With the Big 12 Conference directing commissioner Bob Bowlsby to evaluate options for expansion, the topic is back on the front burner. WVSports.com took a trip around the Big 12 to the various sites in the conference on the Rivals.com network to poll each on which possible expansion candidates they'd like to see added to the league.
We asked our fellow Big 12 writers to provide their thoughts on both a 12 team and a 14 team conference moving forward.
BAYLOR (SicEmSports.com):
1. Cincinnati -- A pretty consistent football program who has held its own against several P5 programs in the past. Also could be a good travel partner for West Virginia.
2. Houston -- Now, the critics can argue that Big 12 doesn't need the Houston market because of Texas being in striking distance. However, I think the market situation is pretty much saturated. Houston just opened its new football stadium and the program is a consistent bowl team. Basketball in the right direction under Kelvin Sampson.
3. Memphis -- It's regional and easy to travel. Football seems to be in a better place. Look, there's not a lot of great football out there. But then again have KU and Iowa State been power houses over the years.
4. SMU -- Total wild card here only because you could match it with Houston. If there's anything we've learned about realignment, regional rivalries mean something. Now, SMU has been god awful in football for years but if they get it going with Chad Morris, it could make them attractive. All of the out of state Big 12 schools could tell Texas recruits they will be in DFW every year. And if Boren is serious about academics, then SMU has that covered.
IOWA STATE (CycloneReport.com):
1. UConn - strong academic and athletic profile, elite basketball school, and gets some attention in the New York market
2. Cincinnati - Big 12 can't repeat the Louisville fumble; Cinci works geographically and is stronger academically than most people know.
3. USF or UCF - the Big 12 has all the data on which of these two Fla. schools would add more economically; so let the numbers decide.
4. Memphis - is a stretch, but money can heal a lot of warts and FedEx is reportedly willing to bankroll the treatment.
KANSAS (JayhawkSlant.com):
Getting two teams: This is assuming no Power Five teams are on the market
1- BYU- They have a national following and could compete in several sports. Their largest alumni base east of Utah is Texas. Looking at college academic rankings it would be in the middle of the Big 12. One talking point is what they would with their network BYU-TV
2- Cincinnati- Good balance and competitive athletic teams. Traveling distance isn’t too bad. Academically they rank ahead of three current teams in the conference and have improved a lot in the last decade. They have an endowment of $1.19 billion which would put them in the middle to upper part of the Big 12.
Going four teams:
1- UConn- Top level basketball teams and would compete right now middle to lower pack in football. They are a flagship school and ranked one of the top 25 public schools in the country. Distance is a factor but they have all the check marks the Big 12 would look for.
2- Colorado State- Sticking in the western part with this pick. Concerns about having a budget to compete in the Big 12 but would bring a market the Big 12 loss with Colorado. Their academic is a bit lower than what some presidents/chancellors might want. They have publicly said they want in the Big 12.
On the outside looking in: Memphis, Houston, Central Florida, South Florida
KANSAS STATE (GoPowerCat.com):
What do I want and what I think we will get from expansion are two different things. First, it's hard to know what the top priority is better constructing a conference, building a bridge to West Virginia, then my preference is Cincinnati and Memphis. However, academics for Memphis are a major problem, a problem only truckloads of FedEx money can overcome. If not, that makes UConn the compromise candidate to best attach West Virginia, because Cincinnati and Storrs bracket Morgantown.
Now, what do I think will happen? Well, Cincinnati will bridge the West Virginia island, and the powers that be will invite BYU based on prestige and television value. And thus, the conference will solve a one island and then create a new one because that's the Big 12 way.
OKLAHOMA (SoonerScoop.com):
12-team:
BYU - From a football aspect this makes as much sense as any. The Cougs bring a national fanbase with a tradition rich program on the gridiron.
Cincinnati - Not really a Skyline chili guy, but the Bearcats would add a solid athletic program on multiple platforms.
14-team:
BYU
Cincinnati
Central Florida - Sorry South Florida you could have been in this spot. Hit the book harder and don't cheat (allegedly). Largest enrollment in the country and into a top 20 market in Orlando. And the Knights have a BCS bowl win over Baylor to their credit.
Nebraska - Yeah, probably unrealistic but why not get really weird? It's 2016. Anything is possible, but only if it's announced on Snapchat.
OKLAHOMA STATE (OStateIllustrated):
1. BYU - The national brand the Cougars have is incomparable among the realistic possibilities for expansion. It opens up the West Coast to the Big12 as well -which can be a positive and negative. BYU to West Virginia and vice-versa will be a long trip for those teams.
2. Cincinnati - Certainly would help connect the dots from West Virginia to the rest of the conference, though BYU would be the new outlier.
14-team:
1. UCF - I nearly put UCF in Cincinnati's spot, so it's a coin-flip for me. Orlando TV market and recruiting have to be attractive to the conference.
2. Colorado State - The state has long-standing ties to the state and it's a pretty attractive road trip for most of the fans in the conference.
TEXAS (Orangebloods.com):
12 teams
Cincinnati - This team needs to get in to give West Virginia a closer opponent. Football program is capable of being competitive in the Big 12.
UCF - Adding a team from Orlando will open up the Central Florida recruiting market for many teams. Orlando has a huge television market and UCF's enrollment is a plus.
14 teams
UConn - The league can expand into the Northeast. UConn may not have a huge football impact, but the men's and women's basketball programs would be a bonus.
BYU - Makes sense as a football only addition. BYU has proven it can play against Texas in football.
TCU (PurpleMenace.com):
1. Memphis - The Tigers should be an obvious candidate because they bring a decent football program and a good basketball program. Plus getting into Tennessee and part of SEC country is key. Plus Memphis is basically on the way to West Virginia, so why not?
2. Connecticut - The Huskies have a competitive football program, a good baseball program and a great men’s basketball team. And obviously the best women’s basketball program in NCAA history. Plus getting in ESPN’s backyard couldn’t hurt if the Big 12 ever gets out from under the shadow of the Longhorn Network.
3. Cincinnati - This move to expand appears to be all about spreading the brand and just finding a way to get the title game right. I think adding four teams is too many, but if you’re going beyond Memphis and Connecticut, Cincinnati isn’t a bad option. The Bearcats are respectable in all sports and getting into Ohio and the Buckeyes backyard isn’t a horrible idea.
4. Louisiana TechSlight bias here as I was born in Ruston, LA, and both my parents went to Louisiana Tech, but the Bulldogs have never been afraid to play a tough football schedule. This year they have Arkansas and Texas Tech. Last year they went to Kansas State. In 2014 they went to Oklahoma and Auburn. They lost to Texas A&M in 2012 by two points in what was a potential BCS buster season. In 2011 they won at Ole Miss.The Bulldogs also have good baseball and basketball programs. Plus, TCU always recruits Louisiana hard and getting deeper into SEC turf would be good.
TEXAS TECH (RedRaiderSports.com):
I would go with BYU, Cincinnati, Memphis and Colorado State.
1. BYU has a fantastic athletic history in both football and basketball, and they have a uniquely national fanbase because of the Mormon faith. That's the no-brainer.
2. Cincinnati is a school in a big Midwest city, somewhere new the Big 12 can expand its footprint, and the Bearkats are traditionally successful in basketball and football as well.
3. Memphis has the monetary backing of FedEx, something the Big 12 could use, they plant the Big 12's flag in the South and they add a quality basketball program with a football program on the up and up with big potential.
4. Then, my wildcard choice is Colorado State. The Rams have done some good things lately athletically, and on top of that they'd add the Denver market. They add a regional team for BYU to take on, too.
