TCU departs for the Big 12 Conference prior to officially joining the Big East. By
Sam Knehans
On Thursday, leaders of the Big 12 opened the door to add TCU, a move that would bring a rising national program to a league that has lost three member schools over the past 15 months.
The Big 12’s presidents and chancellors voted unanimously to extend an invitation to TCU. Missouri abstained on the advice of legal counsel.
The Horned Frogs had planned to depart the Mountain West for the Big East next year, but the Big East is scrambling after the recent departure of Syracuse and Pittsburgh to the ACC.
The decision to actively pursue TCU was the first aggressive move made by the Big 12 after the loss of Nebraska, Colorado and Texas A&M. The conference is still waiting to see if Missouri will remain after its curators gave its chancellor the authority to explore options Tuesday.
The Big 12 said interim Commissioner Chuck Neinas would begin talks with TCU immediately. Although the arrangement has not yet been formalized, Texas athletic directed DeLoss Dodds issued a statement welcoming TCU to the conference, indicating that the move is all but done.
“We’re proud that TCU has been invited to join the Big 12,” Dodds said via the statement. “Their commitment to academics and success on the field make them an excellent fit. With a solid budget and strong financial support, they have been proactive at improving facilities. Their close proximity to all conference institutions makes for a comfortable travel situation.”
The Big 12 seems a more geographically friendly move for TCU though it is unclear what this move means for the future of the Big East.
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