Big 12 Welcomes Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah, Expanding to 16 Programs

The Big 12 conference has successfully recruited Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah from the Pac-12, following Colorado’s departure. The move

Nik Richie

Aug 5, 2023

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The Big 12 conference has successfully recruited Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah from the Pac-12, following Colorado’s departure. The move is set to take effect ahead of the 2024-25 athletic season, making the Big 12 the largest conference in its history with 16 member programs.

The decision by Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah to join the Big 12 comes after Colorado made a similar move last week, dissatisfied with the Pac-12’s proposed media rights deal. The Big 12’s presidents unanimously approved the additions, and the schools’ respective Boards of Regents formalized the transitions.

Having called the Pac-12 home since 1978, both Arizona schools, along with Utah, will bring academic and athletic excellence to the Big 12. Commissioner Brett Yormark expressed excitement about the new additions, anticipating a fruitful collaboration with their presidents, athletic directors, student-athletes, and administrators.

While the Big 12 initially aimed to expand to 14 members after Texas and Oklahoma’s departure to the SEC, the inclusion of Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah will make it the third conference with 16 or more members, joining the Big Ten and SEC in 2024.

Meanwhile, the future of the Pac-12 remains uncertain. Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff’s media rights presentation to university administrators received a lukewarm response, leaving the conference with only four remaining members: California, Stanford, Oregon State, and Washington State. The Mountain West and AAC are expected to express interest in discussing membership with these programs, while Stanford, a private institution with a strong athletic department, could potentially explore independence as an option.