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The Big 12 Conference officially added four teams on Saturday as the calendar flipped to July 1.
Houston, Cincinnati, BYU and UCF join the conference nearly two years after the presidents of the Big 12 voted to expand the league.
“It’s July 1. Big day,” said Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark. “Big day for the Big 12 Conference, our fans. Welcome UCF, Cincinnati, Houston, BYU.” (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images/File)
“It’s July 1. Big day,” said Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark. “Big day for the Big 12 conference, our fans. Welcome UCF, Cincinnati, Houston, BYU. We’re so glad you’re at the conference. We’ve been waiting a long time for this moment. Can’t wait to be on campus this fall “Welcome, welcome, welcome. Glad to have you in the Big 12.”
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The Big 12 is preparing to play 14 teams for the upcoming season before Texas and Oklahoma leave for the SEC in 2024.
Yormark said on Thursday he would ideally like to keep the conference at 14 teams, but 12 would be fine.
A flag with the Cincinnati Bearcats and Big 12 logos is displayed during the game between Murray State and Cincinnati at Nippert Stadium on September 11, 2021 in Cincinnati. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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“I think there’s strength in numbers, but if we end up with 12, that’s great,” Yormark said during an interview on “BYU Sports Nation.” “I’d like to stay at 14 even with Texas and Oklahoma leaving, honestly. We’ll see if that’s a possibility or not, but I like 12. I like the current makeup going forward. In fact, I’m very happy with it.”
“We’re not chasing a number. Again, whatever happens really needs to create value for the conference and fit into those guiding principles in terms of how we think about expansion. But it’s not so much a number that we think about. It it’s really about that fit, and I think that’s critical.”
Houston, Cincinnati, BYU and UCF join the conference nearly two years after the presidents of the Big 12 voted to expand the league. (Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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Cincinnati, UCF and Houston join the Big 12 of the American Athletic Conference, while BYU was independent.
“This is a historic day for the University of Houston. As I look back over the years, there have been many pivotal moments and influential individuals who have been responsible for paving the way to this moment. This transformation has been going on for 30 years in the make,” Vice President for Athletics Chris Pezman said. “Our institution, programs and student-athletes are eager to make UH’s own unique mark on the Big 12 Conference.”
Joe Morgan is a sportscaster for Fox News.
