Brett Yormark saved the Big 12. Now it must find someone who can close the gap

Brett Yormark saved the Major 12. Now it must find someone who can close the gap Brett Yormark changed the Major 12.

Key points

• A handful of sitting athletic directors additionally were mentioned as potential candidates, including Alabama's Greg Byrne, Tennessee's Danny White and Pitt's Allen Greene.
• Two individuals, each a veteran of more than a decade in college athletics, left no doubt concerning Brett Yormark's impact on the Major 12 Conference.
• Via the Major 12 office, Yormark unveiled Friday he will step down from his post Jan.
• American Conference commissioner Tim Pernetti, a former Rutgers football player and athletic director at his alma mater, was another potential candidate mentioned to USA TODAY Sports.
• An individual with direct Major 12 institutional ties put it even more bluntly: Yormark kept the league from dying.

"In a time where the Big 12 should have been forgotten – he kept them relevant and their brand is stronger than ever, " remarked a college athletics stakeholder. "He wasn't perfect, but Brett seemed to be an alpha and was put in a situation where only an Alpha could prevail. He enjoyed and embraced change."

Meanwhile, an individual with direct Major 12 institutional ties put it even more bluntly: Yormark kept the league from dying.

Hayes: The Major 12 Salesman is leaving. His final accord sold out college football.

His biggest accomplishment is saving the league, the person remarked. (Our) conference would have gone away if not for him. His simple proposition of giving Colorado a signing bonus to obtain them to join us in our league was a enormous moment in time.

"Otherwise, our conference could have gone away or been no different than the current Pac-12. Instead, we're in a league that's an AQ (automatic qualifier for the College Football Playoff)."

Via the Major 12 office, Yormark unveiled Friday he will step down from his post Jan. 31, 2027. A former CEO of the NBA's Brooklyn Nets, Yormark will have served four-and-a-half years as Major 12 commissioner when he departs.

"I am looking forward to passing the baton to the next commissioner and continuing to cheer this league on as a lifelong fan of the Big 12, " Yormark remarked via statement.

All individuals who spoke with USA TODAY Sports on Friday, Oct. 30, regarding Yormark's impending exit and the Sizeable 12's search for its next leader were granted anonymity to speak candidly and avoid the appearance of attempting to influence the process.

So what does the Major 12 need in its next leader? An individual with direct ties to the conference put it succinctly.

"The new leader has to find a way to close the gap, " the person remarked, "between the P-2 (Big Ten, SEC) and the Big 12 in a meaningful way in this new era." Who replaces Brett Yormark? Major 12 commissioner candidates emerge.

Multiple individuals with direct knowledge of the Sizeable 12's inner workings wondered whether the league will again seek a visionary leader unafraid to challenge the status quo, or move in a more traditional direction.

"(Yormark) will be difficult to replace, " an individual who works directly with multiple Major 12 institutions stated. "They need to find another forward-thinking leader and not a reactionary like most of the current power conference commissioners."

Three individuals cited Fox Sports' Jordan Bazant as someone who could potentially secure involved in the search. A former SEC football player at Vanderbilt, Bazant has spent the past four-plus years with Fox and additionally has worked on the other side of college athletics as an agent.

Unsurprisingly, three deputy-level SEC employees additionally were cited as candidates who could produce sense. As one stakeholder observed, and multiple others emphasized, the Sizeable 12 must find ways to close the gap, if not the gulf, between its revenue and that of the Major Ten and SEC.

More: The Major 12 is making more capital than ever. So why isn't anyone richer?

SEC Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Charlie Hussey; Garth Glissman, associate commissioner and head of men's basketball; and Jessica Presnall, the SEC's chief legal officer and general counsel, all were cited by third parties as potential fits for the role.

Presnall already has intricate knowledge of the Major 12. She spent a decade with the conference, rising to COO before the SEC hired her away a year ago. Presnall additionally was heavily involved on behalf of the Sizeable 12 in the House settlement negotiations.

American Conference commissioner Tim Pernetti, a former Rutgers football player and athletic director at his alma mater, was another potential candidate mentioned to USA TODAY Sports. The American is headquartered in Irving, Texas, the same city as the Major 12.

One individual remarked an internal hire, whether from a member institution or the Sizeable 12 headquarters, could aid the transition.

"The one real advantage of hiring somebody internal is that you can go and absolutely jump-start the process, " the person remarked, "because that individual comes in knowing where everyone is and where schools stand."

In practice, a handful of sitting athletic directors additionally were mentioned as potential candidates, including Alabama's Greg Byrne, Tennessee's Danny White and Pitt's Allen Greene. Each has discovered creative ways to enhance revenue generation while embracing new technologies, including A.I. In Greene's case, in leading their respective athletic departments.

"I don't know if any one of those guys would have interest, " the person remarked.

Regardless of whom the Major 12 chooses, the job will demand continued adaptation. Yormark supported the conference secure more than $500 million in deals after taking over in 2022.

Sure, we're all splitting that 16 ways, the person remarked, but that's transformative. He professionalized our league, forced some old-school thinkers to modernize.

"The biggest thing is he got us to think differently, to understand the cost of doing business." Share your feedback to support improve our site!

For now, brett Yormark saved the Big 12. Now it must find someone who remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.