Big 12 is reportedly already moving for more expansion as UCONN in play

The Utah Utes might soon have a brand new Big 12 rival. Just one year after the conference added the Utes as well as Arizona, Colorado, and Colorado State, it looks like one more is on the horizon.

According to numerous reports about a possible expansion, there is one catch. This team will only be joining in basketball for the foreseeable future. Given how volatile college sports are, one has to wonder how the deal will work out in the long run.

According to CBS Sports, the Big 12 and the University of Connecticut have reignited negotiations on the Huskies joining the league in all sports except football as early as 2026 as Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark looks to expand the conference's footprint further.

Big 12 looking to add another team to basketball power resume

Should the Big 12 manage to finish this deal up, it would make it undisputedly the best basketball conference in the country.

UCONN is coming off its second straight national title and the Huskies have a grand total of 16 in the sport. The catch here is obviously the football program.

UCONN's basketball team has long been one of the best around. Their football program on the other hand has long been one of the worst. They're also not going to bring a ton of eyes on television. Which is likely why UCONN football wouldn't join until 2031.

One has to wonder just how likely it is that the Big 12, the Big Ten, the SEC and the Big East in basketball will look anything like they do now in 2031. It seems like this is a kind of "killing time" deal with the Huskies and the conference.

Either way, the Utah Utes will have some sort of new Big 12 rival. At least it looks that way. And when talks get this far down the road, it seems like it's only a matter of time before this will be official. It's likely this could all be done by the end of the weekend, considering how fast things move in this area of college sports.