UConn to Big 12 expansion plans "paused" as Brett Yormark opens up on latest conference realignment moves 

After dying down toward the end of last year, the UConn to Big 12 rumors had started to gain momentum again in the last few weeks. An ESPN report claimed that Huskies athletic director David Benedict and board chairman Daniel Toscano made the trip to Dallas to meet with Big 12 shareholders two weeks ago to facilitate the talks.

On Thursday, however, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark said in a news conference that the conference was pausing the UConn to Big 12 talks for the time being.

“As commissioner, it is my responsibility to explore a variety of value-creating opportunities on behalf of the Big 12. Following detailed discussions with my conference colleagues alongside UConn leadership, we have jointly decided to pause our conversations at this time. We will instead focus our attention and resources to ushering in this new era of college athletics,” Yormark said.

Why Brett Yormark pursued UConn to Big 12 move

The UConn to Big 12 move was mostly pushed by the conquest-loving commissioner Brett Yormark to create the best college basketball conference in the country.

It began with the pursuit of the Gonzaga Bulldogs last year and when that did not materialize, he went after the blue bloods of both men's and women's basketball, the UConn Huskies. The program staked its claim for the title after retaining the services of coach Dan Hurley despite a lucrative offer to become the LA Lakers coach.

Ahead of the West Virginia Mountaineers' clash against the Penn State Nittany Lions in week one of college football action, Yormark was on the set of FOX's "Big Noon Kickoff" where he addressed the UConn to Big 12 rumors.

"I can't speak specifically about schools, but it's incumbent on me as the commissioner to create value when I see it. Big brands, big markets, big fanbases matter, so we'll see what happens," Yormark said.

The Huskies football team is not a competitive force and, according to an ESPN report, would only join the Big 12 in 2031 after significant investment in case of any conference realignment move. This factor could prove a stumbling block in members approving the admission of the Huskies to the Big 12.

Yormark has already shown his go-getter attitude that has made the Big 12 perhaps the best conference in college sports, going after elite programs with a drive not seen in many commissioners before him.

It will be interesting to see how the UConn to Big 12 issue resolves itself in the future.