The Big 12 has seemingly settled on the idea of once again being a 12-member conference. The first 4 schools to apply for membership into the Big 12 are BYU, Cincinnati, UCF, and Houston. These first 4 are the heavy favorites to be accepted as new members of the Big 12 conference.
BYU:
The most appealing choice to boost the profile of the Big 12 conference is BYU. Great athletics, outstanding academics, and a major national following instantly revitalizes the Big 12. However, things make get a bit complicated with the addition of BYU. In 2016, there was a lot of controversy surrounding BYU's Honor Code concerning LGBT and sexual assault. As recently as 2019, there have been a few amendments to the Honor Code that loosened a few restrictions and softens punishments that were deemed a bit harsh.
They also have a no-compete policy on Sundays. With the conference seemingly being on the outside looking in concerning Power 5 autonomy, it's time for the Big 12 to make necessary changes in accommodation in order to secure membership from BYU. Perhaps BYU commits as soon as 2022 due to their status as a football independent while the American Athletic Conference requires its schools to give a 27-months’ notice an exit fee of $10 million.
Cincinnati:
As the second largest university in Ohio, a historically successful basketball program combined with a football program coming off a fairly successful decade, the University of Cincinnati is a prime choice for expansion. The addition of Cincinnati, currently ranked in the top 10, would bring instant credibility to the conference. Expansion into Cincinnati also introduces a new market in a city whose population has topped over 300,000. Its location is also a plus so that West Virginia doesn't remain the outlier school in the conference due to its eastern location, placing it in the Atlantic time zone.
Houston:
The city of Houston boasts the 4th largest population and 8th largest television market in the country. As the 3rd largest university in the state of Texas, the University of Houston provides a solid Texas presence to help soften a huge blow of losing Texas to the SEC. A newly renovated Fertitta Center and a football stadium (TDECU stadium) and practice facility that are less than a decade ago shows the commitment that Houston has made to competing in a Power 5 conference.
Central Florida:
After BYU and Cincinnati, breaking into the Florida market could be the next best option. UCF football has come a long way from an 0-12 season in 2015. Located in Orlando, UCF is by far the largest university in the state of Florida and largest public university in the country. 2010-19 was the greatest decade of success in UCF football history. A 12-0 season in 2017 was followed up by a 12-1 season, with the only loss being to LSU in the Fiesta Bowl. Another 10-win season followed in 2019. This run of success has helped grow the UCF brand beyond the state of Florida in the AAC.
There are many questions that remain unanswered about the new look of the Big 12 going forward. At least one question, the biggest of all, has finally been answered. There is afterlife for the Big 12 post-Oklahoma and Texas.
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