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Big 12 Expansion: Ranking the possible schools to be added

By Hunter Kinniburgh

Jul 18, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby speaks to the media during the Big 12 Media Days at Omni Dallas Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 18, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby speaks to the media during the Big 12 Media Days at Omni Dallas Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 26, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Connecticut Huskies running back Ron Johnson (3) is congratulated by head coach Bob Diaco as he scores a touchdown against the Marshall Thundering Herd during the first half at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 26, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Connecticut Huskies running back Ron Johnson (3) is congratulated by head coach Bob Diaco as he scores a touchdown against the Marshall Thundering Herd during the first half at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

7. University of Connecticut 

The Pros: 

UConn football made a four game turnaround from the 2014 season to 2015, winning 6 games and playing in the St. Petersburg Bowl against Marshall. Head Coach Bob Diaco has the Huskies trending in the right direction which would make them seem to favorable for the Big 12.

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Outside of football, the Big 12 could look at UConn as a viable candidate due to their basketball teams, which to be honest would be a bigger reason for adding UConn than the football program would be. The Huskies men’s and women’s teams are always competitive and always winning championships, in particular the women’s team. Those teams would add quality competition to the teams from Kansas, Iowa State, Baylor, etc.

The Cons: 

UConn is very far away from most of the current members of the Big 12. The closest school would be West Virginia. I just don’t see the Big 12 wanting to move further than Ohio (hint hint). The biggest money making sport is football.

The most high profile sports at the University of Connecticut are women’s and men’s basketball. Basketball power is all well and good, but if you are in the business of making money, which the Big 12 is, then you don’t add a school where the most popular college sport tends to not be relevant in their current conference.

Next: No. 6 Houston

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