Cincinnati, Houston, UCF reach agreement to leave AAC, join Big 12 in 2023

It’s official. Cincinnati, Houston and UCF are joining the Big 12 in 2023.

The American Athletic Conference announced the three schools would all be leaving the league and joining the Big 12 on July 1, 2023. In September, the three teams — along with BYU — all received invitations to join the Big 12 as the conference realignment dominoes began to fall. Oklahoma and Texas are preparing to leave the Big 12 for the SEC in the future, and now it appears the two teams will be in the league with the three new additions.

“I would like to thank UCF President Alexander Cartwright, Cincinnati President Neville Pinto and Houston President Renu Khator – as well as Tulane President Michael Fitts, who is chair of our Board of Directors – for their efforts and leadership to arrive at a sensible resolution to the three schools’ departure from the conference” AAC commissioner Mike Aresco said in a statement.

“All three institutions enjoyed tremendous success under the American Athletic Conference banner, and all three were instrumental in taking the conference to great heights, both athletically and academically. We wish them the best and look forward to having them compete in our conference in 2022-23.”

Reports emerged last month about the three schools’ plan to leave the AAC early, and The Action Network’s Brett McMurphy said a $17-$20 million buyout was in the works. Now, it’s official, and the teams will be joining the Big 12 after this coming academic year. After the announcement, The Athletic’s Sam Khan reported the exit fee for the five schools is $18 million per school.

To replace the departing schools, six Conference USA programs are getting ready to join the AAC. Charlotte announced it’s joining the league July 1, 2023, while the other schools — Florida Atlantic, North Texas, Rice, UAB and UTSA — are also expected to join the conference that day, according to McMurphy.