Big 12

From NCAA Wiki

Big 12

Established	1994
Classification	Division 1-A
National Titles	187
Commissioner	Dan Bebe
Members	12
Sports Fielded	21 (10 Mens, 11 Womens)
States	7 (Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas)
Headquarters	Dallas, Texas
Website	Big12Sports.com

The Big 12 Conference was formed in 1994 adding four schools from the former Southwest Conference to the eight Big 8 schools.

[edit] History

The base conference of the Big 12, the Big 6, was formed as the in 1928 by six teams previously members of the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MVIAA). Colorado and Oklahoma State joined in 1948 and 1960 respectively making it the Big 8.

[edit] Realignment

In 1992 Arkansas moved from the Southwest Conference to the SEC. This sent rumors flying of Big 8 teams possibly changing their conference alignment. Oklahoma was rumored to be looking into moving to the Southwest Conference, filling the giant void left by Arkansas (who left for the SEC in 1992). Oklahoma was a key part of the Big 8 and their absence would have been detrimental to the other seven Big 8 schools. This started up the ever present rumor of Missouri to the Big Ten. The Big 8 staff needed to act to ensure it's future. With the absence of Arkansas the Southwest Conference was just a shell of its former self, so it was mutually beneficial for all all teams involved for four of the Southwest Conference teams to join the Big 8, making it the Big 12. The Big 12 started competition after the 1995-96 season.