CINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati is one of nine finalists for Big 12 expansion after the conference committee narrowed the field from more than 30, according to a report.
The report also introduced the possibility that the Big 12 would expand on a football-only basis, meaning UC might stay in the American Athletic Conference for basketball and other sports if accepted.
UC has been widely considered one of the frontrunners for the two likely spots in the Big 12.
At this point, I'll be surprised if the Big 12 doesn't add Houston and either Cincy or UConn. https://t.co/drXuzyv1if
— Kirk Bohls (@kbohls) August 31, 2016
Others still in the running are Houston, Memphis, UConn, South Florida and Central Florida from the American Athletic Conference, as well as BYU and two other unnamed schools from the AAC, according to former Boston Globe columnist Mark Blaudschun's report on tmgcollegesports.com.
The Big 12 has not commented.
Big 12 commish Bob Bowlsby says, "As you know, we have never commented on who was or was not involved. We are not going to start now."
— Kirk Bohls (@kbohls) August 31, 2016
The nine schools will make a presentation to Big 12 officials in the next few weeks, according to the report. After that, the list will be trimmed to two and then Big 12 commissioner Bill Bowlsby will present the candidates to the Big 12’s board of directors for a vote at an Oct. 17 meeting.
The Big 12 could take one or both or reject both.
Schools signed nondisclosure contracts and cannot speak about the ongoing process. East Carolina, though, released a statement Wednesday that it missed the cut.
