What BYU, Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby are saying about Sunday play, previously scheduled games and more after conference change
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BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe gestures while stating, “I love the fact that we get to go into the Big 12 with all our teams” during a press conference announcing that BYU has accepted an invitation to the Big 12 Conference at BYU in Provo on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. BYU will play all sports provided by the Big 12 except for equestrian, rowing and wrestling. Men’s volleyball will continue to play in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, as the Big 12 does not offer the sport. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
BYU football coach Kalani Sitake, left, BYU basketball coach Mark Pope, right and Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith take a group photo at a press conference where BYU announced it had accepted an invitation to join the Big 12 Conference in Provo on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. BYU will play all sports provided by the Big 12 except for equestrian, rowing and wrestling. Men’s volleyball will continue to play in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, as the Big 12 does not offer the sport. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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BYU President Kevin J Worthen speaks at a press conference in Provo on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, with Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby on video conference. BYU accepted an invitation to join the Big 12 Conference. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe speaks at a press conference where the school announced it accepted an invitation to join the Big 12 Conference in Provo on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. At right, Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby joins via video conference. BYU will play all sports provided by the Big 12 except for equestrian, rowing and wrestling. Men’s volleyball will continue to play in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, as the Big 12 does not offer the sport. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe gestures while stating, "I love the fact that we get to go into the Big 12 with all our teams" during a press conference announcing that BYU has accepted an invitation to the Big 12 Conference at BYU in Provo on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. BYU will play all sports provided by the Big 12 except for equestrian, rowing and wrestling. Men’s volleyball will continue to play in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, as the Big 12 does not offer the sport. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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BYU president Kevin Worthen, right, speaks about athletic director Tom Holmoe, left, during a press conference announcing that BYU has accepted an invitation to the Big 12 Conference at BYU in Provo on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. BYU will play all sports provided by the Big 12 except for equestrian, rowing and wrestling. Men’s volleyball will continue to play in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, as the Big 12 does not offer the sport. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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BYU football coach Kalani Sitake, right, and Josh James, and BYU basketball coach Mark Pope, in background, celebrate at a press conference announcing that BYU has accepted an invitation to the Big 12 Conference at BYU in Provo on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. BYU will play all sports provided by the Big 12 except for equestrian, rowing and wrestling. Men’s volleyball will continue to play in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, as the Big 12 does not offer the sport. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Josh James and BYU football coach Kalani Sitake celebrate at a press conference announcing that BYU has accepted an invitation to the Big 12 Conference at BYU in Provo on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. BYU will play all sports provided by the Big 12 except for equestrian, rowing and wrestling. Men’s volleyball will continue to play in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, as the Big 12 does not offer the sport. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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BYU football coach Kalani Sitake is congratulated at a press conference announcing that BYU has accepted an invitation to the Big 12 Conference at BYU in Provo on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. BYU will play all sports provided by the Big 12 except for equestrian, rowing and wrestling. Men’s volleyball will continue to play in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, as the Big 12 does not offer the sport. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Josh James and BYU football coach Kalani Sitake celebrate at a press conference announcing that BYU has accepted an invitation to the Big 12 Conference at BYU in Provo on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. BYU will play all sports provided by the Big 12 except for equestrian, rowing and wrestling. Men’s volleyball will continue to play in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, as the Big 12 does not offer the sport. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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BYU basketball coach Mark Pope, left, and BYU football coach Kalani Sitake celebrate at a press conference announcing that BYU has accepted an invitation to the Big 12 Conference at BYU in Provo on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. BYU will play all sports provided by the Big 12 except for equestrian, rowing and wrestling. Men’s volleyball will continue to play in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, as the Big 12 does not offer the sport. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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BYU basketball coach Mark Pope hugs BYU football coach Kalani Sitake at a press conference announcing that BYU has accepted an invitation to the Big 12 Conference at BYU in Provo on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. BYU will play all sports provided by the Big 12 except for equestrian, rowing and wrestling. Men’s volleyball will continue to play in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, as the Big 12 does not offer the sport. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe speaks at a press conference announcing that BYU has accepted an invitation to the Big 12 Conference at BYU in Provo on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. BYU will play all sports provided by the Big 12 except for equestrian, rowing and wrestling. Men’s volleyball will continue to play in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, as the Big 12 does not offer the sport. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Josh James and BYU football coach Kalani Sitake celebrate at a press conference announcing that BYU has accepted an invitation to the Big 12 Conference at BYU in Provo on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. BYU will play all sports provided by the Big 12 except for equestrian, rowing and wrestling. Men’s volleyball will continue to play in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, as the Big 12 does not offer the sport. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
#BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe says Big 12 will split into divisions in football, hasn't decided how many league games will be played per season in the future.
Bowlsby said BYU's policy to not play games on Sundays was a consideration for the Big 12. "That is something that is baked in when you consider a university like BYU, so we'll do what's necessary to respect and honor those requirements."
BYU AD Tom Holmoe on future football game contracts: "We will have to unwind some of those contracts." Said most contracts have protections to allow BYU out due to joining B12.
Bob Bowlsby is emphasizing the fertile recruiting areas that the Big 12 added today. "We will gain as much as we can possibly gain on the football field. We will arguably be the best basketball conference in the country."
#BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe: "Six years ago, people thought it might have been a failure, when we didn't get into the big 12. But our coaches and our student-athletes and administrators determined, 'This isn't going to be a failure. This is going to be a launching point.'"
#BYU president Kevin Worthen said the #Big12's expansion study back in 2016, which included BYU did not result in any additions to the league, made the process this time much faster and easier.
Bob Bowlsby on BYU and, you know, maybe some other schools:
"Speaking purely on a personal level, I enjoy working with people that I trust, that I like and that I know share the values that I have for intercollegiate athletics."
Bob Bowlsby said he had "a wonderful conversation" w/ WCC commissioner Gloria Nevarez yesterday. "As much as she's sorry to see BYU moving to the Big 12, she was very complimentary in terms of how the organization operates and what kind of values are embedded in the university."
#TexasTech president Lawrence Schovanec on adding these four schools: "This was a very clear and relatively easy decision for the eight continuing members of the Big 12."
Bowlsby: "With Texas and OU moving to the SEC, it caused a renewed consideration of the options that are available. The more our group became committed to one another and moving forward with the group of 8, the more they began to believe adding additional members made good sense"
#TexasTech president Laurence Schovanec, asked if any hesitation to add Texas school: "TCU and Baylor recognized the strength of the University of Houston and the benefit it would bring to the league. ... There was no reservation on the part of the other Texas institutions."
Bowlsby notes that three schools have obligations to AAC and BYU has obligations to the West Coast Conference, and all four intend to honor those obligations. Says it's possible all could join in 2023.
