TCU Accepts Invitation to Join Big 12

By Jordan Schraeder in Sports on October 11, 2011 at 12:04 pm | No Comments

It’s official.

Yesterday, TCU’s board of trustees unanimously voted to accept an invitation to join the Big 12 on July 1, 2012.

The move is being hailed as a ‘homecoming’ for the Horned Frogs, who have been a part of three different conferences—the Western Athletic, Conference USA, and Mountain West—since the Southwest Conference broke up in 1996.

Rejoining SWC rivals such as UT, Texas Tech, and Baylor, is a “dream come true,” according to TCU athletic director Chris Del Conte.

Geographically, the move to the Big 12 makes more sense for the private university than its previous commitment to the Big East—to whom they will pay $5 million dollars to leave, despite never actually competing in the conference.

Though it will be the smallest school in the Big 12, the Horned Frogs are a force to be reckoned with. The team went 13-0 in 2010 and pulled out a Rose Bowl victory to top off their perfect season. They currently have a 4-2 record.

With TCU replacing Texas A&M, who is leaving next year for the SEC, the Big 12 will now have a stable 10-school membership—if nothing else changes, that is.

Photo courtesy Flickr user Vironevaeh.

Tags: Big 12, Chris Del Conte, TCU, texas, UT