Poll: Which School Should The Big 12 Add?

With conference realignment chatter kicking off again after Oklahoma President David Boren flat out admitting that everything we’ve thought about expansion and TV contracts for the last five years has been wrong, there’s been a flurry of speculation over viable candidates for a Big 12 invitation.

The most desirable schools are obvious. BYU, Cincinnati, Memphis, and Central Florida make most lists. BYU offers the Big 12 not only a national but a global following even though they’re a cultural mismatch for any conference. Memphis already has the basketball facility and a burgeoning football program. Central Florida is in a desirable market and state and are competitive on the gridiron. The Bearcats, well.. you know everything they offer.

Then there’s the others, Boise State, Colorado State, South Florida, UConn, and Tulane. Boise State is a football powerhouse, has a solid basketball program, but might as well be located on Mars. Colorado State is historically respectable at football, are investing in their stadium, but are located in a market saturated by Colorado University. South Florida is located in a large market in a desirable state from a recruiting standpoint but both major programs are way, way down. UConn is the best option out of any of the schools mentioned on the basketball side but have the same problem as Boise State. Tulane is a strong academic school in a large market but run into similar issues as USF.

So there’s a slew of candidates for the Big 12 to choose from and I’m throwing it up to you to make a decision. I’ll simplify your efforts and ask you to assume the Big 12 is expanding to 11 for the time being, adding just a single school. But who’s the right one? I realize it’s still a difficult ask but you’d just have to do it.

Be true to yourself and make the right decision.