BYU wins in Hawaii Photo: BYU

PROVO, Utah — On Friday morning, the Big 12 Conference Board of Directors voted to extend membership invitations to Brigham Young University, the University of Central Florida, the University of Cincinnati, and the University of Houston.

BYU announced later in the morning that they are accepting the invitation.

OFFICIAL: Brigham Young University has accepted an invitation to join the Big 12 Conference. pic.twitter.com/0brQvmwSmA
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— BYU (@BYU) September 10, 2021

“This is a historic day for BYU Athletics — and for the entire university,” said BYU President Kevin Worthen. “Membership in the Big 12 gives us the opportunity to reinforce that commitment for student-athletes, allowing them to compete at the highest level both on and off the field.”

The Cougars will participate in every sport sponsored by the Big 12 except equestrian, rowing, and wrestling. The Big 12 sponsors every sport the Cougars compete in, except men’s volleyball. All sports will begin Big 12 schedules in the 2023-24 athletic season, except for men’s volleyball, which will continue to compete in the MPSF.

“We have said all along that the decisions about where we play, who we play and what conference we compete in are about the student-athletes first and how we can help them achieve excellence,” said BYU Director of Athletics Tom Holmoe. “Competing on the Big 12 stage provides more opportunities for our student-athletes. That’s what it’s all about.”

The Big 12 will honor BYU’s existing Sunday-play policy, allowing the Cougars to schedule around Sunday competition, much like it has with the West Coast Conference and other conferences previously.

BYU will still compete as a member of the WCC for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. BYU has been a member of the conference since 2011.

“College athletics is changing,” Holmoe said. “We’ve seen a rapid increase in the rate in which change is happening. We see it with conference realignment, we’ve seen it with the transfer portal, governance, and we’ve certainly seen it with NIL. We’re ready at BYU. Today’s news about joining the Big 12 is huge, but it’s not a resting point for us. This is just a new beginning with opportunities for bigger and better things to keep coming for BYU Athletics.”

The Cougars are set to play the University of Utah in Provo on Saturday, September 11. The game kicks off at 8:15 pm MT on ESPN.