Is Big 12 expansion to 24 teams possible? Taking a look at simmering conference realignment theories

The Big 12 has been one of the more active teams in conference realignment, but the conference may not be done. It has already landed Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Arizona State, BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF but did lose Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC.

Nonetheless, the Big 12 may not be done adding.

Is Big 12 expansion to 24 teams possible?

The Big 12 is at 16 teams and it's unlikely the conference will get to 24 teams, but the conference may expand past 16.

College football insider Greg Swaim took to social media to reveal the conference could land Washington State and Oregon State to push them to 18 teams.

"#Wazzu and the #Beavers could join the #Big12 soon, if things work out, but right now the Big 12 seems to be focusing on the entire package to get to 24, which would make then virtually untouchable to be removed as a power conference," Swaim reported.

"Each day that goes by I continue to hear more about private equity firms and poaching the ACC, in addition to Washington State and Oregon State, and believe strongly adding both coasts is the way to put the Big 12 in a very enviable position...especially with the TV people," Swaim added.

Getting Washington State and Oregon State would add some more stability to the conference and keep them as a premier conference in college football alongside the SEC and Big Ten.

However, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark has said the conference isn't looking at adding more schools for the time being.

"We explore every and all opportunity to create value for our members, for our student-athletes," Yormark said, via SI. "It's what we've been doing since I on-boarded and we'll continue to have that mindset. But not looking for new schools? No, I'm not."

However, Yormark did say the conference is open for business if it makes sense, and perhaps adding the final two schools of the decimated Pac-12 could make sense.

But getting to 24 seems highly unlikely as it's unclear what other six schools the conference would want to add to the conference.