The Big 12 Board of Directors has voted unanimously to admit Arizona State University, University of Arizona, and University of Utah to the Big 12 Conference.
“We are thrilled to welcome Arizona, Arizona State and Utah to the Big 12,” said Commissioner Brett Yormark. “The Conference is gaining three premier institutions both academically and athletically, and the entire Big 12 looks forward to working alongside their presidents, athletic directors, student-athletes and administrators.”
Beginning with the 2024-25 academic year, the Big 12 Conference will be comprised of 16 members - Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, BYU, UCF, Cincinnati, Colorado, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas Tech, Utah and West Virginia.
With the Big 12 is adding Arizona, Arizona State and Utah as members next year, completing its raid of the Pac-12. The latest blow to the Pac-12 came just hours after the Big Ten welcomed Oregon and Washington to grow its new West Coast wing next year. A little more than a year ago, Southern California and UCLA announced they were joining the Big Ten in 2024. With the Ducks and Huskies, too, the Big Ten will be an 18-team conference. The additions of the Arizona schools and Utah give the Big 12 16 schools, stretching from Florida to Arizona.
August 4, 2023 will be marked as a historic day in college sports as the Pac-12 conference, with roots dating back to 1915, lost five schools to the Big Ten and Big 12.
Below are the statements from each conference, departing and remaining school’s leadership.
Pac-12
“Today’s news is incredibly disappointing for student-athletes, fans, alumni and staff of the Pac-12 who cherish the over 100-year history, tradition and rivalries of the Conference of Champions. We remain focused on securing the best possible future for each of our member universities.”
Oregon State
President Jayathi Y. Murthy
“Many of you are seeing the recent news that University of Oregon and University of Washington have announced their decisions that they will leave the Pac-12, making the conference’s futures less certain. This is a serious moment, and given the longstanding traditions among Pac-12 teams, we all feel the loss. We believe the preservation of the Pac-12 is in the best interest of all member universities, student-athletes and fans. Oregon State University also continues to explore options separate from those of the conference. We have been working vigorously behind the scenes to secure the best opportunity going forward. I will share more information with the university community as it becomes available.
“Today, let us remember that Oregon State University’s renowned athletics program has proven to be resilient over many years. We have rallied through difficult times, supported by the faith and enthusiasm of fans and also by the tremendous strength of our university and important rivalries here on the West Coast. In Oregon certainly, our more than 129-year history competing with and supporting one another in both athletics and academics will continue even as we move through change.”
Athletic director Scott Barnes
“The great history and tradition of this conference has been severely damaged. The best interest of the student athlete hasn’t been served. Traveling to the Eastern seaboard multiple times a year is not in the best interest of student-athletes.
“We were literally hours away from a deal that everybody could embrace,” Barnes said. “I’ve never seen so many last-minute decision and twists and turns as I’ve seen through this process. Conference realignment just doesn’t make sense anymore. What this enterprise was built on was regionality and rivalries. That is gone. That is leaving the Pac-12. Some of the most special pieces about our model is regionality of competition and rivalries. Those things are forgotten.”
Washington State
President Kirk Schulz and athletic director Pat Chun
“We are disappointed with the recent decisions by some of our Pac-12 peers. While we had hoped that our membership would remain together, this outcome was always a possibility, and we have been working diligently to determine what is next for Washington State Athletics. We’ve prepared for numerous scenarios, including our current situation. With exceptional student-athletes, a strong Cougar tradition and incredible support from our fans, donors and alumni, we will chart the best path forward together.”
Cal
Chancellor Carol Christ and athletic director Jim Knowlton
“We are aware that two more of our Pac-12 peer institutions have decided to leave the conference one year from now, and there are reports that additional universities may be considering similar steps. We are not watching and waiting from the sidelines. Together, the Chancellor and Athletic Director are evaluating a variety of options that will ensure our student-athletes can continue to thrive, and that our intercollegiate athletics program can continue to excel.in a manner consistent with our institutional values. We are grateful for the continued support of the campus community and the extended Cal Family, and will remain committed to sharing as much information as we can in the days ahead.”
Stanford
President Marc Tessier-Lavigne and athletic director Bernard Muir
“We are aware of the University of Oregon and University of Washington’s intended departure from the Pac-12 Conference. Our primary focus at this time is analyzing the available options and making the best decisions for Stanford and our student-athletes. We remain optimistic about Stanford’s athletics future and remain committed to pursuing excellence in college athletics.”
Big Ten
Commissioner Tony Petitti
“We are excited to welcome the University of Oregon and the University of Washington to the Big Ten Conference. We look forward to building long-lasting relationships with the universities, administrators and staff, student-athletes, coaches and fans. Both institutions feature a combination of academic and athletic excellence that will prove a great fit for our future.”
Oregon
President John Karl Scholz
“I’m thrilled that the University of Oregon has the opportunity to join the nation’s preeminent academic-athletic conference. Our student-athletes will participate at the highest level of collegiate athletic competition, and our alumni, friends, and fans will be able to carry the spirit of Oregon across the country.
“The connections we will make with some of the leading research institutions in the world will provide new opportunities for our students, staff, faculty, and university stakeholders. The agreement we’ve reached with the Big 10 Conference will help ensure a bright future for the University of Oregon. We are grateful and look forward to a long, robust partnership.”
Athletic director Rob Mullens
“Accepting membership into the Big 10 Conference is a transformational opportunity for the University of Oregon to change the short and long-term trajectory of our university and athletics department. The stability and exposure of joining the Big 10 are of great benefit to the University of Oregon, and we are grateful to the Big 10 presidents for inviting us to join the conference. We look forward to the opportunity for our student-athletes to compete in this league, which includes many of the best programs in the nation in every sport.”
Washington
President Ana Mari Cauce
“The Big Ten is a thriving conference with strong athletic and academic traditions, and we are excited and confident about competing at the highest level on a national stage. My top priority must be to do what is best for our student-athletes and our University, and this move will help ensure a strong future for our athletics program.
“We are proud of our rich history with the Pac-12 and for more than a year have worked hard to find a viable path that would keep it together. I have tremendous admiration and respect for my Pac-12 colleagues. Ultimately, however, the opportunities and stability offered by the Big Ten are unmatched. Even with this move, we remain committed to the Apple Cup and to competing with WSU across all of our sports.”
Athletic director Jen Cohen
“We have tremendous respect and gratitude for the Pac-12, its treasured history and traditions. At the same time, the college athletics landscape has changed dramatically in recent years. The Big Ten’s history of athletic and academic success and long-term stability best positions our teams for future success, and we are energized at the opportunity to compete at the highest level against some of the best programs in the country.”
Big 12
Commissioner Brett Yormark
“We are thrilled to welcome Arizona, Arizona State and Utah to the Big 12. The Conference is gaining three premier institutions both academically and athletically, and the entire Big 12 looks forward to working alongside their presidents, athletic directors, student-athletes and administrators.”
Arizona
President Robert Robbins
Dear Students and Colleagues,
I am pleased to share that the University of Arizona will join the Big 12 Conference in all sports beginning in the 2024-2025 academic year.
As many of you know, athletics serves as the front porch for the University of Arizona, as it is a rallying point for alumni and fans and creates pride in our community both here in Arizona and around the world. Arizona Athletics is positioned well for long-term success, as our goal always was to secure a bright future for our student-athletes, fans and the entire university community.
I want to thank Athletics Director Dave Heeke for his partnership. We share a deep sense of pride in the University of Arizona, with its national presence and championship legacy that resonates throughout college athletics, and I look forward to his continued leadership in the years to come. Our move to the Big 12 Conference will continue to raise the university’s profile by increasing visibility, growing our reach across the country and around the globe, expanding our pool of prospective students, providing more resources to support our student-athletes, and presenting them with greater NIL prospects. We look forward to beginning a new era next year with fresh opportunities for athletics to fulfill its Wildcat Way mission to develop academic, athletic and life champions.
Whether current students or employees, alumni, or community members, the Wildcat Family is passionate and strong, and I am grateful for its amazing and unwavering support of our student-athletes and programs. Arizona will continue to compete for championships on this expanded stage in front of our fans in a variety of old and new footprints, and I look forward to sharing in those experiences with you.
I want to thank the Pac-12 Conference for being an excellent home for the University of Arizona for so many years and for reliably supporting our university. We will enjoy our final year as a Pac-12 institution, along with Big 12-bound members Arizona State, Utah and Colorado, while looking forward to our future as part of the Big 12 Conference next summer.
Bear Down, and Go Cats!
Arizona State
President Michael Crow
“We are excited for this new chapter, a move that is necessary to remain competitive in top-tier Division I athletics. We are joining a premier athletic conference and bringing with us programs on the rise, our rich traditions and history, and the metro Phoenix media market. We’re in a good spot, and we are pleased to be with UArizona and Utah in the move.
“We will always have fond memories of the Pac-12 conference and this move will not change our appreciation of more than 40 years of experiences, rivalries, partnerships, and traditions. But now, it is the right time for change.”
Athletic director Ray Anderson
“The financial package is strong. The stability of the Big 12 is strong. We are ready, and the timing is right. The exposure and visibility as well as the resources from the conference will help us compete for championships. From enhancing our ability to recruit Texas for football to the Big 12′s strength in basketball, good days are ahead.
“One of our biggest considerations in this whole process was the welfare of our student-athletes, and the Big 12 Conference is among the best for its programs and services. The conference also offers high quality Olympic sports and an opportunity to compete with some of the finest student-athletes in some of the finest athletic facilities in the country.”
Utah
President Taylor Randall
“I am pleased to announce that the University of Utah will join the Big 12 Conference at the beginning of the 2024-25 athletics season. I am grateful for all of the hard work my Pac-12 Conference colleagues invested in an effort to find solutions to keep the conference whole and provide a pathway forward to benefit all of our students, fans and communities. Ultimately, stronger forces within national collegiate athletics and the greater media landscape brought us to today’s decision. I am hopeful the relationships we have made over the past 12 years within the Pac-12 remain strong.
“To our students, student-athletes, faculty, staff, trustees, alumni, donors, community leaders, fans and entire state, thank you for your support and patience as we’ve navigated the complexity, frustration, and significance of conference realignment. I am very enthusiastic about the University of Utah’s future within the Big 12. Joining our Pac-12 and Association of American Universities peers from Colorado and Arizona is important to our mission and makes sense, as does, renewing our historic in-state rivalry with Brigham Young University. Being part of the Pac-12 has elevated the University of Utah and demonstrated our student-athletes can compete at the highest levels on and off the field, our move to the Big 12 will not change that position. I want to be clear that our focus and mission is to provide world-class education, research, service, and patient care. Joining the Big 12 accelerates our progress in all four areas. We are making this change because it helps us on our path to become a top 10 public university with unsurpassed societal impact. As an alum and a passionate fan of the U, I remain committed to our student-athletes, our coaches, and athletics staff to provide them opportunities to be successful and to drive our national reputation. This move will allow us to continue along an upwards trajectory. I want to thank the Big 12 Conference and Commissioner Brett Yormark for the invitation to join and I look forward to our future partnership.”
Athletic director Mark Harlan
“President Randall and I, along with the executive committee of the Board of Trustees, have been fully engaged in pursuing the best possible path for the University of Utah and our athletics programs to excel. After very thorough and comprehensive efforts to preserve our present conference affiliation in the aftermath of the announced departures of UCLA and USC last year, we have explored all options and have determined that the right path for Utah to continue to build on its tremendous growth trajectory is to accept an invitation to join the Big 12 Conference.
“We are appreciative of Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark, his leadership team and the conference membership for extending this invitation. The enormous weight of a move of this magnitude is not lost on any of us. We have great appreciation for our partnership with our fellow Pac-12 Conference members, and the relationships we share that transcend competition. This decision represents the best interests of the University of Utah, our student-athletes, coaches, staff, alumni and our tremendous fans, and we look forward to continuing our growth as a member of the Big 12 Conference beginning next year.”