Big 12 Won't Add Gonzaga, UConn After Discussing Potential Moves, Commish Says

The Big 12 doesn't plan to add Gonzaga and Connecticut after recently getting Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State and Utah from the Pac-12.

Appearing on the Marchand & Ourand Sports Media Podcast (h/t ESPN's Myron Medcalf), Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark said he had talks with both Gonzaga and Connecticut but it "didn't work out only because the dream scenario unfolded for us" with the Pac-12 schools.

"I'm a big admirer of both of those programs [Connecticut and Gonzaga]," Yormark explained. "They're fantastic for all the right reasons but I'm focused on the transition of those four [new schools] right now."

The Big 12's future was uncertain when Oklahoma and Texas announced in 2022 they were leaving to join the SEC. The two schools reached an agreement with the Big 12 in February to make their move early, after the 2023-24 academic year.

The Big 12 responded by securing commitments from BYU, Central Florida, Cincinnati and Houston. Those four programs will debut in the conference starting with the 2023-24 academic year.

Colorado announced on July 27 it was leaving the Pac-12 to return to the Big 12 starting in 2024-25. Last year, USC and UCLA announced a move to the Big Ten, effective Aug. 2, 2024.

Uncertainty around the Pac-12's media rights deal, which is currently set to expire after the 2023-24 academic year, has resulted in other programs jumping ship. The Big 12 approved the additions of Arizona, Arizona State and Utah in a vote held on Aug. 4.

"We are the deepest conference, I think, in America when it comes to football but arguably, we are the No. 1 conference in basketball and I'm excited about that," Yormark said on the podcast.

Yormark specifically cited basketball as a key to the conference's growth internationally, according to Metcalf, including a 2024 game between Kansas and Houston that will be played in Mexico.

Gonzaga has been a member of the West Coast Conference since 1979. The school has 18 varsity sports programs, including men's and women's basketball.

Connecticut is a member of the Big East in 20 different sports. The men's and women's basketball teams have combined to win 16 national titles. The men's team won the 2022-23 title by defeating San Diego State in the national championship game.