-Yormark met with Colorado in Chicago and thought they were getting fed up with the PAC-12 and might move even before the TV deal that happened
-At The Greenbrier meeting, Big 12 leaders thought they might only get two
-Briefly discussed Memphis and San Diego State and other unnamed candidates
-Yormark was not happy SDSU viewed the Big 12 as a backup option to the PAC-12
-Yormark met with Gonzaga, but those talks never got serious
-Yormark really wanted UConn if the Pac-12 schools didn't come
-He took a campus visit after their national title victory, and met with their leadership in New York
-He liked having UConn to get the conference into NYC and the East Coast
-He also believed Jim Mora had UConn's football program in the right direction (The Athletic does throw the 0-4 shade this season in there)
-The Big 12 board wanted P5 additions
-Yormark was privately conceding he wouldn't get those schools after media days came and went
-Last month, Yormark took a campus visit to Colorado and met with Coach Prime and they instantly hit it off
-Yormark saw what Deion is doing for Colorado and that is what he wanted for the Big 12
-Arizona requested Big 12 membership on its own one week after Colorado left
-Arizona's President wished the PAC-12 took the 8 remaining Big 12 schools after OUT's announcement to form the PAC-20
-Even suggested a ACC, PAC-12, Big 12 merger
-Some inside the Big 12 believed Arizona needed ASU or Utah to move with them
-Robbins was concerned about the Apple deal terms
-Robbins made sure the Big 12 door was still open
-After a board meeting, Arizona and Arizona State were told to stay together
-Robbins with prepared to accept the Apple deal that day with those orders
-Utah's coaches were concerned with the Apple deal
-Utah President and AD quickly called the Big 12 after UO+UW announcement
-Arizona State was always the least engaged for the four
-President Michael Crow and AD Ray Anderson were adamant about staying in the PAC
-Quickly moved to smooth the relationship with Yormark
There were countless twists and turns, but Yormark was never shy about his objective: Boost the Big 12 by any means necessary.
theathletic.com