Sources: Big 12 Conference intent on adding 14th school quickly

One day after formally bringing Colorado back to its league, the Big 12 Conference is not slowing down.

Sources familiar with the league’s strategy told On3 that the Big 12 will continue to move aggressively to add a 14th school for 2024 – and it may not stop there.

“[Fourteen] has been identified as the ‘right’ number,” one source said Friday. “But it’s not a hard stop if going bigger made sense.”

After commissioner Brett Yormark met with league athletic directors Friday, the pursuit of a 14th school, is likely to begin with assessing the interest of Arizona. As the Pac-12’s Conference‘s protracted media rights negotiations continue, Arizona President Robert Robbins has remained steadfast that he wants to see financial projections before expressing fidelity to the Pac-12.

The Pac-12 has internally espoused confidence that it will ultimately land a deal that delivers annual revenue to its members in the ballpark of $31.6 million. That is the amount that Big 12 members will receive by virtue of its six-year, $2.28 billion extension with ESPN and FOX Sports that was secured in October. 

Arizona would align with Yormark’s stated drive to double down on his league’s stature as the nation’s premier men’s basketball conference. Yormark is pursuing an additional member to round out the league at 14 for the 2024-25 school year when Colorado joins.

As realignment wheels spin, what’s next for Pac-12?

What if Arizona stays with the Pac-12?

If Arizona remains committed to the Pac-12 – which issued a 105-word statement of unity following its CEO Group meeting Thursday night – attention would likely turn to the other so-called Four Corner schools, Utah and Arizona State. 

Oregon and Washington, of course, would certainly pique the interest of Big 12 stakeholders. If either looks elsewhere, it’s likely to be the Big Ten Conference, although new commissioner Tony Petitti reiterated this week that further expansion is not currently a focus.

When the Pac-12 ultimately secures a rights deal, if commissioner George Kliavkoff retains all nine members, Yormark likely will target UConn. While the Huskies check one box – having won five men’s basketball national titles since 1999 – its football program pales in comparison with many Big 12 teams.

Additionally, UConn, which receives some $4 million annually from the Big East Conference, would significantly trump that by receiving even a partial revenue share in the Big 12. But one hurdle is the exit fee: $30 million.

Gonzaga of the West Coast Conference has also been linked to the Big 12. The Bulldogs make sense as a perennial men’s basketball national title contender. But adding a non-football playing school is unlikely to be the preference.

Fourteen Big 12 teams ‘kind of feels right’

Colorado will receive a full revenue share when it rejoins the Big 12 next summer. The Big 12’s ESPN portion of its rights deal includes a pro rata clause, which stipulates that the financial value of the deal increases accordingly if the league adds a Power 5 school, a source said. 

Yormark told On3 at Big 12 media days that he would be “a little disappointed” if he didn’t add two schools by 2025. Among the most important elements he covets in expansion candidates: Leadership, geography, cultural fit, athletic performance and brand upside. 

Asked whether 14 schools was a magic number, he said, “I like 14. It is a nice, even number … 14 kind of feels right.”