Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark to Step Down in January 2027

IRVING, Texas — The Big 12 Conference is preparing for a significant leadership change.

Commissioner Brett Yormark will step down from his position effective Jan. 31, 2027, to pursue an opportunity outside college athletics, the conference announced Friday.

ESPN's Pete Thamel first reported the development, revealing that Yormark made the decision to leave and had informed conference leadership of the opportunity.

The announcement comes less than 18 months after the Big 12 extended Yormark's contract through the 2029-30 academic year. Yormark has served as commissioner since August 2022, overseeing one of the most consequential periods in the conference's history.

In a statement following the announcement, Yormark described leading the conference as an extraordinary honor. He thanked the Big 12's board of directors, university leadership, athletic directors, coaches, student-athletes, fans and conference staff for their support. Yormark also expressed his intention to support the conference after his departure, saying he looks forward to passing leadership to his successor and remaining a lifelong Big 12 fan.

His next position has not yet been publicly identified, although it is expected to be outside college sports. The conference will now begin preparing for its first commissioner transition since Yormark succeeded Bob Bowlsby in 2022.

Yormark inherited a conference facing uncertainty following Oklahoma and Texas' decisions to join the Southeastern Conference.

Under his leadership, the Big 12 secured a six-year media rights agreement with ESPN and FOX valued at approximately $2.28 billion, providing long-term financial stability and national television exposure.

The conference also completed a major expansion. BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF joined in 2023, followed by Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah in 2024. Those additions brought the Big 12 to 16 members and expanded its geographic reach across the country.

Yormark also pushed the conference toward a more aggressive commercial strategy, pursuing sponsorships, entertainment partnerships and new ways to generate revenue. His approach reflected a background in professional sports and entertainment, including previous leadership roles with Roc Nation and Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment.

For Oklahoma State and the conference's other member institutions, Yormark's departure introduces a new leadership question during a period of substantial change across college athletics. Revenue sharing, athlete compensation, potential College Football Playoff expansion and future media rights negotiations are among the issues the next commissioner will inherit.

The Big 12 has also continued exploring opportunities to strengthen its basketball profile and expand the commercial value of its championship events. For Oklahoma State, the conference's financial stability, national visibility and competitive position remain important considerations as college athletics continues to evolve.

The next commissioner will be responsible for maintaining relationships among the league's 16 members while navigating an increasingly competitive landscape involving the Big Ten and SEC.

Yormark's departure follows a tenure in which the Big 12 transformed its membership, secured a major television agreement and expanded its business operations. His successor will inherit a conference in a considerably different position from the one Yormark entered in 2022.

With Yormark expected to remain through January, the Big 12 has time to prepare for the transition while continuing its current football and basketball seasons. The conference's next leadership decision will help shape its direction during another consequential period for college athletics.