On the same day the Big 12 Conference proceeded toward adding four new athletic departments, the Sun Belt Conference expressed its desire to explore expansion.
Sun Belt Conference commissioner Keith Gill put out a statement Friday morning about the conference's interest in expansion.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns athletics director Bryan Maggard responded to Gill's comments with enthusiasm about the Sun Belt growing.
"We want to position ourselves that we are, one, together," Maggard said. "Two, that we want to identify other programs to see if there is an interest in joining us, because we have room.