It was a wild day in the world of college sports but at the end of it, UConn's quest for acceptance into the top tier of the NCAA power structure took a step forward.
On Tuesday afternoon, Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby and chairman of the board David Boren revealed that the Big 12 presidents have authorized Bowlsby to begin vetting candidates for expansion.
Boren had previously been a very outspoken advocate for expansion but quieted down across the summer, to the point where it seemed unlikely. Now conference leadership will be meeting with schools.
This is the strongest step that the conference has taken at any point during this latest episode of EXPANSION WATCH, with the Big 12 potentially looking to move quickly— schools may join as early as 2017.