Brett Yormark is leaving the Big 12 and college sports altogether, according to a new report by ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Thamel initially reported that Yormark, the Big 12 commissioner and chief architect of the league’s business expansion, had already notified people within the conference more than a week ago and that he’s set to remain with the league until early 2027.
The league is working with Yormark toward an “elegant exit,” according to Thamel’s report. Yormark replaced Bob Bowlsby in 2022, shortly after Oklahoma and Texas left the Big 12 for a new home in the SEC.
Yormark helped the Big 12 expand to 16 schools with the addition of Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah, all in the league no later than 2024. He’s also largely known for the league’s business pursuits, including the infamous Monster Energy deal and the glass basketball court. Moreover, Yormark delivered the Big 12’s current television deal with ESPN and FOX.
So, what changed? College sports are a mess – and even three years ago, it likely made a little more sense than it does now. Court cases are spilling out all over the place; rosters demand more millions every year to compete; and another round of television negotiations is up in 2030.
It’s a lot of work running the Big 12, and Yormark was certainly in the business of reviving what he saw as, at the very least, a stagnant brand in a fast-paced environment of college sports. The league is sexier now as arguably the best college basketball conference in the country, and remains a strong football product week to week. The profile of the league is undoubtedly higher because of Yormark.
You can disagree – as many of us do – with the business practices and the lengths to which the Big 12 logo has been “partnered” with energy drinks and financial backers, but most folks will agree those are steps taken by Yormark to ensure the league has the resources to survive and adapt. He was a businessman stepping into a conference seeking relevance – you do the math.
The Big 12 is now tasked with executing a national search for the league’s sixth commissioner.
