Big 12 Football: 5 best current candidates for conference expansion

4. Memphis Tigers

Current Conference: American Athletic Conference

Location: Memphis, TN

Speaking of schools that would be great to have in the Big 12 that could thrive in multiple sports, the University of Memphis is definitely one to consider. The Tigers finding more consistency in football and trying to resurface among the national powers in basketball would be a good sign if the Big 12 would to bring them in.

The Memphis basketball program usually is one of the more competitive in the American Athletic Conference, and the investment in it from the athletic department shouldn’t waiver anytime soon. Moreover, the football program is seeing a good amount of rejuvenation and success under head coach Mike Norvell and former head coach Justin Fuente (now with the Virginia Tech Hokies).

A lot of the teams on this list come from big national television markets, and Memphis fits that bill. The Memphis television market is really only taken up by the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies. But the Tigers could take hold of a good portion of the sports viewership if they were to join the Big 12 for football and basketball, among other sports.

Sustained success would be the name of the game for Memphis is they were to join the Big 12. Solid athletic programs combined with the geographic relation to the Kansas and Oklahoma schools should make this a good fit. It would also be one more to add in to bridge the geographical gap between West Virginia and the other nine schools.