2. Cincinnati
The Bearcats have come to achieve on-field results that could rival any other Group of Five team. They’ve finished ranked nationally in the Top 25 seven times since 2007, and the list of head coaches who have moved on for success at power conference programs is impressive: Mark Dantonio, Brian Kelly, Butch Jones, and Tommy Tuberville.
Cincinnati makes sense for the Big 12 as a suitable travel counterpart for West Virginia, and because the state of Ohio is a great source of high school recruits, too. The Bearcats face Notre Dame on the road this season after finishing 2020 as the No. 8-ranked in the country. Cincinnati, too, has compiled a 31-6 record over the past three years.
1. Central Florida
The spot at No. 1 on this list should not come as a surprise. There are many advantages that the Knights could bring to the Big 12, including its eyeballs from the Orlando metro area and the unmatched recruiting advantages of being in the middle of Florida.
Central Florida has an exceeding large enrollment (72,000 including all programs) and has swagger — look no further than the 2017 national title claim and the ensuing Disney World victory parade. The Knights, who just scheduled the Florida Gators in a two-for-one deal beginning in 2024, are more than just an undefeated season “flash in the pan” from four years ago: they’ve won 10 or more games in six different seasons since 2010.