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Big 12 to have 14 teams? Timeline emerges as realignment kicks into gear
By Keith Farner
Published:
The Big 12 has been the busiest Power 5 conference in terms of arrivals and departures in the last year.
Since Oklahoma and Texas made arrangements to leave for the SEC, the Big 12 lured Cincinnati, Houston, UCF and BYU to join the league in 2023. Now news has emerged that with Oklahoma and Texas not leaving until after the 2024 season, it’s slated to be a 14-team league for 2 years. That could lead to some interesting matchups, as the former American Athletic Conference teams can potentially take advantage of upgraded schedules to improve their postseason standing.
The American Athletic Conference announced the agreement on Friday that would allow Cincinnati, Houston and UCF to join the Big 12 in 2023, the Associated Press reported.
The American requires its members give more than two years’ notice before they can leave the conference, plus a $10 million exit fee. The AAC said its remaining members agreed to terminate the memberships of Cincinnati, Houston and UCF, effective July 1, 2023. American Commissioner Mike Aresco thanked the leadership of the departing schools for arriving at a “sensible resolution.”
And in the ever-changing landscape of college athletics, the new-look AAC is also preparing to have 14 teams in 2023, with 6 schools from Conference USA having already accepted invitations. Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, North Texas, Rice, UAB and UTSA were all targeting 2023 to make the switch from C-USA to the American.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
