Randy’s Longhorns Blog | Welcome TCU to the Big 12

Randy’s Longhorns Blog
TCU | Joining Big 12 in 2012-13
By Randy Maltz – Founder/Editor at Silver and Blue Report & Hook’em Report

TCU will accept an invitation today to join the Big 12 Conference for the school year 2012-13.  College football industry sources stated, “it’s a done deal.”  The addition of TCU to the Big 12 replaces Texas A&M, which is headed to the SEC. The Big 12 still must determine if it wants 10 or 12 members. Tuesday, Missouri gave chancellor Brady Deaton the authority to pursue its options about joining another conference.

TCU was scheduled to join the Big East on July 1, 2012, but instead will join the Big 12.  Since they are leaving the Big East prior to officially becoming a member, the TCU Horned Frogs will have to pay a $5 million exit fee but is not bound by the Big East’s 27-month requirement for notification.

If Missouri leaves for the SEC — and the Birmingham News reported Missouri currently does not have unanimous support — the Big 12 likely would add three more schools to get to 12. The leading candidates would be Louisville, BYU, West Virginia and Cincinnati.  Without TCU, Pittsburgh and Syracuse, the remaining Big East football members are Louisville, West Virginia, Cincinnati, UConn, Rutgers and South Florida.