Cincinnati, Central Florida and Houston will join the Big 12 along with BYU, bringing the conference back to 12 teams. All of our teams developed significantly while we’ve been a member of the WCC.”īig 12 powerhouses Texas and Oklahoma announced their departure from the conference over the summer, opening the door for immediate expansion to include BYU. “Being a member of the WCC for the past 10 years helped us tremendously. “We are truly grateful to the WCC,” Holmoe said. The BYU football team has been independent since 2011 after leaving the Mountain West Conference, whereas the school’s other sports, besides men’s volleyball, have competed in the West Coast Conference since 2011. All sports will begin Big 12 schedules in the 2023-24 athletic season, except for men’s volleyball, which will continue to compete in the MPSF. The Big 12 sponsors every sport the Cougars compete in, except men’s volleyball. The Cougars will participate in every sport sponsored by the Big 12 except equestrian, rowing and wrestling.

President Worthen then addressed the audience, saying that “none of this would have happened without Tom Holmoe.”įittingly, Holmoe was the final speaker before a Q&A session with the media and concluded by saying, “we didn’t reach our destination today, our journey will continue in the Big 12.”Ĭougar Nation … Welcome to the /RHKqLGAElp- BYU Cougars September 10, 2021 “I have been so impressed with everybody I have come in contact with at BYU.” “Provo is as picturesque a city as you’ll find in the United States,” Bowlsby said, mentioning that he looks forward to attending football games at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Schovanec spoke first, officially welcoming BYU to the Big 12, followed by extended remarks from Bowlsby on why the conference went with BYU and why he is looking forward to the partnership. The majority of BYU’s head coaches were in the audience for the press conference in Studio C at the BYU Broadcasting Building, in addition to notable BYU alumni such as Danny Ainge and Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith. #BYUBig12 /NCE8ZrJhio- Daily Universe Sports September 10, 2021 The virtual/in-person mixed press conference with Big 12 and BYU officials. A press conference was held on Friday morning to make the official announcement and featured President Worthen, Holmoe, commissioner of the Big 12 Conference Bob Bowlsby and Big 12 board chair Lawrence Schovanec. The move was first reported last week, and confirmed by multiple sources in recent days. 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.”

“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. “This is a historic day for BYU Athletics – and for the entire university,” President Worthen said in a press release. BYU accepts invitation to Big 12, will begin competition in 2023īYU athletic director Tom Holmoe and university president Kevin J Worthen announced Friday that BYU accepted an invitation to join the Big 12 Conference and will begin competition in all sports in the 2023-24 season.

Big 12 conference teams