Is Brett Yormark aiming for 24-team Big 12 expansion? Biggest storylines of conference realignment explored

The Big 12 expansion has been one of the largest conference realignment stories throughout the 2024 college football offseason. One theory suggests a 24-team conference could be established by Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark in the future.

Is Brett Yormark aiming for a 24-team Big 12 expansion?

College football insider Greg Swaim proposed a 24-team Big 12, including the two Pac-12 and Atlantic Coast Conference teams being poached (via Fly War Eagle):

"Twenty-four teams in the Big 12, with six ACC teams, and WSU and Oregon State? Safety in numbers, entirely too strong to keep out, so after FSU and Clemson who are the last four you want? Card Nation, NCState, The U, VT, GT, and Pitt."

If this happens, eight new teams will enter the Big 12, which seems like a massive overhaul. While this is possible, it is unlikely to happen.

One major reason is this would mean the Pac-12 essentially merging with the Big 12. The Pac-12 seemingly wants to try to build itself into a power conference and avoid combining with any conference.

Meanwhile, Yormark has been very straightforward with his ideas for Big 12 expansion. However, a 24-team superconference may not be on the cards for him.

Which teams mentioned make the most sense for Big 12 expansion?

Greg Swaim mentioned Florida State and Clemson. The Southeastern Conference does not want to expand, and the Big Ten is considering only AAU-accredited programs. So that leaves the Big 12 as the only logical suitor for those two teams.

Apart from Florida and Clemson, the Miami Hurricanes and the Louisville Cardinals make sense as they are marketable programs that infiltrate SEC market shares. It will be interesting to see if any of these moves come to fruition.