The Big 12 is looking more and more like the next location to join the “super conference” conversation after adding 4 teams this offseason. Could another Group of 5 school be in the running to join within the coming years?

According to The San Joaquin Valley Sun, Fresno State has garnered interest from new Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark to join the conference soon. School president  Saul Jimenez-Sandoval confirmed the report, stating that the Big 12 has been looking to add “a strong West Coast brand to its ranks.”

The Bulldogs have been linked to both the Pac-12 and Big 12 over the past year after it was announced that USC and UCLA would depart for the B1G in 2024. Texas and Oklahoma will leave the Big 12 following the 2023 season, and Yormark has been adamant about expanding the conference past 12 teams for the long-term future.

The Big 12 will feature at least 12 programs for the first time since 2011 with the additions of BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF. Both Arizona and Arizona State have also been linked to the Big 12 should the 2 programs look to depart the Pac-12 in the coming years.

Earlier this year, it was reported that the Big 12 was interested in adding Gonzaga for basketball after their dominant success under longtime coach Mark Few. As for Fresno State, its been one of the more consistent programs in football for the last decade.

Since 2013, Fresno State has finished with 5 10-plus win seasons, including back-to-back 10-win seasons in 2021 and 2022. In basketball, the Bulldogs have qualified for the NCAA tournament just once, coming back in 2016.