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Report: Big 12 to engage with 17 schools regarding expansion

Nick Bromberg
Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby addresses attendees during Big 12 media day, Monday, July 18, 2016, in Dallas. With expansion still an unsettled issue for the Big 12 Conference, Commissioner Bowlsby gave his annual state of the league address to open football media days. And a day later he meets with the league's board of directors. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

If your non-Power 5 school is Skype buddies with Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby, there’s a chance it’s being considered to join the conference.

Per a report from ESPN, the Big 12 will hold video conferences with 17 schools as it tries to figure out who it wants to add. Here are the teams being considered:

The 17 schools that will make their presentations to the Big 12 include Cincinnati, Houston, BYU, South Florida, UCF, UConn, Memphis, Colorado State, Boise State, Tulane, Temple, East Carolina, SMU, New Mexico and Northern Illinois, sources said.

In addition to the teams ESPN listed, San Diego State is also reportedly under consideration.

It’s also looking more likely, according to the ESPN report, that the conference is looking to add two teams instead of four. The addition of two probably makes the most sense as ESPN and Fox have expressed reluctance at paying the conference more money. The Big 12’s television contracts call for more money towards the conference if it expands.

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The networks are reportedly reluctant given the conference’s expansion candidates aren’t Power Five schools. It reasons that negotiations and relations with the Fox and ESPN would be a lot better if the Big 12 was contractually obligated to get paid for two teams worth of money instead of four.

There’s no hard deadline on expansion, though reports have said the conference is looking to have expansion finalized before the 2017 football season. The league’s conference title game returns in 2017.

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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!