Introduction to the Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a collegiate athletic conference that is made up of ten university members of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). Founded on February 25, 1994, the Big 12 Conference is one of the two collegiate athletic conferences to originate from the former Big 8 Conference. The Big 12 is considered one of the power conferences of college football, as it has produced some of the most successful teams in the sport, including the Oklahoma Sooners, Texas Longhorns, and Kansas State Wildcats.
History of the Big 12
The Big 12 was created in 1994 when the Big 8 Conference merged with four Texas-based collegiate athletic conferences: the Southwest Conference (SWC), the Texas-Missouri Valley Conference (TMVC), the Southwest Athletic Conference (SAC), and the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). The merger created one of the most powerful conferences in collegiate sports.
The Big 12 Conference is a member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). It is made up of ten university members, which compete in the conference’s two divisions: the South Division and the North Division. The conference also sponsors 19 other sports, including baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field, and volleyball.
The Four New Teams Joining the Big 12
The Big 12 Conference has recently announced that four new schools will be joining the conference. The four new teams joining the Big 12 are:
- University of Oklahoma
- University of Texas at El Paso
- University of Texas at San Antonio
- University of Houston
The Big 12 has recently announced that the four schools will become full members of the conference beginning in the 2021-2022 academic year.
The University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Established in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is the flagship institution of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education. The University of Oklahoma offers more than 200 programs of study across its 12 colleges and schools. With an enrollment of more than 31,000 students, the University of Oklahoma is the state’s largest university.
The University of Oklahoma is home to a successful athletic program. The school’s teams, known as the Sooners, compete in the Big 12 Conference and have won seven national championships in the sport of football. The Sooners have also won numerous individual championships, including two Heisman Trophies.
The University of Texas at El Paso
The University of Texas at El Paso, also known as UTEP, is a public research university located in El Paso, Texas. Established in 1914, UTEP is the second-oldest public university in the state of Texas. The school offers more than 80 undergraduate and graduate degree programs across its six colleges and schools. With an enrollment of more than 25,000 students, UTEP is the state’s second-largest university.
The University of Texas at El Paso is home to a successful athletic program. The school’s teams, known as the Miners, compete in the Conference USA and have won numerous conference championships. The Miners have also won two national championships in the sport of track and field.
The University of Texas at San Antonio
The University of Texas at San Antonio, also known as UTSA, is a public research university located in San Antonio, Texas. Established in 1969, UTSA is the youngest of the nine academic universities in the University of Texas System. The school offers more than 130 undergraduate and graduate degree programs across its eight colleges and schools. With an enrollment of more than 29,000 students, UTSA is the state’s fifth-largest university.
The University of Texas at San Antonio is home to a successful athletic program. The school’s teams, known as the Roadrunners, compete in the Conference USA and have won numerous conference championships. The Roadrunners have also won one national championship in the sport of golf.
The University of Houston
The University of Houston, commonly referred to as UH, is a public research university located in Houston, Texas. Established in 1927, UH is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. The school offers more than 270 undergraduate and graduate degree programs across its 14 colleges and schools. With an enrollment of more than 43,000 students, UH is the state’s third-largest university.
The University of Houston is home to a successful athletic program. The school’s teams, known as the Cougars, compete in the American Athletic Conference and have won numerous conference championships. The Cougars have also won three national championships in the sport of football.
The Impact of the Four New Teams on the Big 12 Conference
The addition of the four new teams to the Big 12 Conference is expected to have a positive impact on the conference. The new teams will bring a wealth of talent and resources to the conference and will help to strengthen the conference’s competitive landscape. Additionally, the new teams will help to expand the conference’s geographic footprint, which will help to increase the conference’s visibility and national appeal.
Increased Competition
The addition of the four new teams to the Big 12 is expected to bring increased competition to the conference. The new teams will bring a wealth of talent and resources to the conference and will help to strengthen the conference’s competitive landscape. The teams will also help to increase the level of competition in the conference as they will be competing with the other teams in the conference for conference titles and NCAA tournament berths.
Expanded Geographic Reach
The addition of the four new teams to the Big 12 will also help to expand the conference’s geographic footprint. The teams will help to increase the conference’s visibility and national appeal as they will be located in different parts of the country. Additionally, the new teams will help to increase the conference’s television viewership and will help to generate more revenue for the conference.
Increased Exposure
The addition of the four new teams to the Big 12 is expected to increase the exposure of the conference. The teams will bring increased media attention to the conference, which will help to increase the conference’s visibility and national appeal. Additionally, the teams will help to increase the conference’s television viewership and will help to generate more revenue for the conference.
Conclusion
The addition of the four new teams to the Big 12 Conference is expected to have a positive impact on the conference. The new teams will bring a wealth of talent and resources to the conference and will help to strengthen the competitive landscape of the conference. Additionally, the teams will help to expand the conference’s geographic footprint, which will help to increase the conference’s visibility and national appeal. The teams will also help to increase the conference’s television viewership and will help to generate more revenue for the conference.
Overall, the addition of the four new teams to the Big 12 Conference is expected to have a positive impact on the conference and will help to make the Big 12 an even more competitive and successful conference.