ESPN Poll: Big 12 football players favor Big 12 expansion, like BYU as an option

Big 12 media days just wrapped up in Dallas, and ESPN was there not just to talk to coaches and league administrators, but to ask the players the proverbial tough questions. To ensure honestly, they commissioned an anonymous poll of more than 20 Big 12 players (the ones who attended Media Days, if you are desperate to try and piece together who said what) about a variety of league questions. And when it comes to expansion, the league's best players were emphatic. They want the league to expand.

Specifically, 88% of the group said the Big 12 should add two more teams. When asked which teams the conference should add, BYU finished second, at 17%, only behind previous Big 12 team Texas A&M. Only four squads got more than one vote, with Houston and fellow former Big 12 school Nebraska being the other two. Other votes included Oregon and USC, because student athletes absolutely should make jokes if they get the chance.

The players weren't the only people at Media Days to express support for expansion. Kansas State head coach Bill Synder also indicated he supports growing the league, although he did not specifically mention BYU.

Of course, this is a tiny sample size, and at the end of the day, what current players, or even coaches, think about conference expansion doesn't matter, since it is school presidents that make that decision. Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby also said that "It is my understanding at present time that majority of our presidents/chancellors believe 10 is right number for us".

Even so, it's nice to see that at least a few of the top players in the Big 12 think that BYU would make a nice addition. Just ask Texas.