Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark is set to depart the conference, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, who reported the news on Friday. Yormark, who has led the Big 12 since 2022, is expected to transition into a new position outside of college athletics. He will remain in his current role through at least January 2027, providing the conference with stability during a critical period of growth and media rights negotiations.
Yormark exits after steering Big 12 through realignment chaos and securing $2.28B TV deal
Yormark’s tenure has been defined by aggressive expansion and financial revitalization following the seismic shifts of the 2024 realignment cycle. After declaring the Big 12 “open for business,” he successfully negotiated a six-year, $2.28 billion television contract with Fox and ESPN. Furthermore, he oversaw the integration of Houston, UCF, BYU, and Cincinnati, while luring Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah from the struggling Pac-12 in 2023. These moves transformed the conference from a shrinking entity into a competitive powerhouse with significant media leverage.
Before joining the Big 12, Yormark built a career in entertainment, television, and professional sports, bringing a unique business acumen to the college landscape. He replaced Bob Bowlsby in 2022, inheriting a conference in flux after Texas and Oklahoma announced their moves to the SEC. His ability to stabilize the brand and attract high-profile recruits and schools has left the Big 12 in a stronger financial and competitive position than when he arrived, setting a high bar for his successor.
Source: Yahoo Sports
