frontrunner.
"If the Big 12 expands, it most likely will add two schools to get back to 12 members. UC is believed to be competing with about a half-dozen schools, including BYU and current American Athletic Conference rivals Connecticut and Central Florida. UC and BYU appear to be the front-runners, according to Sports Illustrated." (emphasis added)
http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2016/02/13/inside-ucs-bid-join-big-12/80280488/