The Big 12 Conference, according to numerous Wednesday morning reports, have cut its list of expansion candidates to at least 12 schools. Among the schools notified by Commissioner Bob Bowlsby that they have been eliminated from consideration are UNLV, San Diego State, New Mexico, East Carolina, Arkansas State, Boise State, and Northern Illinois.
Memphis, considered to be a strong candidate for potential inclusion into the Big 12, is not known to be on the cut line or off, according to ESPN.
Still alive in the Big 12’s expansion derby are Central Florida, Cincinnati, UConn, Houston, South Florida, SMU, Temple, and Tulane. Air Force, Colorado State, and Rice remain under consideration as well. Houston, Rice, and SMU, all schools in the state of Texas, were numbers of the former Southwest Conference that disbanded in 1995 when four of its members (Baylor, Texas, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech) joined the newly-formed Big 12.
Sources close to the Big 12 said all schools remaining in consideration will have a chance to make in-person presentations to league officials next week in Dallas.
The Big 12 has said it hopes to make a decision on expansion by October 17th. The latest reports seem to indicate that the league is leaning toward either staying at 10 teams, or adding two for total of 12, rather than expanding by four and/or six schools.
