Pezman: Entry in Big 12 Conference marks 'a historic day for the University of Houston'

University of Houston (UH) Vice President for Athletics Chris Pezman said the school marked “a historic day” on Saturday when the Cougars officially became members of the Big 12 Conference ahead of the 2023-2024 season. UH’s entry into the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I conference culminated what has been more than a year of work since university president Dr. Renu Khator, UH System Board of Regents Chairman Tilman Fertitta and Pezman accepted one of the four invitations for membership, according to a press release.

“As I look back over the years, there have been many pivotal moments and influential individuals responsible for paving the way to this moment,” Pezman said in the release. "Our institution, programs and student-athletes are eager to put UH's own unique stamp on the Big 12 Conference."

According to a report from Houston Daily, the addition of UH, BYU, Cincinnati and Central Florida creates a 14-team league, as well as fills huge voids that’ll be created by the Southeastern Conference (SEC)-bound Texas and Oklahoma next year. The publication reported that the university is expected to compete in all sports, and it joins the Big 12 just as its football and men's basketball teams experience a surge in success. UH’s release said that the Cougars also ended a decade-long association with the American Athletic Conference (AAC).

Houston FOX affiliate KRIV reported that the university’s first-ever Big 12 football game will be played against TCU at TDECU Stadium on Sept. 14. According to KRIV, as part of the Big 12, the Cougars reignite dormant rivalries they once had with Baylor, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas Tech, Texas and Oklahoma while it continues recent ones with Cincinnati and Central Florida. BYU, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State and West Virginia are primed to develop new rivalries with UH, the station reported.

Per a report from Houston ABC affiliate KTRK, UH sold 23,000 football season tickets to set a TDECU Stadium record while the athletics department saw its $150 million fundraising campaign to keep pace in the Big 12 bring in over $60 million.