Eye On College Basketball Podcast
Episode: Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark Thinks March Madness Expansion Will Happen Before CFP
Date: October 22, 2025
Guests: Brett Yormark (Big 12 Commissioner)
Hosts: Gary Parrish & Matt Norlander (CBS Sports)
Overview
This episode features a candid interview with Brett Yormark, Commissioner of the Big 12 Conference, recorded live at Big 12 Media Day in Kansas City. Yormark provides in-depth perspectives on the tumultuous state of college athletics, the evolving roles of national governance, the landscape of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals, potential NCAA Tournament (March Madness) and College Football Playoff (CFP) expansion, and the strategic and international ambitions of the Big 12 conference.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. The Life of a Conference Commissioner Amid Constant Change
- Yormark’s Reflections
- Emphasizes the unprecedented rate of change in college athletics, dividing his job into two realms: national issues (governance, CFP, legislation) and Big 12-specific business operations.
- His leadership style is shaped by having an “innovative and disruptive” board eager to move the Big 12 forward aggressively.
- Draws upon his prior experience as Brooklyn Nets’ CEO in handling complex organizations facing transformation.
"Where I see challenges, I also see opportunity. I work for a board and a group of ADs that want to be disruptive, innovative, and move this thing forward aggressively.”
— Brett Yormark (01:20)
2. Federal Legislation: Will Congress Step In?
- Yormark on Congressional Oversight
- Expresses optimism about passing the federal SCORE Act for national governance of college sports, noting unprecedented proximity to congressional action after extensive work on Capitol Hill.
- Admits the bill isn’t perfect, but views it as necessary progress for the future of college athletics.
"I'm very bullish on the SCORE Act... It's the closest we've ever been, and I have to be optimistic. It's not perfect, but it's progress and we need progress.”
— Brett Yormark (02:52)
3. The College Sports Council (CSC) and NIL Enforcement
- Skepticism, Progress, and Enforcement
- Addresses reservations coaches have regarding the new NIL/CSC structure, but lauds Brian Seely (new CSC CEO) as the right leader for this emergent system.
- CSC is actively hiring (soon a head of investigations), has processed over 9,000 NIL deals worth $63 million, and denied about 450 deals for rule violations.
- Asserts that careful deal scrutiny is intentional, not a flaw, especially for any deal that hints at "pay for play."
- Yormark believes continued progress and proper enforcement is possible once all participation agreements are signed.
"Those that talk about the time it's taking to clear deals— that's not a glitch, that's a feature. Anything that smells of pay for play is being scrutinized at the highest levels, and it should.”
— Brett Yormark (05:38)
4. Tournament Expansion: NCAA vs. College Football Playoff
Which Would Yormark Expand First?
- Prioritizing CFP Expansion
- Prefers expanding the CFP, citing increased “access” as vital—only 12 out of 136 FBS teams make playoffs under the current format.
- Advocates a 16-team format (with a 5+11 structure), especially as parity increases among schools.
- Sees playoff expansion as a way to amplify opportunity for the Big 12 and teams previously outside elite circles.
"Access would certainly benefit a conference like the Big 12 where there's great parity from top to bottom. I love the 12-team format... But I'm open and bullish on modest expansion for the NCAA Tournament.”
— Brett Yormark (07:16, 08:26)
What Will Happen First—March Madness or CFP Expansion?
- Yormark Predicts March Madness Expansion First
- Believes NCAA Tournament expansion will arrive before changes to the College Football Playoff, largely because the CFP has not engaged in deeper discussions and awaits a trigger date (Dec 1) for decisions on 2026–27.
- Expects the 12-team CFP format to persist for at least two more cycles (2026, 2027).
_"March Madness for sure."
— Brett Yormark, on which will expand first (09:33)
“We need to make a decision on ‘26, ‘27 by December 1st… I don't see us making any changes between now and then. So any discussion… would probably affect the ‘27, ‘28 season.”
— Brett Yormark (09:47)
5. Big 12 Basketball: Branding, Partnerships, and International Growth
- Big 12 Profile and Distribution
- Declares Big 12 the “#1 men’s basketball conference in America” (and, jokingly, “second only to the NBA”).
- Six teams in preseason Top 25, with added depth not even accounting for Baylor.
- Most widely distributed men’s basketball conference due to TV partnerships (including CBS).
- International expansion is a major initiative, with games scheduled in Paris, London, and Dublin.
- Highlights fresh commercial partnerships—continued deals with Phillips 66, and new ones with PayPal, Allstate, and others.
_"We're the number one men's basketball conference in America. In fact, I always tell people that we're the second-best league in the country behind the NBA."
— Brett Yormark (10:40)
"The international marketplace is certainly something that we're exploring... basketball plays a real catalyst there, because it's obviously a lot easier to use basketball as a catalyst for international expansion than football.”
— Brett Yormark (11:29)
6. Big 12 Positioning in the NIL & Transfer Portal Era
- Basketball-Centric Conference
- Acknowledges football’s financial pull, but argues basketball is the Big 12’s “heart.”
- School presidents and admins support investment in basketball for its institutional, community, and branding benefits.
- Cites success both recruiting high school and portal talent—eight of last year’s top 20 high school players landed in the Big 12.
- Predicts at least eight teams in the NCAA Tournament due to depth, investment, and branding.
“At the heart of this conference, it’s basketball... They all understand there’s a direct correlation between investment and performance... I’m very confident they’ll continue to compete at a very high level.”
— Brett Yormark (13:59)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On the Challenge of Leading a Major Conference:
"The national issues are real and we're spending a lot of time on them."
— Brett Yormark (01:21) -
March Madness Expansion Prediction:
_"March Madness for sure."
— Brett Yormark (09:33) -
On Big 12’s Identity:
"We're the number one men's basketball conference in America... second best league in the country behind the NBA.”
— Brett Yormark (10:40) -
On NIL and the Transfer Portal:
"Anything that smells of pay for play is being scrutinized at the highest levels, and it should."
— Brett Yormark (05:38)
Key Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:15 – 01:20 — Introduction and initial thoughts on Kansas City/Big 12 Media Day
- 01:21 – 02:51 — What it’s like week-to-week as a commissioner amidst national change
- 02:51 – 03:38 — Prospects for Congressional oversight (SCORE Act)
- 03:38 – 06:44 — NIL and CSC: Building trust and new enforcement structures
- 07:10 – 09:22 — Expansion priorities: CFP vs. NCAA Tournament, Yormark’s preference and rationale
- 09:22 – 10:18 — Likelihood and timing of tournament expansions
- 10:40 – 12:59 — Big 12’s basketball dominance, commercial and international growth
- 12:59 – 15:16 — Financial/competitive landscape for Big 12 basketball in the NIL era
Conclusion
Brett Yormark offers a forward-thinking, assertive vision for both the Big 12 and college athletics at large, balancing optimism about reforms and expansions with a realistic appraisal of ongoing challenges. He signals March Madness expansion is likely to precede College Football Playoff changes, champions the Big 12’s basketball prowess, and underscores the importance of national and international brand-building, all while highlighting the need for robust, enforceable NIL governance.
Listeners leave with a detailed, timely understanding of where the power players in college sports see the future headed, directly from one of its most ambitious commissioners.