On Friday morning after the Big 12 Conference invited BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF to join its party, BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe and the Big 12 — including commissioner Bob Bowlsby — met with media to discuss the landmark move.
Here are highlights from both of those.
The BYU to the Big 12 Press Conference is live here ---> https://t.co/SBBoD3f27U
— Jarom Jordan (@jaromjordan) September 10, 2021
Holmoe: "I love the fact that we get to go into the Big 12 with all our teams."
— Jay Drew (@drewjay) September 10, 2021
Kevin Worthen: "This would not have happened without Tom Holmoe."
— Jay Drew (@drewjay) September 10, 2021
BYU AD Tom Holmoe says the agreement BYU has with ESPN will have to be "discussed and negotiated" now that BYU is joining the Big 12 in 2023.
— Jay Drew (@drewjay) September 10, 2021
#BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe says Big 12 will split into divisions in football, hasn't decided how many league games will be played per season in the future.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) September 10, 2021
Ugh, divisions again.
Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said the Big 12 basketball tournament will continue to be held in Kansas City through 2024, as planned.
— Jay Drew (@drewjay) September 10, 2021
Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby: "The outcome of the expansion of the Playoff is still in flux at this point in time."
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) September 10, 2021
Bowlsby said BYU's policy to not play games on Sundays was a consideration for the Big 12. "That is something that is baked in when you consider a university like BYU, so we'll do what's necessary to respect and honor those requirements."
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) September 10, 2021
BYU AD Tom Holmoe on future football game contracts: "We will have to unwind some of those contracts." Said most contracts have protections to allow BYU out due to joining B12.
— Jay Drew (@drewjay) September 10, 2021
Bob Bowlsby is emphasizing the fertile recruiting areas that the Big 12 added today. "We will gain as much as we can possibly gain on the football field. We will arguably be the best basketball conference in the country."
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) September 10, 2021
#BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe: "Six years ago, people thought it might have been a failure, when we didn't get into the big 12. But our coaches and our student-athletes and administrators determined, 'This isn't going to be a failure. This is going to be a launching point.'"
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) September 10, 2021
Tom Holmoe says he appreciates the "blood, sweat and tears" of all the former BYU coaches, athletes and administrators that made this possible today.
— Jay Drew (@drewjay) September 10, 2021
BYU AD Tom Holmoe: "It's been a long time coming, and here we are."
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) September 10, 2021
#BYU president Kevin Worthen said the #Big12's expansion study back in 2016, which included BYU did not result in any additions to the league, made the process this time much faster and easier.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) September 10, 2021
BYU president Kevin Worthen: "I want to thank the institutions in the Big 12 conference for having confidence in us."
— Jay Drew (@drewjay) September 10, 2021
Bob Bowlsby to BYU: "Your iconic athletic programs are a tremendous addition to the Big 12."
— Jay Drew (@drewjay) September 10, 2021
Bob Bowlsby on BYU and, you know, maybe some other schools:
— Max Olson (@max_olson) September 10, 2021
"Speaking purely on a personal level, I enjoy working with people that I trust, that I like and that I know share the values that I have for intercollegiate athletics."
Bob Bowlsby said he had "a wonderful conversation" w/ WCC commissioner Gloria Nevarez yesterday. "As much as she's sorry to see BYU moving to the Big 12, she was very complimentary in terms of how the organization operates and what kind of values are embedded in the university."
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) September 10, 2021
Bowlsby said this was a "much different" process of expanding than the 2016 process that resulted in no expansion.
— Jay Drew (@drewjay) September 10, 2021
Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said LaVell Edwards Stadium is as "picturesque" as a setting as there is in college football.
— Jay Drew (@drewjay) September 10, 2021
Kalani and Judkins at BYU news conference pic.twitter.com/FulP6NpEuI
— Jay Drew (@drewjay) September 10, 2021
Mark Pope in the house pic.twitter.com/SxzrccQVmB
— Jay Drew (@drewjay) September 10, 2021
#TexasTech president Lawrence Schovanec on adding these four schools: "This was a very clear and relatively easy decision for the eight continuing members of the Big 12."
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) September 10, 2021
Bowlsby: "With Texas and OU moving to the SEC, it caused a renewed consideration of the options that are available. The more our group became committed to one another and moving forward with the group of 8, the more they began to believe adding additional members made good sense"
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) September 10, 2021
Bob Bowlsby: The three AAC schools will come in not later than July 1, 2024. It could be in 2023 but that hasn't been determined yet.
— Max Olson (@max_olson) September 10, 2021
#TexasTech president Laurence Schovanec, asked if any hesitation to add Texas school: "TCU and Baylor recognized the strength of the University of Houston and the benefit it would bring to the league. ... There was no reservation on the part of the other Texas institutions."
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) September 10, 2021
Bowlsby notes that three schools have obligations to AAC and BYU has obligations to the West Coast Conference, and all four intend to honor those obligations. Says it's possible all could join in 2023.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) September 10, 2021
Tilman Fertitta: "I think the Big 12 is going to shock people in all athletics besides academically, how good it's going to be in the future."
— Max Olson (@max_olson) September 10, 2021