Temple throws name into Big 12 expansion mix

Amid ongoing expansion talks, Temple athletic director Patrick Kraft said Monday he would like the Big 12 to consider his Owls as a possible newcomer to the league.

In fact, Kraft said the conference would be making a mistake if it doesn't at least take a look at what his athletic department has to offer.

"We have the fifth-winningest basketball program in the country and football is emerging at this great program," he said, according to Philly.com's Marc Narducci. "We have had five bowl-eligible seasons in seven years and we believe we are as qualified as anybody else."

Several AAC schools, such as Houston, Memphis, Cincinnati, and UConn, have been discussed as candidates to join the Big 12, but Temple's name hasn't been part of the conversation until now.

Kraft also noted Temple would bring not just qualified athletic programs to the Big 12, but would be accompanied by a very large base of fans, too.

"A lot of people have this misconception that we are a small private institution," he said. "We are at 38,000-plus and we would be the second-largest in the Big 12 if we were to go."

Temple's football program went 10-4 last year, and made an appearance in the Boca Raton Bowl. The basketball team posted a 21-12 mark, and reached the NCAA tournament for the first time in three years.