The Big 12 has paused expansion discussions with UConn, conference commissioner Brett Yormark said in a statement Thursday.
“As Commissioner, it is my responsibility to explore a variety of value-creating opportunities on behalf of the Big 12,” Yormak said. “Following detailed discussions with my conference colleagues alongside UConn leadership, we have jointly decided to pause our conversations at this time.
“We will instead focus our attention and resources to ushering in this new era of college athletics.”
The announcement comes in the wake of renewed discussions between the Big 12 and UConn, including Huskies athletic director David Benedict and other UConn officials attending an in-person meeting with Big 12 athletic directors in Dallas last month, as well as an informational call the Big 12 hosted with university presidents last week, as The Athletic previously reported.
The Big 12 has explored adding UConn since at least last year. Following the additions of former Pac-12 schools Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah last summer, which expanded the conference to 16 schools, Yormark stated publicly those talks with UConn were “no longer.” They then resumed again earlier this year.
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