The Big 12 is undergoing substantial expansion, with unanimous approval from the schools' presidents and chancellors to formally include Utah and Arizona State on Friday night. This decision, coupled with Thursday's approval of Arizona, enlarges the league to 16 teams, effective from the 2024-25 academic year.
In a statement, Commissioner Brett Yormark expressed excitement about the additions, stating, "We are thrilled to welcome Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah to the Big 12. The Conference is gaining three premier institutions both academically and athletically, and the entire Big 12 looks forward to working alongside their presidents, athletic directors, student-athletes, and administrators."
Sources from ESPN revealed that both Utah and Arizona State had applied for membership before the vote, a crucial prerequisite for schools seeking to switch leagues.
The announcement followed a tumultuous day marked by Oregon and Washington leaving the Pac-12 for the Big Ten. This move solidifies a challenging day for the Pac-12, which began with optimism about the league's grant of rights for a new television contract but ended with only four remaining members.
With USC and UCLA having announced their exit the previous year and Colorado's decision to join the Big 12, a total of eight schools have departed the Pac-12 in under 18 months. The strategic maneuver that led to this point involved Big 12 Commissioner Yormark initiating early negotiations with Fox and ESPN, jumping ahead of the Pac-12 for a television contract extension. This unexpected chronological shift reshaped the college sports landscape.
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