The Big 12 apparently wants no part of Memphis. The Tigers reportedly put together a pitch to join the power conference that was unprecedented. Yet the Big 12 was so unmoved by it that it did not even rise to the level where the league's presidents put it to a vote.

The Big 12 passed on Memphis’ proposal, leaving the Tigers in the newly rebranded American Conference. Memphis was also bypassed by the Big 12 in 2023 when the conference added fellow AAC schools UCF, Cincinnati and Houston instead of the Tigers.

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Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger reported Monday that Memphis president Bill Hardgrave spent more than a year meeting individually with Big 12 presidents and athletic directors, laying the groundwork for this unprecedented financial commitment to leave the now-called American Conference for a Power Four league.

Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger turned heads when he reported that Memphis, currently a member of the American Conference, made a hefty offer to join the Big 12 and forced league presidents to meet about it on Monday.