Big 12 Conference

The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference that is part of the NCAA's Division I. It started when the Big 8 Conference joined together with four colleges from Texas that had been part of the Southwest Conference, and the first games in the Big 12 Conference were played in 1996.

 Members 
 School  Location  Founded  Type  Nickname  JoinedBig 12   Tucson, Arizona  1885  Public  Wildcats  2024 Arizona State University  Tempe, Arizona  1885  Public  Sun Devils  2024 Baylor University  Waco, Texas  1845  Private  Bears  1996 Brigham Young University (BYU)  Provo, Utah  1875  Private  Cougars  2023   Cincinnati, Ohio  1819  Public  Bearcats  2023   Boulder, Colorado  1876  Public  Buffaloes  1996; 2024   Houston, Texas  1927  Public  Cougars  2023 Iowa State University  Ames, Iowa  1858  Public  Cyclones  1996   Lawrence, Kansas  1865  Public  Jayhawks  1996 Kansas State University  Manhattan, Kansas  1863  Public  Wildcats  1996 Oklahoma State University–Stillwater  Stillwater, Oklahoma  1890  Public  Cowboys &Cowgirls  1996   Fort Worth, Texas  1873  Private  Horned Frogs  2012 Texas Tech University  Lubbock, Texas  1923  Public  Red Raiders & Lady Raiders  1996  (UCF)  Orlando, Florida  1963  Public  Knights  2023   Salt Lake City, Utah  1850  Public  Utes  2024 West Virginia University  Morgantown, West Virginia  1867  Public  Mountaineers  2012

 Associate members 
The Big 12 also has 20 "associate members", all of which play one sport in the conference.
 School  Location  Founded  Type  Nickname  JoinedBig 12  Big 12 Sport  Main Conference   USAF Academy, Colorado  1954  Federal  Falcons  2015    Mountain West Boise State University  Boise, Idaho  1932  Public  Broncos  2025  Beach volleyball  Mountain West California Baptist University  Riverside, California  1950  Private  Lancers  2022    WAC   Denver, Colorado  1864  Private  Pioneers  2015    Summit League   Gainesville, Florida  1853  Public  Gators  2024    SEC Florida State University}}  Tallahassee, Florida  1851  Public  Seminoles  2025  Beach volleyball  ACC  (Fresno State)  Fresno, California  1911  Public  Bulldogs  2019  Equestrian  Mountain West   Columbia, Missouri  1839  Public  Tigers  2021    SEC North Dakota State University  Fargo, North Dakota  1890  Public  Bison  2015    Summit League   Greeley, Colorado  1889  Public  Bears  2015    Big Sky   Cedar Falls, Iowa  1876  Public  Panthers  2017    Missouri Valley   Norman, Oklahoma  1890  Public  Sooners  2024    SEC Old Dominion University  Norfolk, Virginia  1930  Public  Monarchs  2024    Sun Belt San Diego State University  San Diego, California  1897  Public  Aztecs  2024    Mountain West   Columbia, South Carolina  1801  Public  Gamecocks  2024  Beach volleyball  SEC South Dakota State University  Brookings, South Dakota  1881  Public  Jackrabbits  2015    Summit League   Tulsa, Oklahoma  1894  Private  Golden Hurricane  2024    American  (UC Davis)  Davis, California  1908  Public  Aggies  2024    Big West Utah Valley University  Orem, Utah  1941  Public  Wolverines  2015    WAC   Laramie, Wyoming  1886  Public  Cowboys  2015    Mountain West

 Former members 
Six schools have left the Big 12 since it was formed, but one has since returned to the conference. Missouri would return to the Big 12 in 2021 as a wrestling-only member, and Oklahoma remained a wrestling-only member after otherwise leaving for the Southeastern Conference. Colorado left in 2011 but returned in 2024.
 School  Location  Founded  Type  Nickname  JoinedBig 12  LeftBig 12  Current Conference   Columbia, Missouri  1839  Public  Tigers  1996  2012  SEC   Lincoln, Nebraska  1869  Public  Cornhuskers  1996  2011  Big Ten   Norman, Oklahoma  1890  Public  Sooners  1996  2024  SEC   Austin, Texas  1883  Public  Longhorns  1996  2024  SEC Texas A&M University  College Station, Texas  1876  Public  Aggies  1996  2012  SEC

References


Category:1996 establishments in the United States