Big Noon Conversations: Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark on Expansion and his Biggest Win

[@JoelKlattShow]

What are your thoughts on Brett Yormark's biggest win?

[@GeeDee103]

What win 🤣🤣🤣…

[@mrmonkeysays]

Biggest win was definitely moving up to get the media deal. But Yormark thinks outside the box, and, odd thing is, asks questions that make you wonder "why haven't we ALWAYS done that?".

[@GeeDee103]

@@mrmonkeysays The only thing he has done was get a early tv deal now do you think he the first person who ever got a early deal done ???…

[@mrmonkeysays]

@GeeDee103 Not the only thing he's done. I think focusing on basketball, and de-coupling basketball is smart, and specifically suits the Big 12's strength and position. Pushing for west coast time zone inventory, NYC presence, Mexico and international presence, Big 12 pro day in Dallas, etc. I guess you're not paying attention.

[@BuffalOKstate]

⁠@@GeeDee103did you watch the interview?

[@JoseCastillo-sd2hv]

This hire was, is, and will be for a long time, a huge home run for the conference!

[@davidboniface858]

As a College Basketball fan, it will be nice seeing a P5 commissioner care about it just as much as the Big East commissioner.

[@dfausti66]

As a BYU and Big XII fan, I am so grateful Brett Yormark is leading our conference. What an inspiration and motivation for the future! In my view, Brett Yormark is the best commissioner there could be for the Big XII. Brett Yormark's biggest win was: 1. Media rights, 2. the Disruptive Vision of the Big XII, 3. Rucker Park, 4. Partnership with NFL, and 5. Big XII - Mexico for international expansion

[@HighHorse69]

Now Colorado

[@HighHorse69]

@@JetEngine-sf1vi I'm sure it was more than just Jay Z 🤣

[@nealljones]

Brett is terrific. The BIG XII is in good hands.

[@timothywest1183]

Wow. As a CU fan listening to him for the first time…what a complete juxtaposition from what we have been led by in the PAC for 15 years. Glad to be in the Big 12 with him leading.

[@DerGlaetze]

Brett is a highly appreciated man for us BYU fans. God bless him.

[@craig5477]

What a great informative discussion. Been a TCU fan since I was 5 YO. This last year has given not just TCU but all Big12 teams a great sense of who/what we can be as as teams and as a collective conference. Our future has never looked better. Thank You Bret!

[@nathaneyring4858]

I'm a Big 12 fan, and can admit we are very much behind Big 10 and SEC. I am grateful for Yormak as commissioner though because I think he is our best bet to help us keep up as much as possible with those main two.

[@SeaBizzy1]

Agreed, seems like the conference is investing in elevating all Big XII programs instead of kowtowing to a few. I’m very excited to see how this conference develops and excited about the schools that were just added. Go Cats!

[@ifheavenwashuman]

What seperates Klatt from his colleagues is the fact that he's for the betterment of the entire sport, and not just personal agendas.

[@EulogyfortheAngels]

Josh Pate’s fits that same criteria.

[@garykingsbury4758]

Brett is a breath of fresh air! His humility, his creativity, and more are awesome. You want him and the Big XII to be successful! If I was a school in the PAC 12, I would seriously consider moving because that conference lacks these things.

[@timothywest1183]

Yes it does. Happy CU is moving over. I expect CU won’t be the last Pac team to recognize true leadership.

[@timcooper5385]

You know Brett Yormark is a great commissioner by how even the SEC is feeling challenged by his innovations. Who else is thinking internationally? I love it!

[@jimsomerville3924]

It's not new. They've played CFB games internationally since the early 1900s. And the Pac 12 conference also made noise about going international (particularly China) a dozen years ago. I'm guessing that's one reason why they wanted to own their own network, which the Big12 doesn't.

[@Inboden69]

@@jimsomerville3924 yep FSU has a game in Ireland this year, its not new nor innovative.

[@jamesasmith2494]

@@jimsomerville3924 American football is not an international sport. But BB is.

[@bradwaller2635]

@@jimsomerville3924 International TV's tune in to Basketball, not Football.

[@SeaBizzy1]

⁠@@Inboden69This is meant as a real question and not some kind of snarky rebuttal. What is the value in FSU playing Ga Tech in Ireland? I’m sure it’ll get some coverage it wouldn’t otherwise get but is Europe, especially Ireland, seen as a viable audience to potentially grow the ACC footprint? It would seem to me that if FSU was playing Notre Dame then okay. The reason I ask is because the Big XII going to Mexico makes sense with so many Tx schools that there might actually be a market for a more consistent/engaged fan base to grow and even potential recruiting of non-English speaking high school kids on either side of the border. So I’m not sure that Yormark’s plan to go international is seen as an original idea, but where they are targeting and why is definitely not being done elsewhere. Again, real question fan to fan. No snark intended.

[@CuddyTG]

Bruh... This felt like a 5 minute conversation. Need more!!

[@stephenconstancio5226]

Mr Yormark, from a fan born and raised from Lubbock,TX. Thank you! It’s nice to see the conference as a whole be able to have a breath of fresh air!

[@davidfloyd9134]

The Big12 might have found the best commissioner in college sports

[@jg2187]

Based on what?

[@craig5477]

@@jg2187 Well let you be the judge of that. You won’t take our say so at any rate. Stick around and watch.

[@michaelvance4492]

​@@jg2187Well PAC-12 is gone, ACC will be next, 2 years ago people said Big 12 was done, and it's added 8 schools since then. Conference will be around a long time

[@raniebranson8051]

Hope my Buffs go back to Big 12!!

[@craig5477]

Raniebranson8052 I wanted that a year ago. Not so much anymore. Pac10 arrogance is like bringing Texas back into the Conference

[@eddicarlo5362]

They can prove it by putting up a competitive game against TCU

[@mohdradzi5072]

Buff thought they could recruit good in SoCal. With USC and UCLA gone, it is surely better for them to go after Texas recruits and few under-rated hard nose football crazy mid west states talents

[@timothywest1183]

@@craig5477Well, the main reason CU left (and NU, MU and Texas A&M) was because of Texas. While I wish NU, MU and OU was still in the Big 12, happy Texas has moved out.

[@timothywest1183]

@@mohdradzi5072playing more games in Texas and Florida is great for the Buffs. Especially with Coach Prime. And, since he will be in Texas so much, it’s more likely he stays much longer. Hints from people close to him says he was pushing for the move, or encouraging it at the very least.

[@JMitch1420]

That little chuckle he gave before answering Joel's question on if he has anything ideas that people wouldn't be think of and then saying "listen" I just knew he wasn't about to say something genius

[@biggt0820]

Dear God could you imagine Kilavkoff in a situation like this? This is what a competent commissioner looks like. Props to B Yizzo

[@JB-uk8hw]

Bret Yormark is the newest commissioner but right now I think he might be best commissioner out there. He helped calm the waters in the Big 12 and then immediately went on the offensive and started making huge strides in making the conference better. With him at the helm he has been coming up with ideas that have made the Big 12 the front runner in some areas. I also love that he is not just focused on football. He understands how important basketball and other sports are.

[@dizzy9965]

George Kliavkoff needs to intern for this guy.

[@craig5477]

Dizzy9965 He’d need to learn when to talk and not first

[@tmjel1]

Big 12 is easily the second most competitive conference in football and by far the best basketball conference

[@michaelvance4492]

​@bigfatfartingasses9331 Funny, I don't recall a B10 team in the national championship 🤔 and wasn't it the undefeated conference champions Michigan who lost to TCU, a team that didn't even win it's conference? Hm, doesn't sound like the second best conference to me

[@jadebarben8537]

Brett is super sharp!

[@evenimaseuli2891]

That was a great interview you got some good question.nice job 😎

[@randomtees]

A lot of rumors the past few days. If those rumors come to fruition in the next few days, it would be poetic to start the week with former Big 12 QB and Colorado star Joel Klatt interviewing BY.

[@nickinportland]

Ooo didn’t think about that. Hmm 🤔

[@TheQuintessentialBM]

Here because Colorado came back home!!

[@timothywest1183]

Hope you bought some lottery tickets!

[@PittToNYC]

How fitting is it that this interview happened with Joel Klatt a few days before the Colorado announcement?

[@MrJara1018]

Stellar interview.

[@joshleyva2249]

I love what Yormark is doing with the Big 12. He brings a lot of out of the box ideas that are trying to maximize the value of the conference. There's only so much TV money to go around so if the conference wants to keep up with the SEC/B1G it has to find money from other avenues.

[@alanmcco]

Fantastic interview

[@gdashman]

Great interview Except the netflix analogy was so wrong lol. Blockbuster literally had a competing product to netflix, and Netflix tried to sell to Blockbuster

[@CharlesFosterMalloy]

Yeah, that was stupid.

[@1023cincy]

Really good interview

[@glee835]

Brett is the best! We B12 fans are so happy to have a fantastic commissioner!

[@bryanmcdermott4204]

Somehow any legislation alleged to protect students who haven't requested protection, will somehow mainly protect the existing power structure.

[@willgolding186]

Love the conversation on alternatives to the current CFB bowl season structure! One interesting model could be the basketball NIT model. Would create opportunities to continue historic bowl games “culture” while also providing more opportunities for athletes to compete. Also capitalizes on continued revenue generation opportunities.

[@hennore]

Love ya Brett!

[@garfieldGG]

this dude is brilliant, big12 absolutely nailed it with this guy

[@mrmonkeysays]

The Big 12 is finally being proactive. Because UT and OU left.

[@daggerkettenring]

When your two cash cows leave, you gotta do something or be left behind.

[@matthewhaselhorst1778]

Doesn’t help one of said schools was a massive burden on Big 12 proactiveness. Texas being gone is probably the best thing to happen to the Big 12 since it’s creation. Oklahoma leaving not so much but Texas thankgod. They’re the reason the big 12 was in the whole mess to begin with.

[@bryanjones8778]

@@matthewhaselhorst1778 This 100%.

[@Inboden69]

ya pretty sure both of them left because of the big 12s inactions over the years.

[@mrmonkeysays]

@Inboden69 UT and OU ruled the Big 12. They blocked a Big 12 Network and they blocked expansion in 2015. The Big 12 backfilled to 10 members 2x because they didn't want to dilute shares. The Big 12 bent the knee to Texas, in particular, for over 2 decades, and they left anyway.

[@Asylumlord]

Great interview. BIGXII rocks!

[@wvumountaineerlairwithkenn4831]

Hey Joel a lot of people believe this man will fall on his face. I thank that is a false narratives because that is what they want. But I thank he has done so much in a short time here I thank the sky is the limit with this man. I really believe he has a high ceiling.

[@blassegura254]

🐐 Yormark

[@Nick-ys2lz]

WSU fan here. Wishing we had a leader like this in the PAC12. Our leaders failed us.

[@jmoore551]

I like this guy

[@CharlesFosterMalloy]

Resume: 12:30

[@ryandahl7983]

Excited for ASU to be in there

[@CharlesFosterMalloy]

Resume: 10:00

[@matthewdrews]

Who would have thought a commissioner (essentially a CEO) would disapprove of collective bargaining?

[@bryanjones8778]

I know, right? I mean don't all college football and basketball fans want to see college kids be able to threaten to go on strike, while they and their unions push for ever-increasing salaries as employees of their school? [Sarcasm alert]

[@John-fk5et]

Just pass a federal NIL law and there *shouldn’t* be any need for collective-bargaining.

[@Inboden69]

tbf I hate unions which CB essential is, but not as much as federal regulations on a persons ability to make financial decisions giving that power to a managerial class.

[@BIBeeman]

There's so much ad money in bowls...will they ever go away?

[@maddraven1716]

Brett is exactly what the conference needed, just a home run hire.

[@KCUSA27]

Yormark is the best commissioner in college sports. Big 12 struck gold

[@adartsem]

Great interview. The Big XII lucked out when getting BY.

[@MCJdiz]

Let's Go Mountaineers!

[@hughmiller4822]

Joel, I love college football and I hate the fact the ESPN, and your network have slowly destroyed the game I love. As an OU fan I hate not seeing OU/Nebraska every year; I hate not seeing the red letter game between CU/Nebraska and all the major rivalries which have disappeared due to conference realignment. I believe the bowls and the playoffs can coexist. I believe the playoffs can be equivalent to the NCAA basketball tournament and the bowls that aren't apart of the playoffs could be like the NIT tournament. I believe 1st rd games should be on campuses, but I believe the quarterfinals should be at minor bowl sites closes to the top four seeds. In 2022 the 4 sites would have been the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, the Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit, the Music City Bowl in Nashville, and the First Responser Bowl in Dallas. These for bowl games would rotate most year based on the top 4 teams. The New Year's Six Bowl could still exist as well. The playoffs would rotate between the existing 6 bowl site. The four bowl sites not being used in the playoffs could host the 8 remaining team that didn't make the playoff. 1 of the 8 spot must be left for a G5 team that didn't make the playoff. And the games can be played on New Year's day. That way the Rose Bowl would continue to be played on the same day as the parade when it is not one of the sites for the semi-finals. I also believe that each conference should be limited to how many teams that can make the playoffs. I believe that number should be 4 teams.

[@jamesasmith2494]

OU vs Nebraska every year was not the networks. That was Texas doing.

[@vjlong4581]

@@jamesasmith2494ima ou fan but I’m to young to remember the rivalry, what did Texas do to stop it?

[@hughmiller4822]

@@vjlong4581 Texas is responsible for the breakup of the SWC and the BIG 12. Texas along with ESPN created the Longhorn Network which upset Colorado and Nebraska. Instead of working to create a BIG 12 network that created the Longhorn Network so they could drive up their our revenue. That is the main reason Colorado and Nebraska left the BIG 12. Texas has always look to better themself at the cost to everyone else.

[@craig5477]

@@hughmiller4822 EXACTLY!! The Horns will eventually begin to flex their galaxy size bank account and show the Blue Bloods what an unlimited war chest is capable of. Their culture might keep them from winning but their money does not care about wins & losses. If Texas can’t win they will make sure you loose.

[@goinrich25]

Federal legislation would have limited ability to manage NIL. They can’t force a player to get an agent in order to participate in NIL. With collective bargaining, you can. It also takes a lot less time to work with a union than it does the government. Collective bargaining is the way to go.

[@ifthen1956]

Joel said, "College football has shot itself in the foot by historically taking half measures." (Or something like that) I believe that will continue until there are too many 'losers' to ignore. The SEC will heap up championships, the Big 10 & 12 will continue to 'wait until next year,' and the rest will bleed money and loyalty until something more egalitarian evolves. How many teams will be playing ball then?

[@GeeDee103]

The little 12 is not even in the conversation with the B1G or SEC you have 8 schools who have never been ranked number 1 and you have the least amount of fans in the power 5 you have like 10 million fans for your whole conference every other power 5 conference have over 20 million fans…

[@dacmiller]

@@GeeDee103 I feel I am reading a post from a legacy fan of the PAC 12.

[@devilfrawg4953]

​@GeeDee103 The Big 12 is a top 2 conference in Football and Basketball. It also has a top 3 media deal. Go haze yourself for being dumb af.

[@GeeDee103]

@@dacmiller Everything I said was true the little 12 is a clown conference…

[@bryanjones8778]

@@GeeDee103 Okay, troll.

[@ItzAChin]

By expanding the playoff series, it definitely destroys the bowl season. Outside of the New Year's six bowls how many other bowls do you watch? I might watch 2 or 3 other's but the rest are not important.

[@seanevans9329]

Anything larger than 16 teams will dilute the product....

[@John-fk5et]

That’s why he said *”we’d like to stay at 14”*

[@scoutmaddoxg]

GOAT Commish 🐐

[@Markus21363]

Go Bearcats and Bug 12!

[@eclecticcowboy5784]

Collective bargaining agreements with 18 year old kids is a very slippery slope. Completely disagree with Joel on his take of that.

[@devilfrawg4953]

Yeah, Joel isn't a critical thinker. He's just another fair-weather populist.

[@JoseCastillo-sd2hv]

How is it a slippery slope? What comes after collective bargaining?

[@eclecticcowboy5784]

@@JoseCastillo-sd2hv It's not a matter of what comes after it, it's a matter of what comes before it. Unionizing college athletes is a huge fail in my book. The only people that make money off of that are the union bosses and politicians. It creates mediocrity among the collective group to the extent that even the bench warmers are not only getting a free education and a platform to showcase their skillset, but eventually being paid to do it. Unions/collective bargaining do not belong in college athletics.

[@JoseCastillo-sd2hv]

@@eclecticcowboy5784 Got it. I'm not disagreeing with you but it's not a slippery slope - It's your reluctance to collectively bargain. Nothing wrong with that, the term implied subsequent steps and there are none.

[@eclecticcowboy5784]

@@JoseCastillo-sd2hv It is a slippery slope when the fact is that every kid that goes to a university and competes in any sport, contest, etc, believes they should be compensated by the university. I'm not a fan of unions, you're correct, but when you allow them on a college campus to unionize football players, it will only spread to every organization across campus. Which is why i'm not a fan of unions. So yes, it's a slippery slope.

[@Worm052179]

While he has some ideas, I’m just going to wait and see. Not sure the teams in the conference drive growth but I’m not in his position or am not tasked to make those decisions. It is what it is! Maybe he’ll add teams that grow the interest. While media rights is the biggest part of the money, they need people on all over to watch these teams.

[@craig5477]

Worm052179 Agreed. And what drives viewer support? Winning. The Big12 is just now getting organized with the new additions. Bret is just now getting his feet on the ground moving from a media heavy background to a college sports platform. The next two years will tell a story that if the the two conference big dogs aren’t real careful that will have the Big12 moving up while they are stagnant. Yes I know being stagnant at the top isn’t a bad thing but object in motion tend to stay in motion. Object sitting still tend to stay static.

[@Worm052179]

@@craig5477 real question, which team in the Big12 is going to be that national team that brings excitement to the conference? I say that because as far as production OU has been that team and Texas is going to be that team just off name value. What team does that with Texas and OU gone. Don’t take this as shade towards the Big12, I just truly wonder what you think.

[@TimothyFitch]

@@Worm052179TCU beat an undefeated Big Ten champ and played in the national championship

[@Yakitak]

The Bowl System brings money. If you can find a campus-based system that brings in similar revenue, then figure out who is the away team.

[@levicaraway]

Two goats

[@drwinstonOboogi]

Good hire for the BIG XII and about two decades too late.

[@KCUSA27]

There’s no concern e better suited for Mexico than the XII bc the new big 12 footprint has the most Mexican population in the country. AZ, UT, CO, OK, KS and TX are 6 of the 7 largest populations with California. It’s a good move!

[@John-vp2jq]

Utah and the Arizona schools need to jump ship now while they can, because if the Pac-12 collapses, the best other option for them will be the Mountain West. Utah is just not a big enough market for the Big 10 and the Arizona schools split the relatively large market of that state in two; plus, Arizona is a big enough state that it only makes geographical sense to join a conference with schools in neighboring states. As the Mountain West is the only conference coming to mind that fits this bill, a brief check of that conference's media rights deal nets each member... $4 million. By comparison, CU just signed up to receive $31 million, plus committed games with established national broadcasters ESPN and Fox that are both already making inroads into streaming (which was the Pac 12's entire play, from what I understand). All in all, if the Pac 12 collapses (which is what I believe will happen in the likely event that Oregon and Washington jump to the Big 10), Utah and Arizona might be left in a desert of their own making if they do not act with foresight.

[@CharlesFosterMalloy]

Klatt is awfully narrow minded if he cannot see a way to integrate bowl games into the playoff system. They absolutely integrate. You just do it. Bowl season is the first or the second round, take you pick.

[@MisterParallel]

Why do they keep saying student athletes? They are student workers, and the universities need to pay them as such.

[@eYeDontCare]

texas and ou leaving opend up the big 12 to new things which can be exciting lets be honest they werent being the icons they used to be for the conference here's to new beginnings i hope the buffs go to the big 12! fingers crossed!

[@Inboden69]

they won almost every National Championship for the conference with Texas averaging 4/yr and OU 2/yr. Texas had 10/20 Varsity sports in the National Championship game just 2yrs ago and I believe 8 this yr. IDK how you would say they arent the icons.

[@zeusdeuce7438]

There should be a group of 5 playoff and a power 5 playoff. Get rid of the bowls and stop making G5 teams compete with the likes of Bama and Ohio St

[@seans1234]

Federal protection against unlimited free agency. Yes. Unions to ensure all players are paid…….. No. I can’t say I’m surprised by his response. I hope the avg person starts to realize the systemic issues that the conferences trying to solve are not focused on how they can funnel all the money they make to the players.

[@chrisstapleton1673]

Did we dodge any dialogue about OU and the Shorthorns leaving??? Would have loved to hear the comish talk on that.

[@hogeandrew]

FightOn FightOn FightOn

[@Inboden69]

So he wants fed regulation that affects everyone but his ability to handle athletes as he sees fit. I guarantee you the legislation they are going for makes them more powerful and the athletes and others less. Also, international sounds good but outside of the US countries don't support or watch college sports. This dude will prob be out in 4-5yrs, he will lead the big 12 to non-growth. He sounds like a typical politician or CEO with his phrases and non answers on harder questions. Trust level is zero, especially after big 12 media days a football media weekend where he talked about nothing but basketball.

[@gregsonger7221]

I saw panic in his eyes as Joel mentioned collective bargaining. Oh no , we don't need that. We can't do that. Wouldn't want to give the kids the ability to defend themselves or decide what they want for themselves. We have to defend them, and we will tell them what's best for them.

[@michaelwinchester4726]

Hail 〽️

[@GeeDee103]

Do you support the little 12 ???…

[@michaelwinchester4726]

@@GeeDee103 of course I support all of college football. Especially that team up north〽️

[@GeeDee103]

@@michaelwinchester4726 I support UCLA and the PAC 12 next year I will support UCLA and the B1G I’m not invested in nobody else…

[@michaelwinchester4726]

@@GeeDee103 I care about the culture of football as a whole. Michigan is obviously number 1 and the only team that truly matters 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@njahmoon89]

Joel, you need to speak less about your own opinions. You're being an interviewer, not an analyst. Let them talk freely without feeling like they're being pigeonholed to answering your own thoughts.

[@Jake.r606]

I was with this guy til he wanted to involve the feds, gtfoh with that

[@davidboniface858]

All P5 and the NCAA commissioner have talked to the feds about NIL.

[@JoseCastillo-sd2hv]

I hear you, but it's for compliance - think of the SEC (securities exchange commission). It's only a matter of time before a student, or group of students, litigate a school because they didn't protect them from NIL. That's where he is coming from. Yeah, it sucks, but it's how business runs. And, this is most definitely business we are talking about, it's no longer sports.

[@bryanjones8778]

Unfortunately, since the NCAA seems to lack the will to enforce its own standards regarding NIL and the transfer portal, the feds may have to get involved (as much as I hate to see it come to that point).

[@1023cincy]

He doesn't want to but there are 32 states that have passed various NIL laws. He's looking for something universal, more seamless.

[@CharlesFosterMalloy]

Right. No feds.

[@eddicarlo5362]

Go frogs 🐸

[@ethanr2738]

Big 12 supremacy

[@westernciviccapital3075]

ANNUAL PLAYOFF FLEXIBILITY REMAINS THE KEY! Both for the Natty and conference championships... Whatever arbitrary number of playoff slots you pick before the season will be wrong! Stop it already! We can do this!

[@vernonsheldon-witter1225]

Troll troll One who posts a deliberately provocative message to a newsgroup or message board with the intention of causing maximum disruption and argument.

[@austin5640]

Klatt just asking dumb questions

[@thomaslepage2840]

Fox is destroying college football and athletics. Wish you guys would chill out!

[@lt.aldoraine9405]

How is fox ruining college football?

[@raniebranson8051]

NIL and Tranfer Portal are ruining College Football... Fixed it 4 you!!

[@schweber10]

@@raniebranson8051 God forbid the athletes get freedom of movement and make a couple dollars