The subject of Big 12 expansion is a non-subject right now, as far as the conference’s presidents are concerned.
According to Jimmy Burch of the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram, the presidents of the Big 12’s 10 member universities did not approve any expansion bids at their meetings this past week, though the matter isn’t closed for good.
The issue as it is perceived by the presidents right now is all about the finances. The meetings included the presidents receiving a presentation from independent analysts, projecting the financial impact of possible expansion options.
While no details from that presentation have been released, the outcome is obvious from the presidents’ lack of action. The current field of expansion candidates; BYU, South Florida, Houston, Cincinnati, Memphis, etc., all raise concerns about diluting the financial strength of the conference.
The only reason to expand is if doing so will increase the profitability and revenue of the Big 12 as a whole, and without ample evidence forecasting a significant uptick in financial prowess, none of the options will be approved. The onus is on the institutions looking to join to prove to the conference that accepting their application would be a boost as opposed to a detraction or a net neutral.
Another item of note from the meetings include an amendment to the “Baker-Mayfield” rule, which changes the Big 12’s policy on intra-conference transfers. As long as athletes don’t receive a written scholarship offer from the school they are transferring out of, they can participate in athletics at their new institution without forfeiting a year of their eligibility.
While the university presidents mull over expansion options back at their respective campuses, the need for the Big 12 to take some kind of action to improve its standing is obvious. Oklahoma president David Boren may have said it best.
“We don’t have to be down there, dollar for dollar or penny for penny, to what somebody else is making. But we have to be in the neighborhood. We’d have to be where we’re not extremely disadvantaged.”
