- Slug: Sports-Big 12 Media Day, 550 words.
- 3 photos available.
By Jack Reeves
Cronkite News
LAS VEGAS – Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark opened the conference’s media days Tuesday and made a bold declaration for the newly expanded league in his first remarks: “I will not stop until we are the number one conference in America,” he said.
Speaking at Allegiant Stadium, home of the first official event of the 16-team Big 12, Yormark emphasized the conference’s national reach and growth over the past year. His comments set the tone of confidence and excitement for the future of the Big 12, which now includes new members Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah.
“There has never been a better time than right now to be part of the Big 12,” Yormark said. “We are truly a national conference, in 10 states, four time zones, and all eyes are now on the Big 12, for all the right reasons.
“We will be the deepest conference in America,” he continued. ”Every week will matter. We have star power and parity. We boast some of the top players and coaches in the game. November will be incredibly exciting, and we will brand it as a race to the championship.”
Labeling the Big 12 as the deepest conference in college football may seem ambitious compared to the SEC and Big 10. However, last season the conference matched a record with nine teams in bowl games and achieved their second-best win percentage in history. While they lost two of those teams, they added four, including two preseason top 25 teams.
It’s not just Yormark who believes in the Big 12’s competitiveness and depth; the coaches preached the same message over the two-day media event.
Non-conference matchups at the beginning of the season will give fans a glimpse with matchups featuring Colorado vs. Nebraska, Penn State vs. West Virginia and UCF vs. Florida.
“It’s not just a big game for West Virginia, it’s a big game for our league,” WVU coach Neal Brown said. “It’s an opportunity for our league in this new Big 12 … Whether it’s West Virginia or any other program in the Big 12, get those marquee wins, (and) our brand will continue to grow. And then we have to make some noise in the playoff.”
The Big 12 was formed in 1996 by combining the Big 8 with four Texas schools. Colorado was an original member of the Big 12 but left the conference for the Pac-12 in 2011.
Now Colorado returns to the conference for the first time in over a decade. After having only one winning season during their time in the Pac-12, head coach Deion Sanders shared his excitement for the future with Yormark at the helm.
“This is unbelievable,” Sanders said. “I think we have the best commissioner in football, he’s unbelievable. He’s an absolute legend, a baller, a shot-caller, he’s a boss. And I love him.”
As the college football landscape continues its rapid evolution with conference realignment and playoff structures, questions about the future will persist among fans, administrators and analysts.
The Big 12 attempted to provide some answers in revealing a new slogan and brand spot, which was announced on Monday: “What’s next? We are.”
The conference as a whole looks far different than ever before. But with eight new teams in the last two years, the conference is in a position to write a new legacy.
“I think it is safe to say that we are more relevant now than ever before,” Yormark said.
