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Oklahoma president David Boren. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Oklahoma president David Boren told The Oklahoman on Tuesday that Big 12 presidents have agreed that they need to make a decision on a number of issues, including conference expansion.
Boren also said the conference presidents are batting around ideas about a football championship game and a conference network.
"We're in a fact-finding mode, we're in a data-gathering mode," Boren told The Oklahoman. "In other words, what will it mean to the stability of the conference? What will it mean financially to the conference?
"We've sort of said to ourselves, come this summer, we're going to have to finally make a decision about what we do. We cannot indefinitely postpone decisions. That's what I had gotten frustrated about. I thought we were spinning our wheels."
While no criteria have been set for a potential additional school, Boren has some ideas.
"I think people are being very sincere about trying to look at the figures and the facts," Boren said. "Not be emotional about it or 'I want this school' or 'I want that.'
"Well, what are their academics? What's their research base? How well do they fit our academic profile? How well do they fit our fan base profile? How many dollars in their market do they bring to the table? We're looking at all that. In terms of the network and those dollars, we're looking with our TV consultants to tell us."
The University of Cincinnati, it has been reported, has been actively positioning for a shot at the Big 12. Boren also appears to be for the idea.
Cincinnati released emails and travel records to The Enquirer last week shedding light on the Bearcats' attempt to join a Power 5 conference.
According to the report, Cincinnati president Santa Ono has led a "quiet and diligent effort" to position his school for a bid to the Big 12 Conference.
Boren, per the report, has been in contact with Ono.
"You are truly an outstanding leader and knowing that you are at the helm in Cincinnati makes me even more inclined to support your cause," Boren, a former Oklahoma governor and U.S. senator, said in an email.
The Enquirer also reports Boren, West Virginia President Gordon Gee and Baylor President Ken Starr are a part of a Big 12 subcommittee to look at expansion.
Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said, at the time, he thinks Boren was in the minority.