According to Brett McMurphy of Action Network, UConn officials met with Big 12 athletic directors last week and discussed joining the conference.
The Huskies’ back-to-back national champion men’s basketball program and Olympic sports could join as soon as 2026, while the football program wouldn’t until 2031. UConn’s football team is independent and hasn’t had nearly the same success as its basketball programs.
UConn “showcased how it would build in the future leading up to 2031 and invest more in football,” one of McMurphy’s sources said. Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark, is enticed and impressed by the Huskies basketball program as well as their Northeast market and is expected to make a presentation to the Big 12’s presidents, who must approve any expansion ideas according to McMurphy.
The Big 12 added Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah this year and may look to add more. In the ACC Clemson and Florida State are two other schools that may begin conversations about joining the conference. In what was the Pac 12, Oregon State and Washington State are also looking for new conferences.
