With the announcement Thursday that the Pac-12 Conference will not explore expansion in the near future, the fracturing Big 12 will throw its energy into looking at potential new members, Kirby Hocutt said.
The Texas Tech athletics director is part of a four-person expansion subcommittee tasked with leading the effort, which starts immediately.
"Right now, our complete focus is to make the Big 12 as strong as it can possibly be," Hocutt said, "and I expect that Texas Tech will play a leadership role in that. We're going to continue to be part of the power-five structure in college athletics."
Hocutt said Baylor AD Mack Rhoades, Kansas Chancellor Doug Girod and Iowa State President Wendy Wintersteen are the others on the subcommittee. The Big 12 in the past few days has enlisted Oliver Luck, the former West Virginia AD and XFL commissioner, as a consultant to aide in working through realignment.
Describing the group as already "active," Hocutt said they will meet with the Big 12 presidents early Friday and will have in-person meetings next week involving Big 12 athletics directors and media and television consultants.
"We're continually talking to commissioner (Bob) Bowlsby as well as Oliver Luck," Hocutt said, "and feel very fortunate to have Oliver engaged in our conversations in helping us navigate the waters as well."
Earlier this week, the Pac-12, Big Ten and Atlantic Coast conferences announced an alliance. Though that agreement does not have a signed contract, the commissioners said they want to work together on scheduling and voting on other issues in the changing landscape of college sports.
The Pac-12 issued a statement Thursday afternoon, saying the conference had no plans to pursue expansion "at this time."
Hocutt spoke hours later before a Red Raider Club kickoff event at which Sen. Ted Cruz addressed Tech fans. A Tech contingent has been seeking redress from the state's political leaders since Texas and Oklahoma threw the future of the Big 12 into disarray with decisions to leave for the Southeastern Conference by July 1, 2025.
"We've been very fortunate to have the political support," Hocutt said. "Senator Cruz being here this evening at this kickoff event is terrific. We've got the opportunity to go down and meet with Governor (Greg) Abbott yet again tomorrow afternoon. This will be our third or fourth opportunity to talk to him.
"We had a chance to visit with Lieutenant Governor (Dan) Patrick last week. They've all pledged their support and their commitment to stand behind Texas Tech University and their willingness to help Texas Tech University in the journey ahead.
"We appreciate their willingness to engage and support us and feel really fortunate to have their leadership as we continue to navigate forward."
Speaking from the stage, Cruz told Red Raiders fans that Tech matters in West Texas, across the state and nationally. He said he was in Minneapolis two years ago, "cheering on Tech" in the championship game of the NCAA Tournament.
"College football right now is in flux. This is an uncertain time," Cruz said. "But I want to say something clearly and unequivocally: Texas Tech belongs in a power-five conference."
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The Texas Tech athletics director is part of a four-person expansion subcommittee tasked with leading the effort, which starts immediately.
"Right now, our complete focus is to make the Big 12 as strong as it can possibly be," Hocutt said, "and I expect that Texas Tech will play a leadership role in that. We're going to continue to be part of the power-five structure in college athletics."
Hocutt said Baylor AD Mack Rhoades, Kansas Chancellor Doug Girod and Iowa State President Wendy Wintersteen are the others on the subcommittee. The Big 12 in the past few days has enlisted Oliver Luck, the former West Virginia AD and XFL commissioner, as a consultant to aide in working through realignment.
Describing the group as already "active," Hocutt said they will meet with the Big 12 presidents early Friday and will have in-person meetings next week involving Big 12 athletics directors and media and television consultants.
"We're continually talking to commissioner (Bob) Bowlsby as well as Oliver Luck," Hocutt said, "and feel very fortunate to have Oliver engaged in our conversations in helping us navigate the waters as well."
Earlier this week, the Pac-12, Big Ten and Atlantic Coast conferences announced an alliance. Though that agreement does not have a signed contract, the commissioners said they want to work together on scheduling and voting on other issues in the changing landscape of college sports.
The Pac-12 issued a statement Thursday afternoon, saying the conference had no plans to pursue expansion "at this time."
Hocutt spoke hours later before a Red Raider Club kickoff event at which Sen. Ted Cruz addressed Tech fans. A Tech contingent has been seeking redress from the state's political leaders since Texas and Oklahoma threw the future of the Big 12 into disarray with decisions to leave for the Southeastern Conference by July 1, 2025.
"We've been very fortunate to have the political support," Hocutt said. "Senator Cruz being here this evening at this kickoff event is terrific. We've got the opportunity to go down and meet with Governor (Greg) Abbott yet again tomorrow afternoon. This will be our third or fourth opportunity to talk to him.
"We had a chance to visit with Lieutenant Governor (Dan) Patrick last week. They've all pledged their support and their commitment to stand behind Texas Tech University and their willingness to help Texas Tech University in the journey ahead.
"We appreciate their willingness to engage and support us and feel really fortunate to have their leadership as we continue to navigate forward."
Speaking from the stage, Cruz told Red Raiders fans that Tech matters in West Texas, across the state and nationally. He said he was in Minneapolis two years ago, "cheering on Tech" in the championship game of the NCAA Tournament.
"College football right now is in flux. This is an uncertain time," Cruz said. "But I want to say something clearly and unequivocally: Texas Tech belongs in a power-five conference."
Texas Tech AD Kirby Hocutt says Big 12 expansion plans are under way
Texas Tech athletics director Kirby Hocutt is a member of four-person subcommittee tasked with leading Big 12 efforts to add new members.
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