Big 12 expansion: Conflicting reports surrounded Arizona Wildcats before admission

College conference expansion and realignment speculation continues to swirl and the Arizona Wildcats were right in the middle of it.

In the very middle.

And it was a roller coaster ride for Arizona fans.

Speculation ran rampant that a move to the Big 12 could be imminent for the Wildcats Thursday night, but there was chatter early Friday that Arizona and the rest of the Pac-12 could potentially stay together.

Then, chatter again turned to Arizona going to the Big 12 and the Pac-12 potentially falling apart with Oregon and Washington nearing an agreement to join the Big Ten.

The roller coaster ride ended Friday night with news that Arizona would indeed leave the Pac-12 for the Big 12.

Check out some of the chatter surrounding the University of Arizona and its conference home, chatter that had many Wildcats fans on edge.

Big 12 expansion: Arizona State's Michael Crow must humble himself, fight for Pac-12 exit

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The Arizona Republic: Arizona State and Utah membership in the Big 12 is accepted

Michelle Gardner wrote: "The Arizona State Sun Devils are set to join rival Arizona in moving to the Big-12, effective next season. The Big-12 presidents and chancellors group met Friday evening and unanimously voted to admit ASU as well as Utah, which along with ASU applied for membership when a last-ditch effort to salvage the Pac-12 failed."

247 Sports: Official announcement for Arizona to Big 12 planned for Saturday

Jason Scheer wrote: "Things can change, but the plan is for there to be an official announcement from Arizona tomorrow."

ESPN: Arizona has 'been admitted' to the Big 12

Pete Thamel wrote: "The departures put Oregon and Washington's former conference, the century-old Pac-12, in flux. Arizona has applied to and been admitted to the Big 12, ESPN sources said, although that deal has yet to be finalized. And conversations between the Big 12 and Utah and Arizona State ramped up on Friday, sources said."

More: Last minute meeting proves futile, leaving Pac-12 survival in doubt

247 Sports: Arizona 'on track' to join Big 12

Jason Scheer wrote: "Sources indicate to WildcatAuthority that Washington is very concerned with the Apple deal. Arizona and Arizona State are still on track to join the Big 12. ASU President Michael Crow is proving to be a stumbling block, but parties involved are confident it can be overcome."

Action Network: Big 12 'exploring options' after Arizona's membership application

Brett McMurphy wrote: "Arizona State & Utah "showing interest" in the Big 12, sources told @ActionNetwork. Arizona has already applied for Big 12 membership, but Big 12 now "exploring its options" following news of Oregon & Washington leaving for Big Ten."

Big 12 expansion: Arizona State's Michael Crow implored to let Sun Devils leave Pac-12

ESPN: Arizona has not finalized deal with Big 12, hope for Pac-12 still remains

Pete Thamel wrote: "Oregon are expected to stay in the Pac-12, barring an eleventh hour change. That could have the power to keep the league together, as Arizona has not finalized its deal with the Big 12."

247 Sports: Arizona doing everything it can to leave Pac-12

Chris Karpman wrote: "Arizona is doing everything it can to leave. ABOR wants the schools to be together and has authority. Michael Crow is pushing for more consideration. Pac-12 is meeting this morning on a grant of rights. It’s getting very messy. Crow has always preferred the Pac-12 stay together."

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Action Network: Arizona president now 'fully committed' to Pac-12

Brett McMurphy wrote: "At last minute, Pac-12 may stay together & sign Grant of Rights. After Monday’s media rights offer, P12 held multiple zoom meetings this week. Arizona’s Bobby Robbins appeared fully committed to Pac-12 so much that one participant said: 'If Arizona leaves, he should win an Oscar.'"

USA TODAY Sports: Holding Arizona in Pac-12 'recipe for problems'

Dan Wolken wrote: "Let’s get one thing straight - if the Pac 12 stays together, it is a weak league with a bad media deal whose long term future is very shaky. That does not change. Arizona being held in by the board is a recipe for problems."

More: Amid Pac-12, Big 12 rumors, Arizona State's Ray Anderson says Sun Devils in 'good spot'

247 Sports: Can Arizona stay in the Pac-12 at this point?

Jason Scheer wrote: "I don't know how Robbins and Heeke would be able to navigate staying in the conference at this point. At least from a local public perception. It's not good, Arizona fans don't like the Pac-12 to begin with for the most part."

Associated Press: Arizona in talks to join Big 12 Conference

John Marshall and Tim Booth wrote: "Arizona is in talks to join the Big 12, a person with direct knowledge of the discussions told The Associated Press, and a board of regents meeting Thursday night could determine whether Arizona State is ready to leave the Pac-12, too, and join the Wildcats. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because neither the school nor the conference were prepared to finalize an invitation to the Wildcats."

More: Big 12 expansion rumors swirl around Arizona, ASU, Pac-12 amid Board of Regents meeting

CBS Sports: Arizona leaning toward Big 12 move

Zachary Pereles wrote: "The collapse comes slowly and then all at once. More than a year after losing USC and UCLA to the Big Ten -- and a week after losing Colorado to the Big 12 -- the Pac-12 is primed to lose another member thanks in part to an underwhelming media rights deal presentation."

CBS Sports: Wildcats expected to soon follow Colorado to Big 12

David Cobb wrote: "Arizona has entered significant discussions about leaving the Pac-12 and joining the Big 12, sources tell CBS Sports' Dennis Dodd, with a move expected to be finalized soon. One source said the Wildcats have become a "hard lean" toward the Big 12 after days of conversations about whether to leave the conference they have known as home since 1978."

More: Big Ten expansion speculation centers around Pac-12's Oregon, Washington, Stanford, Cal

ESPN: Arizona deal with Big 12 expected to be finalized soon

Pete Thamel wrote: "Arizona is in deep discussions about joining the Big 12, sources told ESPN, with a deal expected to be finalized in the near future. The school is amid the final steps, sources said, including detailing the move in an Arizona board of regents meeting Thursday night. Big 12 presidents and CEOs met Thursday to vote on approving the move, sources confirmed to ESPN, another sign of the likelihood of it happening."

Associated Press: Speculation ramps up about Arizona and the Big 12

John Marshall and Tim Booth wrote: "The boards of regents for Arizona’s two biggest universities, along with the University of Washington, had special meetings Thursday night, ramping up speculation that more Pac-12 schools could leave the flailing conference. The person with direct knowledge of the Arizona situation also said that Arizona State was mulling jumping to the Big 12, too, but was not as far along in the process. That could slow down Arizona’s final decision because the Tucson-based school would prefer to be in sync with its rivals from Tempe."

Big 12 expansion: Why Arizona State Sun Devils are not a top candidate to leave Pac-12

Yahoo Sports: Big 12 officials green-light Arizona to join conference

Sam Cooper wrote: "Another school is on the verge of leaving the Pac-12 for the Big 12. Sources told Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger that Big 12 executives met Thursday to approve an application for Arizona to join the league. The Arizona Board of Regents was meeting on Thursday night with a formal approval to switch conferences expected to be finalized soon."

Sports Illustrated: Arizona takes major step toward leaving Pac-12 for Big 12

James Parks wrote: "The reputed decision to bring on the Wildcats follows prolonged speculation that the school would eventually abandon the Pac-12 and join the Big 12's ongoing expansion project. Arizona president Robert Robbins had maintained the school's loyalty to its current league in comments over the last few months, but also with the apparent caveat that it depended on what the forthcoming media contract looked like."

Big 12 expansion: Why Arizona Wildcats are No. 1 candidate to follow Colorado from Pac-12

SB Nation: Arizona's move to Big 12 is imminent

Steven Muma wrote: "The Pac-12 has watched its fortunes fluctuate all over the place since the early days of realignment, but I always felt like that league was the perfect example of what made college sports so much fun: matched pairs of rivals with plenty of cross-history banded together, with a unique culture to go with it. But all of that is set to go up in smoke, assuming Arizona’s move to the Big 12 is indeed a formality at this point, as media reports late Thursday night indicate."

Pistols Firing: We're one step closer to Arizona joining the Big 12 Conference

Kyle Cox wrote: "Much like Pac-12 cohort Colorado, whose Big 12 move was made official last week, Arizona has now been approved to join the conference and just needs a vote from its Board of Regents to make things official.This move would bring the Big 12 to 14 schools next year with the addition of Colorado and the exit of Oklahoma and Texas."

More: Big 12, Big Ten expansions threaten Pac-12 Conference survival

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Wildcats in Big 12 or Pac-12? Conflicting reports swirled