BYU, UCF, Cincinnati, Houston considered top candidates for Big 12 expansion, sources confirm
As the Big 12 continues to consider expansion, four leading candidates have emerged in BYU, UCF, Cincinnati and Houston, sources confirmed to ESPN, as formal invitations could be extended to these schools during the college football season.
A four-person subcommittee featuring two athletic directors and two university presidents from the Big 12 began meeting last week to discuss potential expansion. The conference requires eight of its current 10 members to approve candidate schools for expansion to occur. The Big 12 will have only eight members when Texas and Oklahoma depart for the SEC.
BYU, an FBS independent, is generating the most discussion as an expansion candidate, sources said, while American Athletic Conference powers UCF and Cincinnati also have been on the Big 12's radar. While Houston has been a long-debated expansion candidate in the Texas-centric league, support has recently increased to add the school.
The Big 12 considered all four of these schools and others in 2016 when it explored expansion but ended up remaining at 10 members.
https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/32134459/byu-ucf-cincinnati-houston-considered-top-candidates-big-12-expansion-sources-confirm?platform=amp