The Big 12 unanimously approved the additions of BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF in a vote of conference presidents and chancellors on Friday.
The vote involved eight of the 10 schools currently in the conference. Texas and Oklahoma, which have been accepted to join the Southeastern Conference by July 1, 2025, did not participate. In a formality, governing boards at BYU, Houston and Cincinnati quickly voted to finalize the move, with UCF’s board of trustees set to hold a special meeting Friday afternoon.
“We are adding four great universities today. It’s a good day,” Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said. “Two hundred thousand students. Three additional states. Forty million in population. Three of the best recruiting areas in the entire nation. Tremendously successful broad-based athletics programs led by some really outstanding coaches and administrators, so it’s a good day by any measure.”
Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta, who is chairman of Houston’s board of regents, echoed Bowlsby.
“All I can tell you is how excited we are at the University of Houston. I’m a fan of every school in the Big 12, and it’s great that it’s the Big 12 again,” Fertitta said. “I love the four schools that the eight of y’all picked, and we’re just thrilled what this is for the state of Texas. I love great rivalries. Our school loves great rivalries. I just can’t tell you how excited we are to be a part of this.”
Representatives from existing Big 12-member schools were quick to welcome the new schools into the fold.
“The Big 12 Conference has been among the best football leagues in the country for the past 25 years,” Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy said. “The addition of these four programs will allow us to introduce our brand of football to fans in new locations. I welcome the new conference members and look forward to competing against them while maintaining competition with our longstanding league members. We have the best of both worlds.”
While BYU is leaving the West Coast Conference — the Cougars are an independent in football — the American Athletic Conference will have three fewer members. Cincinnati, Houston and UCF are the top football schools in the conference.
Under AAC bylaws, the schools must give a 27-month notice and pay a $10 million buyout. BYU is committed to joining the conference in 2023, and if the AAC schools intend to join them, the schools and the conference they are leaving will have to negotiate.
AAC commissioner Mike Aresco issued a statement Friday that said it was logical the Big 12 would want to snap up Cincinnati, Houston and UCF and vowed the move won’t diminish his conference.
“Today’s news confirms what we have said all along regarding our status as a power conference. The irony that three of our schools are being asked to take the place of the two marquee schools which are leaving the Big 12 is not lost on us,” he said. “Our conference was targeted for exceeding expectations in a system that wasn’t designed to accommodate our success.”
He continued: “Our remaining schools are unwavering in their commitment to competing and succeeding at the highest level and we will not allow external factors to put a ceiling on our potential. We remain unified and resolute and will consider all of our options as we move The American into our second decade and beyond.”
The departure of the three schools will leave the AAC with eight full members. The Big 12 could, for a time, have 14 members if all four additions come on board before Oklahoma and Texas shift to the SEC.
–Field Level Media (@FieldLevelMedia)
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