The Big 12 is moving swiftly for an expansion, weeks after Texas and Oklahoma announced their departure. BYU, Central Florida, Cincinnati and Houston have been reported as the “most intriguing” candidates to fill the slots. 

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Texas and Oklahoma plan to join the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Their move meant the Big 12 needed to add teams or dissolve.  Three people familiar with the Big 12′s talks said Friday the eight schools being left behind by the Longhorns and Sooners are working to rebuild by adding four new members.

Two of the people said there were regularly scheduled meetings planned for Big 12 university presidents and athletic directors in the coming days to discuss next steps, and another meeting of presidents was expected to take place late next week.

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Here is a brief on all the new Big 12 candidates?

Houston:

Even a few years ago, Houston Cougars were one of the most likely candidates when the Big 12 Conference explored expansion. With a strong recruiting pipeline, the team adds instant value and credibility to a league. Cougars claimed the 2015 AAC title under Tom Herman. The Cougars have also built a new football stadium and recently remodeled their basketball arena. The basketball team  is coming off a final four appearance. Houston’s track and field program is also nationally-renowned.

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Cincinnati:

Known for basketball, Cincinnati has a rich tradition in the sport. The team’s quarterback Desmond Ridder and the Bearcats opened the season ranked No. 10. Its football program is ranked in the top 10 in the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll. They have juggled between the Conference USA, the Big East and the Mid-American Conference. 

BYU

 Except for in football, Brigham Young University’s other sports are members of the West Coast Conference. It is currently operating as an independent in football, which means paying fees to join the league can be a question worth asking. 

BYU athletes have games scheduled through 2035 and almost a full slate of games contracted from now until 2024.

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Central Florida:

United States’ largest undergraduate enrollment, Central Florida is a rich recruiting ground. New coach Gus Malzahn has led their football program to an early cheer with a victory over Boise State. UCF’s academics and massive budget satisfies the Big 12’s needs.