UConn, Big 12 to pause expansion talks, says commissioner Brett Yormark

The Big 12 and UConn will pause expansion talks after a series of discussions about adding the basketball powerhouse to the conference that has added four teams in each of the past two seasons. Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark made the announcement via a statement to college athletics reporters on Thursday.

“As commissioner, it is my responsibility to explore a variety of value-creating opportunities on behalf of the Big 12,” he wrote. “Following detailed discussions with my conference colleague alongside UConn leadership, we have jointly decided to pause our conversations at this time. We will instead focus our attention and resources to ushering in this new era of college athletics.”

UConn, Big 12 were in talks of expansion

UConn athletic director David Benedict recently traveled to Dallas to pitch the Big East school to Big 12 administrators. Conference ADs and presidents heard from the league’s media consultants and discussed Yormark’s latest vision, according to The Associated Press.

The people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the conference and school were not making their discussions public.

UConn officials made an in-person pitch to the league that included a hefty investment in the Huskies’ struggling football program, two people familiar with the discussions told The Associated Press.

The people said a plan to add UConn, which has won the last two men’s college basketball national championships, would include the school’s football team staying independent before being added to the Big 12 in 2031 and not require current members to take a cut in their current expected conference revenue share.

To add a new member, 12 of the 16 Big 12 schools would need to be in favor of expansion.

According to several people familiar with the situation who spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the discussions are private, Yormark still had convincing to do among his members that adding UConn is a sound move and the Big 12 needed to act fast.

CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd polled eight Big 12 members — half of the 16-team league — and only six were in favor of adding the Huskies. A formal vote on such an addition is “not imminent,” Dodd reports.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Follow @AZSports