AUSTIN, TX – SEPTEMBER 6: Algernon Brown #24 of the BYU Cougars runs with the ball against Mykkele Thompson #2 of the Texas Longhorns on September 6, 2014 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images)

You read that correctly. The Big 12 is looking to interview as many as 18 schools to fill two or four spots in its expanded conference, if it ends up expanding at all. The only problem for the Big 12 is none of those candidates are from a power conference, which suggests the Big 12 is really trying to widen the search for candidates it feels will be a good fit in their future plans.

The Big 12 has heard from plenty of schools with a vested interest in joining a power conference and benefitting from the riches that come with inclusion, and the Big 12 is acknowledging just about any communication coming its way. According to Brett McMurphy of ESPN, Air Force, Boise State, Colorado State, New Mexico and San Diego State of the Mountain West Conference are on the Big 12’s list. American Athletic Conference members Cincinnati, Connecticut, East Carolina, Houston, Memphis, SMU, South Florida, Temple, Tulane and UCF are also included, as are Northern Illinois (MAC), Arkansas State (Sun Belt Conference) and, of course, BYU. That’s a lot of schools, and not a whole lot to be overly enthusiastic about from a Big 12 perspective.

Before getting to ranking these Big 12 hopefuls, it is important to point out one nugget mentioned by McMurphy, which suggests the Big 12 could just as easily interview all of the potential members and still move forward with just the current 10-member organization.

Sources also said it’s “becoming less and less likely” that the league will expand to 14 teams. The most likely scenario is that the Big 12 will stay at 10 teams or only add two schools for a 12-team league with two six-team divisions, sources said.

Well, that sure would suck for the schools trying to persuade the Big 12 to accept them. Now that we have a handy-dandy list of confirmed schools of interest, lets’ power rank them real quick and see how mad people get this time around. I took the liberty of ranking my top 10 candidates previously on No 2-Minute Warning, so we’ll build off of that to see where the newer faces come into play.

1. Houston: The Houston Cougars are expanding as an athletic program with improved facilities and feel like the most natural fit in the Big 12. But it lacks any additional TV market incentives for the Big 12, which is the one negative Houston really has no control over.

2. Cincinnati: Like Houston, Cincinnati is improving its athletic program and just renovated its football stadium. They also bring the Big 12 closer to West Virginia, which is apparently a thing that is important. Also, Ohio is oozing with football talent, and it’s not like Ohio State can sign everybody in the state.

3. BYU: The Cougars have a more national following than any of the other candidates, but the whole LGBT thing is a bit of an issue.

4. Air Force: I’m throwing Air Force up the charts and for good reason. A service academy brings somewhat of a national following, but the only way the Big 12 should add Air Force is if they also can get Navy to join. For some reason, Navy was nowhere to be found on the list of candidates. What gives?

5. UCF: Florida is nice. The football recruiting soil is quite fertile. More importantly, UCF is a growing university and in a nice TV market. But UCF did go 0-12 last season and the Big 12 already has a Kansas. (Stop it UCF fans, I know UCF beat Baylor. Take a joke).

6. South Florida: If you add UCF, might as well add USF as well.

7. UConn: Look, we know geography is just a word in college sports now. The truth is UConn checks off a number of boxes on the Big 12’s wish list, if you honestly feel the conference can thrive in the New York market the way the Big Ten envisioned when it added Rutgers. Plus, UConn’s basketball programs certainly brings some prestige and history there.

8. Memphis: If FedEx is backing them, it’s hard to ignore. Plus, BBQ.

9. Colorado State: Well, the void after losing Colorado to the Pac-12 would be filled at least. Also, great scenery.

10. Boise State: Aside from the blue turf, the Broncos are 3-0 in NY6 (BCS era) bowl games vs. current Big 12 members. That has to count for something, right?

11. Tulane: Because the Big 12 needs an excuse to get to Louisiana and there’s no way LSU is leaving the SEC.

12. East Carolina: Are we really ranking all of these teams?

13. SMU: Yep, it sure looks like it.

14. Temple: Hang on, we’re almost done.

15. Northern Illinois: No, seriously, we’re almost there.

16. San Diego State: Almost….. there…

17. New Mexico: ….

18. Arkansas State: Whew, we made it.

As you can tell, the list of potential candidates for the Big 12 really drops off fairly quickly once you start going down the list. The Big 12 may just be leading on too many schools that have zero chance of landing in the Big 12 (Arkansas State? Really?). But each university’s leadership should absolutely be knocking on the Big 12’s door until they are told to stop contacting the conference any more. They simply would not be doing their job if they were not looking out for the best interest of their respective university. But is jumping in the Big 12 purely for the sake of being in a power conference really a wise move?

Well, actually, it just might be once those conference shares start rolling in. If the Big 12 ever decides to expand, that is.

[ESPN]

About Kevin McGuire

Contributor to Athlon Sports and The Comeback. Previously contributed to NBCSports.com. Host of the Locked On Nittany Lions Podcast. FWAA member and Philadelphia-area resident.

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