Big 12 football: 4 worthy expansion candidates with UT, OU leaving early

Arizona State

The other of the two Arizona schools that fit into this conversation is the Arizona State Sun Devils. If the Big 12 were to hypothetically kick the tires on the idea of adding the University of Arizona to the mix, I would think that Arizona State would also be an obvious consideration.

Arizona State has a good athletic program and a pretty valuable TV market in the Tempe area. The state of Arizona would also help the Big 12 expand its recruiting footprint further to the west coast, which could help the existing members find more success on the trail.

The football program specifically looks to be charting itself on a good course under the direction of newly-hired head coach Kenny Dillingham. The former Oregon Ducks and Florida State Seminoles offensive coordinator has already made a big splash for the Sun Devils on the recruiting trail at the high school ranks and in the NCAA Transfer Portal.

Arizona State is definitely a football program that could make some noise in 2023 and beyond if Dillingham’s early moves with this roster and coaching staff are indications of what’s to come in Tempe.

Meanwhile, basketball teams and baseball program also have a lot of long-term potential at Arizona State. The Sun Devils are currently on track to make it to the NCAA Tournament this year in men’s hoops. And Arizona State women’s hoops is a program that has a lot of potential, as it was one of the top teams in the PAC-12 throughout the 2000s and 2010s.

I could say the same about the potential of the baseball program, as it ranks fourth in national titles behind the USC Trojans, Texas, and LSU Tigers (in that order from top to bottom).

The combination of the strength of the athletic program along with the viability of adding the two Arizona schools to bolster the strength of the Big 12 makes a lot of sense in this hypothetical expansion conversation.