote. “But there’s certainly been back channel conversations and interest, as new commissioner Brett Yormark has followed through on his vow to be aggressive. A commissioner can only be as aggressive as his pocketbook, and that’s where the next step comes.

“The Pac-12 has basically convinced the four schools being courted to slow down and see what the numbers look like on a potential ACC partnership before they make any decision. ‘Everyone is kind of waiting,’ an industry source said.”

The “partnership” Thamel mentioned is a potential media deal that would allow the ACC and Pac-12 to team up and get some Pac-12 games some more exposure on the West Coast. However, the sense is that deal might have enough value to happen.

Still, the conversations are still on going as media deals get hammered out.

“If that proposed deal is as financially flimsy as expected, the Big 12 conversations with those four schools could heat back up,” Thamel wrote. “If one of those schools breaks away from the Pac-12 and commits to the Big 12, a domino effect could soon follow. And that domino of four schools could end up being six, with Oregon and Washington following for safe ground.

“Hence the flurry of chatter this week about media consultants, who are common in conference television agreements. The Big 12 needs to sell schools on a robust financial future, and it has the option of pitching a short deal to the new members to see how it all works. Utah, Arizona, Arizona State and Colorado need to decide whether sticking with Oregon and Washington until they are eventually lured away or look east and build an identity facing that way.”