Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark's 2025 Media Days Address

Opening Remarks and Tragic Events

• 😔 The address began with a moment of silence to acknowledge the tragic flooding in Texas and the events at Camp Mystic.
• 🙏 Hearts and thoughts were extended to the victims, their families, and the affected community.

Reflecting on the Past Year

• 🏆 The Big 12 celebrated its 30th football season, marking a historic moment with games in Dublin, Ireland.
• 🌟 The league experienced a remarkable year on and off the field as a 16-team conference spanning 10 states and four time zones.
• 🏈 Key achievements included Arizona State's CFP appearance, Colorado producing a Heisman Trophy winner, and 31 Big 12 athletes drafted in the 2025 NFL draft.
• 🏆 Numerous national championships were won across various sports, including cross country, beach volleyball, gymnastics, skiing, and golf.
• 🏅 Arizona State was awarded the first-ever Commissioner Cup for excelling academically and athletically.
• 🌟 Travis Hunter and Megan Hunter received the Bob Bolsby Award for leadership and achievement.

Media and Commercial Growth

• 📺 Launched new media platforms: Big 12 Studios (linear channel) and Big 12 Radio on TuneIn for year-round storytelling.
• 🤝 Announced a partnership with TNT for football and basketball broadcasts, with Bleacher Report also involved.
• 📈 Social media following grew by over 200,000, making the Big 12 the second most followed conference on Twitter and Instagram.
• 💰 Commercial business saw rapid growth with new partnerships with PayPal and Microsoft.

Future Outlook and Priorities

• 🚀 The focus remains on thriving in the new era of college athletics, strengthening the football product with continued investment.
• 🏈 Commitment to providing the highest level of benefits to student athletes, aiming to be the deepest football conference in America.
• 🌟 The Big 12 supports the 5-11 model for the College Football Playoff, emphasizing earning success on the field.
• 💡 Innovation is key, with initiatives like custom apps for student athletes to build personal brands and exploring documentaries and collectibles.
• 🤝 Collaboration with commissioner colleagues on a new governance model for increased autonomy and influence for the Power Four.
• ⚖️ Advancing work with the College Sports Commission (CSC) to shift the market towards true third-party NIL.
• 🌐 The Big 12 aims to be a global conference, with plans for international expansion including potential games in Mexico City and conversations with other countries.

Commissioner's Tenure and Vision

• 🗓️ Evaluating the past three years, the commissioner expressed thrill with the conference's modernization, contemporary approach, and national presence.
• 📈 The trajectory of the conference is positive, with schools making significant investments in infrastructure and student athletes.
• 🚀 The belief is that the conference is not yet at its best but will be soon, driven by a unified board and ADs sharing a clear vision.
• 🏈 The decision to forego the preseason football media poll was made to avoid disadvantaging teams, especially with roster management and the transfer portal.