Report: Big 12 wants to make expansion decision before 2016 season

The topic of expansion for the Big 12 has run rampant through the college world in recent weeks, and the conference would like to act on the idea sooner rather than later.

The Big 12 does not want the topic to hang over the action of the regular season, three persons with knowledge of the process told Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports on Thursday. The first 2016 games involving the Big 12 begin Sept. 2, when Northwestern State visits Baylor and Kansas State visits Stanford.

Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said he's not willing to commit to any sort of deadline for expansion.

"I have not made any comment on time frame and do not plan any such statement," Bowlsby said.

Schools that have commonly been linked to Big 12 expansion include BYU, East Carolina, Houston, Memphis, UCF, and South Florida, while Cincinnati, UConn, and Boise State have also received attention.

If the Big 12 does expand, invited schools may be able to begin conference play in their new home in 2017 if completed before the start of the 2016 season.