Stanford University and the University of California are rival schools based in the Bay Area of California

Cal and Stanford “kicking the tires” on potential Big 12 membership

NCAA

The 2023 college football season starts this week, but Stanford and California, two of the remaining four Pac-12 teams, are focused on findings a new conference for 2024.  They were initially linked to ACC expansion, but progress has been slow.  Now, they’re also considering the Big 12.

Cal and Stanford are exploring the option of joining the Big 12 in case the ACC plan falls through, as per the San Francisco Chronicle.  The extent of their actions toward this potential move remains uncertain.

However, the Big 12 might not be interested in adding the two Bay Area universities.  The Action Network reported that the conference hasn’t engaged with any remaining Pac-12 schools and has no intention of doing so.

Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark recently stated that the conference is content with its 16 teams for the 2024 season and is not actively looking to expand.

Arizona State, one of the incoming Pac-12 schools headed to the Big 12 in 2024, has imposed a one-year bowl ban due to an NCAA investigation into possible infractions under former head coach Herm Edwards.  The Sun Devils had a challenging season in 2022, finishing 10th in the Pac-12 with a 3-9 overall record.