UConn’s return to the Big East might be shortlived.
According to multiple reports, the Huskies are in discussions with the Big XII about moving to the league first in all sports except football shortly followed by a football move in 2031.
According to Yahoo’s Ross Dellenger, UConn and Big 12 administrators met last week in Dallas. He wrote:
“Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark is set to make a similar presentation to the league’s presidents next week. Expansion requires a three-fourths vote, or 12 of the 16 members.”
Dellenger said UConn would join the conference in all sports except football in 2026. He reported that football membership is “Contingent upon the school meeting certain investment thresholds in the sport” and wouldn’t happen until 2031. He said the school would not receive a full revenue share from the conference.
It’s both unclear what percentage UConn would receive and whether that was a temporary status or a permanent one
If it happened, the move would eventually move UConn’s football program, which struggled to be competitive and/or relevant, first in the AAC and currently as the last remaining independent other than Notre Dame, into a Power Four conference as a time when those leagues are widening the gap in terms of finances and resources between themselves and the smaller programs in Division I.
UConn went to the American Athletic Conference when the Big East’s football and non-football playing schools split in 2013. But in a league with few rivals that was spread out geographically, the Huskies not only struggled in football but their national championship caliber men’s basketball team struggled as well. The historically dominant women’s basketball program remained elite throughout.
A return to the Big East in all sports except football (which became an independent) coupled with the hiring of Danny Hurley led to UConn’s return to men’s basketball prominence. They’ve won the last two national championships.
While the Big XII has schools in all four continental time zones, which could create logistical and financial challenges for UConn’s smaller sports, the Huskies would be playing in a basketball conference with elite competition including 2022 champion Kansas and 2021 champion Baylor.
