Big 12 to interview 17 schools about expansion, sources say

Whenever the Big 12 makes a decision on expansion, the league certainly will have done its due diligence.

Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby will conduct video conferences with 17 schools that have contacted the league about being considered as expansion candidates, sources told ESPN.

Sources also said it's "becoming less and less likely" that the league will expand to 14 teams. The most likely scenario is that the Big 12 will stay at 10 teams or only add two schools for a 12-team league with two six-team divisions, sources said.

Last month, Bowlsby and Oklahoma president David Boren said Bowlsby would be in touch with the schools that initially contacted the Big 12. The league said it hopes to make a decision on expansion by the Big 12's regularly scheduled board of directors meeting in October.

The 17 schools that will make their presentations to the Big 12 includeCincinnati, Houston, BYU, South Florida,UCF, UConn, Memphis, Colorado State, Boise State, Tulane, Temple, East Carolina, SMUand New Mexico, sources said.