UCF one of four contenders in Big 12 expansion

ORLANDO, Fla. — As the Big 12 continues to hold “serious discussions” about conference expansion, UCF, Cincinnati, Houston and BYU have emerged as the “leading contenders,” according to a report from The Athletic.

Although there is still “a lot of work to be done,” it’s possible that the process could “move faster than initially anticipated” if the athletic directors and presidents of the league’s eight remaining members can reach a consensus on which members to invite, Max Olson first reported.

Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby met with the conference’s ADs and presidents in Dallas on Tuesday and Wednesday to begin planning conference’s future and released a statement afterwards.

“The eight ADs remain committed to furthering the Big 12 as one of the nation’s premier athletic conferences, and look forward to working with our presidents and chancellors to strengthen the league,” Bowlsby said in the statement on Wednesday. “Future exploration by the group will continue to center on options that best position the long-term strength of the Conference.”

One factor favoring UCF, Cincinnati, BYU and Houston in Big 12 expansion is “they all have large, passionate alumni bases that could be attractive to media partners,” Chuck Carlton of the Dallas Morning News reported while confirming The Athletic’s report.

With almost 72,000 students, UCF is the largest university by enrollment in Florida and one of the largest nationally. Orlando also is home to the largest TV market in the country without an NFL team in its area, according to the latest Nielsen TV market rankings.

Recently, UCF AD Terry Mohajir was asked about possible conference realignment and what it could possibly mean for the Knights in the future.