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USF is still a buzzword in the Big 12's expansion plans

 
A Sporting News report - citing an anonymous source "close to the situation" - indicates the addition of UCF and USF as the Big 12 Conference's 11th and 12th schools is a possible scenario. [OCTAVIO JONES | Times]
A Sporting News report - citing an anonymous source "close to the situation" - indicates the addition of UCF and USF as the Big 12 Conference's 11th and 12th schools is a possible scenario. [OCTAVIO JONES | Times]
Published Feb. 3, 2016

TAMPA

The most pivotal, preposterous, picture-friendly day on the college football calendar has arrived. At last, the Bulls will expand their football roster.

Are expanded horizons on deck?

Mostly drowned out by the national signing day cacophony is the fact the Big 12 meetings are being staged this week in Dallas. Athletic directors from the 10 member schools convene Thursday, followed by the university presidents Friday.

Naturally, league expansion is almost certain to be discussed, and a Sporting News report — citing an anonymous source "close to the situation" — indicates the addition of UCF and USF as the conference's 11th and 12th schools is a possible scenario.

Just how much traction that notion possesses, or how high expansion ranks on the Big 12 honchos' collective agenda, is anyone's guess.

Point is, the Bulls reportedly remain — formally or informally — in a Power Five conversation, which might elicit as many whoops as a four-star recruit's signature.

As the Sporting News report indicates, the potential advantages of Big 12 expansion aren't as glaring as they once might have been. Recent legislation now allows for a 10-member conference (such as the Big 12) to stage a title game in football, and more schools means the monetary pie (from playoffs, a possible league TV network, etc.) must be sliced more thinly.

But few will argue from a national perspective, the Big 12's cachet doesn't quite match the larger leagues; it's currently the smallest Power Five conference. Securing a package deal with two Florida schools, or Cincinnati and Connecticut (reportedly another scenario), would bring in prominent new TV markets and fortify recruiting.

"If change comes and we're asked to be a part of it and it's good for the university, we'd absolutely consider it," USF athletic director Mark Harlan told the Tampa Bay Times last summer. "But my focus is not on all the national conversation. My focus is just to make us the greatest athletic program we can possibly be."

That said, it's naive to presume the upper tier of USF's administration hasn't discussed expansion potential. It surely will be discussed this week in Dallas.

Maybe, just maybe, some suit in the room will make a verbal commitment to USF.

GOING DEEP: Arguably the most profound sign of the evolution of Bulls women's basketball — more than a top-20 Associated Press ranking or last season's NCAA Tournament fling — occurred Sunday in Dallas.

Missing starters Alisia Jenkins (ankle) and Laura Ferreira (torn plantar fascia), the Bulls overcame woeful shooting to roll past SMU, 66-48. Four Bulls scored in double figures and the team collected 43 rebounds — same as SMU — though Jenkins (11.5 rpg) and Ferreira (4.9) rank No. 1 and 3 on the team in rebounding.

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"That just shows the quality of the kids in our program," said coach Jose Fernandez, whose club (15-5, 8-2 AAC) is 19th in this week's AP poll. "We never would've been able to do this before."

As for Jenkins and Ferreira, both are day to day, Fernandez indicated. Barring any setbacks, they should be available when USF travels to No. 13 Louisville on Feb. 15 for a "Big Monday" matchup on ESPN2.

SIGNING DAY STUFF: Coach Willie Taggart and his staff will appear at the Bulls' traditional signing day party tonight from 5-6:30 at the Sun Dome, before the women's basketball team hosts Cincinnati.

All basketball ticket-holders and USF students will be admitted free; cost for the dinner buffet is $15. For football season-ticket holders, the cost is $15 (which includes the buffet and ticket to the basketball game) and $20 for non-season-ticket holders (also includes buffet and ticket).

Get more information (including ticket purchasing) at gousfbulls.com.

Contact Joey Knight at jknight@tampabay.com. Follow @TBTimes_Bulls.