The Big 12 Conference expanded its roster on July 1st, officially adding four new universities to its lineup: Houston, Cincinnati, BYU, and UCF. This move comes nearly two years after Big 12 presidents voted to grow the conference.

Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "This is a momentous occasion for the Big 12. We're excited to welcome UCF, Cincinnati, Houston, and BYU. We've eagerly anticipated this day and look forward to visiting their campuses this fall."

With the addition of these four schools, the Big 12 will compete with 14 teams for the upcoming season. This expansion precedes the departure of Texas and Oklahoma for the SEC in 2024.

While Yormark has indicated a preference for maintaining a 14-team structure, he's open to the possibility of 12. He emphasized that the conference's primary focus is on finding institutions that align with its values and contribute to its overall strength, rather than simply expanding for the sake of numbers.

Three of the new additions – Cincinnati, UCF, and Houston – join from the American Athletic Conference, while BYU previously competed as an independent.

Chris Pezman, Vice President for Athletics at the University of Houston, highlighted the significance of this transition for the institution, calling it a culmination of 30 years of effort and a pivotal moment in the university's history. He expressed the university's excitement to contribute to the Big 12's legacy.