UConn will not join the Big 12 Conference

Conn. (WFSB) – UConn will not be going to the Big 12, at least not for now.

Talks between the university and the Big 12 Conference have been put on hold.

This means the Big East can breathe a sigh of relief.

There is movement in college sports, some conferences are falling apart, others are becoming larger and more powerful.

UConn wants to join one of the major conferences where there is more prestige and, more importantly, more money.

That was the focus of the talks with the Big 12, which have now ended.

They have been put on hold, as the Conference Commissioner said today.

UConn athletic director David Benedict released a statement immediately after the Big 12 released its statement.

“Our goal is always to put UConn in the best possible position for future success, so we entered into an exploratory dialogue with the Big 12. Ultimately, the Big 12 decided they would suspend discussions about expanding membership,” Benedict said.

Benedict continued: “Let us celebrate who we are and be proud of our greatness.”

Many UConn fans were not happy that a move to the Big 12 would mean UConn would have to leave the Big East Conference.

Many consider the Big East to be the premier basketball league in the country.

But football is what makes colleges money, and UConn earns far less as an independent than it would if it were part of a major conference like the Big 12. But football doesn't have much to offer a conference these days.

Also keep in mind that many of the current members of the Big 12 did not want to share their large TV contract with a new member.

For now, everything remains the same. UConn football is an independent, and starting next season, UConn and Notre Dame will be the only two remaining independent football programs.

Basketball remains a heavyweight in the Big East, but conference expansion is not yet complete.

It is inevitable that UConn will move to another conference, where higher TV payments will help an athletic department struggling to make up a multi-million dollar deficit.

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