Report: Arizona in discussions to join Big 12 amid Pac-12 exodus

The University of Arizona is in deep discussions to join the Big 12 conference as the Pac-12 continues its full-blown exodus, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel on Thursday.

There is expected to be a solution to the situation in the near future, with the Arizona Board of Regents meeting later on Thursday, Thamel adds.

Big 12 executives reportedly approved the Wildcats' application to join the conference on Thursday, sources told Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger.

Arizona's likely departure comes a week after fellow Pac-12 school Colorado jumped ship to the Big 12. UCLA and USC are already set to join the Big Ten after next season, and Arizona State, Utah, Oregon and Washington have been linked to potential exits.

While the Pac-12's contingent of schools is diminishing rapidly, the Big 12 is welcoming Cincinnati, Houston, BYU, and UCF ahead of this upcoming season to go along with the Colorado and now potential Arizona moves in 2024-25. The conference will be losing Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC following this year.

The only Pac-12 schools yet to be linked with a possible change of conference designation to this point are Washington State, Oregon State, Stanford, and California.