Brett Yormark reveals Big 12's 'guiding principles,' potential timeline for future expansion

The Big 12 has been at the center of realignment discussions for some time now. They’ve become the place for it thus far as they’ve lost two programs, Texas and Oklahoma, and added four more in BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF.

However, if there is to be any more additions for the conference, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark said they will have to check a few boxes. There are several qualities that he is looking for but, at the forefront, he’s taking note of cultural fits that they might have interest in.

“Geography, leadership. Most importantly, though? Cultural fit. We have a great dynamic going on in the Big 12 right now. Wonderful alignment with the continuing eight, the four new members. And cultural fit matters. I’m a culture guy and I think that trumps everything,” Yormark said. “Obviously, athletic performance. And brand upside. Where’s the upside? We’re willing to work with new members and help them reach their potential.”

“Those are some of the guiding principles for expansion for us. And, as I’ve said before, I love the makeup of this conference right now,” said Yormark. “It’s a very exciting time for the Big 12. But if there’s an opportunity to create value moving forward? We’ll pursue it.”

As far as a timeline, though, Yormark has become slightly tired of discussing realignment for the Big 12. It’s not something that the league is shutting down altogether. It’s just that, eventually, he wants to focus solely on the conference members that are already in place.

“I feel like we’ve been discussing expansion for the last 12 months. And I think, at some point in time, we need to push it aside and just continue to grow as we are,” said Yormark. “So, if something happens, I’d like to have it happen sooner than later. But we’ll see.”

The Big 12 is a few weeks away from prepping as a 14-team league in 2023. Even so, once the Longhorns and Sooners head southeast, Yormark has described the resume that the Big 12 is looking for when it comes to potential new additions down the line.

Yormark ‘happy’ about accelerated exit of Oklahoma, Texas from Big 12

During Big 12 media days, Brett Yormark explained that he was happy to be able to find an accelerated exit for Texas and Oklahoma.

Yormark had inherited a conference going through realignment when he took over in 2022. That meant dealing with Texas and Oklahoma for multiple seasons before they leave for the SEC while four new schools entered for the 2023 season. It’s a bit of an awkward situation, in which an accelerated timetable was negotiated between those schools and the Big 12.

“I’ve got a great partnership with the folks at Texas and Oklahoma,” Brett Yormark said. “When there’s mutual respect and when you’re looking for a win-win scenario, those negotiations don’t really take that long.”

As Yormark emphasized, both sides wanted the same thing. Texas and Oklahoma wanted to leave sooner. The Big 12 wanted to move on from them sooner. So, they were able to make a deal.

“We all wanted the same thing, and we got there. I’m happy for them. I’m happy for us. We brought closure to an issue that was highly discussed this time last year, and I’m happy we did.”

One thing that the accelerated exit for Texas and Oklahoma does is make it easier for the Big 12 to find new schools to join, and while Brett Yormark walked back his open for business comments from last year, while readily acknowledging that the Big 12 wants to expand again.

While speaking at Big 12 media days, Yormark even said he’d be disappointed if the conference doesn’t add two teams by 2025.

“I would say if in two years we have not solidified ourselves at 14, I would be a little disappointed,” Yormark said. “Just because I’m so bullish on our conference. I think there is really opportunity and possibility out there for us.”