Memphis offers $200M to join Big 12, but proposal lacks support — Report

Memphis's Ambitious Bid to Join the Big 12

Memphis has reportedly made a significant offer to join the Big 12 Conference, with the potential value approaching $200 million. However, according to reports, this proposal lacks the necessary support from the conference. The offer includes substantial sponsorship money from Memphis' corporate partners, such as FedEx, and would involve the Tigers' athletic department forgoing media rights revenue for five years if they were to join the Big 12.

Another report suggested that the offer could be as high as $250 million, but it appears that the Big 12 is not interested in pursuing this move at this time. This effort by Memphis marks another chapter in its long-standing desire to transition from the American Athletic Conference (AAC) into a power conference.

A Longstanding Goal for Memphis

Athletic Director Ed Scott, who took over a year ago, has been clear about his top priority: securing a spot in a major conference. Memphis has been a member of the AAC since its formation over a decade ago. During this time, several schools have left the AAC, including Houston, UCF, and Cincinnati, which recently joined the Big 12. Despite these changes, the Big 12 did not add Memphis during that realignment period.

SMU also left the AAC after the 2023-24 academic year, joining the ACC after agreeing to forgo media rights money for nine years. This trend highlights the ongoing shifts in college sports conferences and the competitive nature of realignment.

A History of Attempts

Memphis has not been shy about its interest in joining the Big 12. This isn't the first time the university has pursued membership in the conference. In 2023, before Ed Scott became the athletic director, University President Bill Hardgrave reached out to Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark and engaged in discussions with Baylor President Linda Livingstone.

In a text message to Livingstone, Hardgrave expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity, stating, “We are ready to join the Big 12. We bring great basketball and football, an entire city of supporters, and key financial backers. You know we can be flexible on our share.” This was at least the third attempt by Memphis to join the Big 12 since 2016.

The discussions in 2023 occurred as the Pac-12 Conference was experiencing turmoil, eventually leading the Big 12 to expand by adding Colorado, Arizona State, Arizona, and Utah.

What Memphis Proposed

According to reports, Memphis's offer to the Big 12 included hundreds of millions of dollars in sponsorship money. Additionally, the Tigers would have agreed to a provision allowing the conference to expel them after the 2030-31 season if the Big 12 deemed their presence unvaluable.

Memphis also proposed to forgo media rights payments, which could have been worth tens of millions of dollars over the remaining years of the Big 12’s television deal. Another aspect of the proposal involved sharing up to $20.5 million with athletes by next year, in line with the House settlement that went into effect earlier this month. However, Athletic Director Ed Scott has indicated that Memphis will not distribute the full amount this academic year.

The Future of Memphis Athletics

Despite the lack of immediate success in joining the Big 12, Memphis continues to pursue opportunities that align with its long-term goals. The university's efforts reflect a broader trend in college athletics, where institutions seek to enhance their visibility, financial stability, and competitive standing through strategic conference affiliations. Whether or not Memphis ultimately joins the Big 12, its persistent pursuit underscores the importance of realignment in shaping the future of collegiate sports.