Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark weighs in on report of 'campus visit' with Memphis

The University of Memphis would welcome an invitation to join the Big 12 with open arms.

On Thursday, a report surfaced that there was evidence of a potential courtship between the two. CollegeAD, citing anonymous sources, reported a contingent of Big 12 officials (led by commissioner Brett Yormark) made a recent "'under the radar' campus visit" to the Bluff City in the league's ongoing "due diligence" efforts.

Yormark, speaking with ESPN's Pete Thamel on Friday, publicly addressed the matter.

“I’ve never met with anyone at Memphis about adding them to the Big 12, nor have I been on campus," Yormark told Thamel.

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Yormark made his remarks shortly after CBS Sports college athletics insider Dennis Dodd refuted CollegeAD's earlier report.

“What was reported didn’t happen at all, and I’ll leave it at that,” Dodd said on 929 ESPN's "The Gabe Kuhn Show." “No delegation. No Brett Yormark. That didn’t happen. I wouldn’t give it oxygen. If it had happened, I would’ve written it or confirmed it. This particular (visit) did not happen, according to my reporting.”

Last month, the State General Assembly approved $350 million to go toward a sports stadium initiative in Memphis, which would include FedExForum and Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, among other projects. A portion of that money is expected to go toward a $150-$200 million renovation of Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium − something athletic department officials believe will make the University of Memphis more attractive to Power 5 conferences looking to expand.

Memphis athletic director Laird Veatch told The Commercial Appeal last month that news of the budget's passing did just that.

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"It got a lot of buzz," he said. "Because there’s a difference between talking about a vision and, 'Hey, the money is there and it is happening and people in our city and our state recognize the importance of it and they’re willing to invest.' "It raised some eyebrows. Like, 'Hey, (Memphis is) serious. They’re doing everything they can.'"

Memphis is far from the only school the Big 12 could be interested in. Multiple reports indicate Pac-12 members Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State and Utah could be targets. Mountain West schools San Diego State and UNLV are reportedly others being eyed, along with UConn, whose basketball program is a member of the Big East and whose football program competes as an independent.

Sports Illustrated's Ross Dellenger reported last month that Memphis is being considered in the same breath as many of those schools.

Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Big 12 expansion: Brett Yormark on report of Memphis 'campus visit'