Big 12 leaders to discuss potentially inviting UConn after school makes pitch, AP sources say

Ralph D. Russo, Associated Press College Football Writer

Big 12 presidents are scheduled adjacent week to talk perchance inviting UConn to nan convention aft schoolhouse officials made an in-person transportation to nan convention that included a hefty finance successful nan Huskies’ struggling shot program, 2 group acquainted pinch nan discussions told The Associated Press connected Friday.

The group said a scheme to adhd UConn, which has won nan past 2 men’s assemblage hoops nationalist championships, would see nan school’s shot squad staying independent earlier being added to nan Big 12 successful 2031 and not require existent members to return a trim successful their existent expected convention gross share.

The group said to nan AP connected information of anonymity because nan convention and schoolhouse were not making their discussions public.

The Athletic first reported nan Big 12’s renewed liking successful UConn.

UConn officials were successful Dallas past week to coming to nan Big 12 a scheme for awesome investments to nan diversion programs, nan immense mostly of which would beryllium focused connected football, 1 of nan group said.

Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark, a erstwhile executive pinch nan Brooklyn Nets, has agelong been intrigued pinch getting a foothold successful nan New York area market, wherever nan Big East schoolhouse has a immense following.

Spokespeople for UConn, nan Big 12 and nan Big East each declined a petition for comment.

Big 12 rank has been cool connected nan thought of adding nan Huskies to their already powerful hoops convention because UConn’s shot programme has been flailing for years and they feared nan schoolhouse would not adhd worth to nan league’s media authorities deal.

But adding nan schoolhouse successful a costs neutral move could beryllium appealing.

The Big 12’s caller six-year agreements pinch ESPN and Fox footwear successful adjacent twelvemonth and will salary members astir $31.7 cardinal per schoolhouse annually.

The group who said to nan AP said a definitive determination for either broadside is not imminent and Yormark must still build statement among his members. The Big 12 is astir to statesman its first twelvemonth arsenic a 16-team convention aft adding Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah from nan Pac-12 past year.

After landing those schools, liking successful UConn receded successful nan Big 12 but not needfully for Yormark.

UConn rejoined nan Big East successful 2020 for astir of its sports aft leaving nan American Athletic Conference. The Huskies person been a shot independent since, going 10-27 pinch 1 vessel appearance.

With Army joining nan AAC this twelvemonth and UMass scheduled to subordinate nan Mid-American Conference successful 2025, UConn and Notre Dame will beryllium nan only remaining awesome assemblage shot independents.

While shot has lagged astatine UConn, nan men’s hoops programme has returned to prominence successful nan Big East nether coach Dan Hurley. And nan women’s hoops programme remains 1 of nan champion successful nan country.

___

Follow Ralph D. Russo astatine https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP

____

AP assemblage football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

UConn defender Paige Bueckers brings nan shot up tribunal during nan 2nd half of an NCAA assemblage hoops crippled against South Carolina successful Columbia, S.C., Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024. | Nell Redmond, Associated Press file