Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming season despite the official departure of Oklahoma and Texas to the SEC.
On Tuesday, Yormark emphasized that the Big 12, with the addition of Utah, Arizona, Arizona State, and Colorado in 2024, is in a stronger position than the previous year.
“We solidified ourselves as one of the top three conferences in America,” Yormark stated, as reported by ESPN’s Dave Wilson. “There has never been a better time than right now to be part of the Big 12. We are truly a national conference in 10 states, four time zones, and all eyes are now on the Big 12 for all the right reasons. I think it’s safe to say we are more relevant now than ever before.”
Yormark continued, “I wake up every morning and I think about one thing: the Big 12 being the best version of itself. Everything else doesn’t really matter. If we take care of business, we’re going to be just fine. I’m a firm believer in that. We’re more relevant now than we’ve ever been. We’re a national conference. We’ve got 16 great brands. We’re going to be the deepest football conference in America, and we’ll be well-represented in the CFP.”
The SEC’s acquisition of Oklahoma and Texas marked a significant event in the latest round of college football realignment, which began in 2021. Concurrently, the Big Ten has incorporated Oregon, USC, UCLA, and Washington.
In 2023, Cincinnati, UCF, Houston, and BYU joined the Big 12. The conference now boasts 16 schools and is exploring innovative methods to boost revenue.
The Big 12 is reportedly considering selling its naming rights to insurance giant Allstate, a move that could generate hundreds of millions of dollars. Additionally, the conference is contemplating selling 15-20% of itself to a global private equity firm based in Luxembourg for $800 million to $1 billion.
“As we enter this new chapter, I can assure you the 12 schools will compete at the highest levels, and they will continue to invest,” Yormark said. “From a conference perspective, we are exploring all options. Two years later, I guess you could say, we’re still open for business. Naming rights is one. Private equity is another.”
