Looking forward to UH joining the Big 12

By James Mueller

LastSeptember, UH’s longawaited dream of getting into a Power Five conference became a reality as the University announced it had accepted an invitation to join the Big 12.

This announcement came after a waiting period of 25 years as the University has been bouncing around conference after conference looking for a permanent home among one of college sports’ power conferences after getting the short end of the stick when realignment happened following the disbandment of the Southwest Conference.

In 2016, the Big 12 was rumored to be expanding, and UH was one of the schools that would be considered for one of the new spots. The expansion never happened, forcing the University to wait five more years before it finally secured its seat at the table among college athletic’s elite conferences.

New Big 12

Along with BYU, Cincinnati and UCF, UH will form the new Big 12 with Texas and Oklahoma set to leave for the SEC no later than 2025.

Once all four schools officially join, the Big 12 will consist of 12 teams again for the first time since 2011 when Colorado departed for the Pac-12 and Nebraska went to the Big Ten. By the summer of 2012, the Big 12 was down to eight members as Missouri and Texas A&M left for the SEC.

Whether the Big 12 will go to an eight or nine-game conference schedule in football as well as if it will divide the conference into two divisions once the four schools officially join is still being discussed.

Timeline

UH athletic director Chris Pezman and head football coach Dana Holgorsen were among those who attended the Big 12’s annual spring meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona, during the first week of May as UH prepares for its future in its new conference.

The University hopes to begin competing in the Big 12 in the fall of 2023, but there are still details that need to be ironed out for that to happen as UH is currently under contract to remain in the American Athletic Conference through 2024.

In order for the University to begin competing in the Big 12 in 2023, it must reach an agreement with the AAC on the exit fee which UH is required to pay if it is to leave the conference early. The Houston Chronicle reported that the initial exit fee the AAC asked for was $45 million, but that number is still being discussed.

While UH will continue to compete in the American Athletic Conference for the duration of the 2022-23 college athletic calendar, all signs point to the Cougars officially jumping ship to the Big 12 in the fall of 2023.

Yes, Scarlet Red is one of UH’s official colors, but there is still plenty of greenery across campus. In fact, after Hurricane Ike destroyed a third of the University’s trees in 2008, Facilities has actively worked on making our campus more lush than ever before. That’s why you’ll notice trees tagged with silver badges around campus. These “legacy trees” are specially monitored and taken care of in order to make campus beautiful.

The Justin Dart Jr. Student Accessibility Center or “Dart Center” welcomes you to the University of Houston!

Students with disabilities have many opportunities at the Dart Center to get involved and work with our staff to ensure your experience is an inclusive and equitable one. If you are a student who may have received accommodations in high school either a 504 or IEP plan, other universities/community colleges, have a physical disability, mental health, low vision or blind, Deaf/hard of hearing, and other health related challenges please feel free to reach out to us. Here are some of the exciting things the Dart Center can provide:

• Classroom accommodations

• Physical access

• Housing

• Event access

• Transition information

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For more information please visit our website, call, or email. We are excited to meet and work with you on your academic goals for success! Go Coogs!!!

The UH Law Center’s new building is set to open this fall, replacing the mostly underground complex that has sustained considerate storm damage.

New Coog Checklist

Prepare a transportation plan

Visit: uh.edu/parking

Upload a photo for your Cougar Card

Visit: uh.edu/cougarcard

Learn about the Cougar Textbook Access Program

Visit: uh.edu/af-auxiliary-services/ctap

Select a meal plan

Visit: dineoncampus.com/uh

Learn about campus mail services

Visit: uh.edu/cpd

We look forward to seeing you soon!