UConn at the Center Again

We aren't even a month into the coast-to-coast Big Ten and ACC, yet that hasn't stopped the constant cycle that is college conference realignment from circling.  This time it's UConn and the Big 12.  These discussions have been labeled as "very" preliminary, and it seems like they were initiated by conference, perhaps just to gauge interest.  But now that the subject has been broached, don't expect it to be unbroached any time soon.

Not surprisingly, this is about football.  UConn has long been all about basketball, with their football team lagging far behind.  They've only been playing at the FBS level since 2002 and had a four-year stretch from 2007-10 where they made a bowl game each season, including a Fiesta Bowl appearance in 2010.  Other than that span, though, UConn football has been pretty much an afterthought.

When the Big East broke apart in 2013, UConn ended up in the American with the other football schools.  They rejoined the Big East for all other sports in 2019, and the UConn football team has been playing as an independent since then.  UConn football isn't exactly Notre Dame football, so the independent thing isn't really as beneficial for them as it is for the Irish.

It would obviously require a massive investment for UConn football to get up to CFP standard.  That investment isn't just financial.  They'd need time, too.  According to reports, even if UConn were to join the Big 12 in other sports sooner, their football team wouldn't until 2031.  But, does CFP standard mean competitive?  Or even good?  So, what exactly does UConn's football team bring to the Big 12?

The answer to the previous question is "nothing."  UConn football doesn't move the needle at all.  UConn basketball, on the other hand...that's a different story!  A conference with UConn, Kansas, Arizona, Houston and Baylor?  That would be a monster!  That might be what this is really all about.  The Big 12 has long been perhaps the best men's basketball conference, and Commissioner Brett Yormack thinks that with all the attention paid to football, basketball is severely undervalued.

So, it's easy to see what UConn brings from a basketball perspective.  In terms of football, though, I'm not sure even an improved UConn program does anything for the Big 12.  The conference just lost its two marquee football programs to the SEC, and UConn's not exactly Texas or Oklahoma.  Neither are Arizona, Arizona State or Colorado.  Or Utah, which is easily the best of the four.  The Big 12 champion is guaranteed a spot in the College Football Playoff, but they likely don't stand to get more than one or two of the seven at-large bids.  Adding UConn's football program won't do much, if anything, to change that.

Which begs the question: Why does the Big 12 want UConn then?  Well, I think there are probably a few reasons.  Whenever the next round of expansion happens (and you know it will), the Big 12 doesn't want to be left out.  And UConn will likely be one of the biggest fish out there.  You know they'll be attractive to the ACC when/if the Florida State lawsuit is settled and they leave for the SEC along with Clemson.  (Although, I'm not sure being in the Big 12 instead of the Big East would have any bearing on UConn joining the ACC should the opportunity present itself.)

Adding UConn makes sense from a geographic perspective, though.  Conferences are no longer regional.  Not when two of the four major conferences extend from coast to coast.  The Big 12 doesn't want to miss out on that, either.  Bringing in UConn would expand their footprint into the Northeast.  Although, it would also mean a massive amount of travel for some Big 12 members, which is probably why the idea has been met with some hesitancy.

There is plenty of resistance to the idea of UConn joining the conference from other Big 12 members.  If they were to have a vote on expansion today, there's no way they'd get anywhere near the 12 "yes" votes they'd need in order to extend an invitation.  Arizona State and BYU and Colorado probably aren't looking forward to the possibility of taking a trip to East Hartford, Connecticut in late November.  It's not exactly like any of these schools have a rivalry with UConn, either.  Sure, UConn-Kansas basketball twice a year sounds great.  UConn-Texas Tech football?  Who cares?!

Still, though, money talks.  And, even if it doesn't result in additional CFP bids, the addition of UConn would likely bring increased revenue to the Big 12's current members.  Just as Stanford and Cal did with the ACC and Oregon and Washington did with the Big Ten, UConn would probably have to take a reduced share of the media rights deal during its first few seasons in the Big 12.  That, coupled with a likely larger media rights contract (based almost entirely on adding UConn basketball), puts more money in the pockets of the 16 current Big 12 schools.

What's interesting is that there's resistance from within the conference.  That's why this is far from a done deal.  Although, like I said, don't be surprised if the discussions do pick up steam at some point.  It would be an obvious boon for the already incredibly strong Big 12 basketball.  The benefit in football isn't nearly as clear, though.  Which I think is one of the primary reasons for the resistance.

I also doubt UConn is overly eager to jump into something new.  Moving back to the Big East is how UConn became UCONN again.  They're one of the few schools that doesn't need the football revenue.  They're doing just fine without it.  In fact, UConn probably loses money on football!  Making the investment in football and potentially moving to the Big 12 would probably result in more revenue coming in?  But, would it be worth it?  Would it be enough to justify the cost of that investment, as well as losing they'd be giving up by leaving the Big East again?  Stuff that they realized how important it was to them and missed during the time they were gone.

UConn also understands that it's a business, though.  And they need to keep their eyes open.  If the landscape continues to change, there very well may be a benefit in it.  It's entirely possible that UConn could have its pick of suitors.  They'll be one of the most attractive potential additions the next time conference realignment comes around.  And, even though their football team isn't good, they still have one, which is a big selling point for the Big 12 and ACC.  So, maybe making that investment to improve in football could end up being worth it.

Is the idea of UConn in the Big 12 weird?  Yes.  But it's no weirder than Stanford in the ACC or UCLA in the Big Ten, which is the world we're currently living in.  If the Big 12 wants and seriously pursues UConn, they likely won't stop until the Huskies agree to join.  Whether it's a good idea for the school and/or the conference is an entirely different question.  Besides, who needs UConn-Georgetown basketball when you can have UConn-Iowa State football!?