The Big 12 officially will add Cincinnati, Houston and UCF for the start of the ’23-24 academic year. The schools will pay the AAC an $18M buyout over 14 years. AAC Commissioner Mike Aresco said, “It’s a fair deal and it’s sensible. We’re satisfied and we think it’s a fair amount.” The move “opens the door for the AAC to add future members UAB, FAU, Charlotte, North Texas, Rice and UTSA to its membership next season” (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 6/10). The move comes a year earlier than was announced when the school were invited to the conference last September. BYU was "already set to join the conference in 2023" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 6/10).
Meanwhile, a source said that '24 "is still a more realistic target date" for Texas and Oklahoma to join the SEC early. Those schools currently are set to join the league starting with the '25-26 academic year (TWITTER.com, 6/10).
