Cincinnati, Houston and UCF will officially join the Big 12 on July 1, 2023, after reaching an exit agreement with the American Athletic Conference, the league and schools announced on Friday.
After Oklahoma and Texas announced the SEC’s planned moves last year, the Big 12 added Cincinnati, Houston, UCF and BYU to its conference. The initial goal was to get all three U.S. schools to reach the Big 12 in time for the 2023-24 season. BYU is currently independent and will also join the conference next year.
Oklahoma and Texas will leave for the SEC in 2025, though that timeline could change. If they stay in the Big 12 until 2025, the Big 12 would be in 14 teams for two seasons.
According to the terms and conditions, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF will pay $ 18 million each to leave the United States. Schools had been paying an outlay of $ 10 million in four annual payments until 2024 and agreed to pay an additional $ 8 million, spread over 12 payments from 2025 to 2036, to come out in 2023.
“I would like to thank UCF President Alexander Cartwright, Cincinnati President Neville Pinto and Houston President Renu Khator, as well as Tulane President Michael Fitts, who is chairman of our board. , for its efforts and leadership in reaching a sensible strategy, “a resolution at the exit of the three schools from the conference,” said US Commissioner Mike Aresco in a statement. “The three institutions enjoyed great success under the banner of the American Athletic Conference, and all three were instrumental in bringing the conference to great heights, both sportingly and academically. We wish them all the best and look forward to competing in our conference in 2022. 23. “
Cincinnati won a spot in the college football playoffs last season, while UCF and Houston have won bids for six New Year’s bowls as part of the American.
The American adds UAB, FAU, Charlotte, North Texas, Rice and UT-San Antonio from Conference USA. Schools are expected to begin playing in the conference next year, and Charlotte and UTSA will announce on Friday that they will join the league on July 1, 2023.