The CU Buffs sent another shockwave through college football after a report via Twitter posted Wednesday that the school was “in discussions” to return to the Big 12, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel, following an executive session of the board of regents. CU’s regents scheduled another meeting for Thursday, where they are expected to approve a move to the conference, Brett McMurphy of The Action Network tweeted.
CU left the Big 12, of which it was a founding member, in 2010 to join an expanding Pac-12, ending an association of 63 straight seasons as a member of the Big 12, Big Eight or Big Seven. Then, as now, the primary reasons that are believed to be behind the university’s discussions are stability and financial security. Ironically, CU was one of four schools to leave the Big 12 from 2010-2013 — along with Nebraska , Missouri and Texas A&M — because of growing fears that the conference would collapse in the wake of realignment.
Now a reported move out of the Pac-12 is the latest signal that a league considered a rock-solid respite for CU 13 years ago is one that now finds itself on shaky ground.