Two months after Texas and Oklahoma left for the SEC, leaving them with a bleak future. The Big XII Conference rebounded on Friday with the addition of four successful teams. Three of them are from the American Athletic Conference and one from the Independent.
In a unanimous vote of 8-0, the Conference officially welcomed UCF, Houston, Cincinnati, and BYU to the Big XII. These schools will start no later than the 2024-25 season. These additions bring the Conference back to twelve teams. For Cincinnati, they reunited with West Virginia from their days in the Big East.
Big XII Commissioner Bob Bowlsby was hard at work to stable the Conference. In a press release, Bowlsby discussed the addition of these schools. “Today’s vote solidifies the long-term trajectory of the Big 12 Conference. I applaud the efforts of our presidents, chancellors, and athletics directors of our continuing members to expeditiously consider and take this action. The addition of these four fine institutions ensures the continued success of the Big 12 at the highest levels of intercollegiate athletics competition.”
The Big XII is currently in their 26th year, which was formed in 1994. Oklahoma has been the only Big XII college to be selected into the playoff. They have made it four times. The last Big XII team to win a championship was Texas at the 2006 Rose Bowl game when they defeated USC 41-38.
Here are the statements from the Presidents of UCF, BYU, Houston, and Cincinnati.
University of Houston President Renu Khator: “Joining the Big 12 Conference is a historic step in our institutional journey and signifies the tremendous growth and success attained academically and athletically over the last decade. Our expectations for our university remain high, our aspirations continue to be bold, and we embrace this new opportunity to compete at the highest levels in all we do.”
UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright: “As we strive to become the world’s leading metropolitan research university, we know our achievements in our classrooms and laboratories, and in our community are enhanced by our national recognition in athletic competition, and this invitation will only strengthen that relationship. We are a young, energetic, entrepreneurial, and bold institution with a culture of compassion that is focused on building a better future for society. Since our first classes 53 years ago, the UCF we all love has been built by people who have been willing to challenge the status quo …….and who believed, if there is a better way, we should do it.
This invitation to the Big 12 is a testament to our collective achievements and the outstanding accomplishments of our student-athletes and our coaches over many years as we built our athletic program.
We are here today because of the years of hard work and advocacy of so many people. Our current and former university trustees, current and former university leaders, elected officials, generous donors, passionate alumni and fans, and dedicated faculty and staff have all helped to build the foundation of excellence that now supports our bold new future.
We have benefitted by being in Central Florida, by being embraced as Orlando’s hometown team, and being in a part of a community that believes in Magic and knows we can accomplish anything.
I would like to thank Commissioner Bob Bowlsby and the Big 12 chancellors and presidents for their vote of confidence, and we look forward to working with them to prepare for our membership.
We also look forward to continuing to compete for championships in the American Athletic Conference, and I would like to thank Commissioner Mike Aresco and the leaders of our fellow AAC institutions for all they have done to strengthen the Conference. Our relationship with the AAC has been an exciting experience for the university’s intercollegiate athletics program.”
BYU President Kevin J Worthen: “This is a historic day for BYU Athletics – and for the entire university. The BYU mission statement indicates that BYU is a place where ‘a commitment to excellence is expected.’ We strive to meet that requirement in all we do, including our core academic enterprise. Membership in the Big 12 gives us the opportunity to reinforce that commitment for student-athletes, allowing them to compete at the highest level both on and off the field.”
Cincinnati President Neville G. Pinto: “With 25 years of history, 69 team national champions and 702 individual national champions to its name, the Big 12 ranks among the nation’s premiere athletic conferences. UC’s membership in this Power 5 conference will position us for even greater success both on and off the field.
This Big 12 invitation only confirms our core belief: UC has earned its seat at the Power 5 table. With eight national champions and 100 conference championships, UC has achieved a level of success few can match.
We owe this momentous day to many great partners. Foremost, I want to thank the Board of Trustees—both past and present members—for their vision, perseverance and investment. They never stopped believing in what was possible. To our student-athletes, you created this game-changing opportunity. There’s no us without you.
To our deans, faculty, students, staff and alumni, your achievements in the classroom and beyond played a pivotal role in raising UC’s national profile. To our coaches, your relentless commitment to excellence set the foundation for who we are and why we matter. To our athletic director, John Cunningham, and his team, your leadership continues to position us to better our best. To our loyal fan base, you empowered us to believe that, together, we can meet any moment. No stage is too big. No sacrifice is too small. Indeed, it is a great day to be a Big 12 Bearcat.”
