Welcome to the Big 12 Family
The Big 12 conference has officially brought four formidable sports schools into their fold. Making the grand announcement in July, Brigham Young University, the University of Cincinnati, the University of Houston, and the University of Central Florida have now become part of the prestigious Big 12 lineup.
Not stopping at merely adding these universities to the roster, the Big 12 plans to celebrate their arrival by leveraging the grand stage of the forthcoming football season.
Big 12 Homecoming Tour
The Big 12 Homecoming, a tour set to kick-off this fall, will make its inaugural pit stops at the four new universities before subsequently visiting the remaining eight in future years. This tour aims at being a grand display of Big 12 camaraderie.
According to the conference, the Homecoming Tour is intended to become a conference-wide celebration, a festive showcase of the Big 12 brand. Visiting each university over a span of three days – typically a home football game week- the festivities are set to impress!
A Three Day Celebration
Each three-day itinerary is designed to pull out all the stops. Starting with a focus on women’s sports at the respective schools, day one is set to put female athletes front and center.
Day two seeks to highlight and reinforce the role of Big 12 schools in their local communities. The tour will visit a local elementary school in the vicinity for charity work.
Football, of course, holds the spotlight on the third day. Not simply a pregame environment, the finale is ready to captivate spectators with live entertainment, giveaways, and an exhilarating armed forces flyover stealing the show.
A Warm Welcome
Big 12 Chief Marketing Officer Tyrel Kirkham shares the unanimous excitement within the conference at the arrival of the new members. According to him, the Big 12 Homecoming initiative ensures the momentous occasion is celebrated in a manner befitting the occasion. Kirkham promises the events to introduce a new level of entertainment and excitement to Big 12 campuses.
Season Itinerary
Opening the season in Houston on September 14-16, the city’s team will face-off against TCU. This opening chapter is merely the beginning of an exhilarating season spree across the new Big XII territories. The itinerary for the debut season of these promising newcomers is as follows:
Houston
The new Big 12 agenda debuts with Houston hosting TCU between September 14th and 16th.
Cincinnati
The calendar then shifts gears to Cincinnati, where the Beatcats will match skills against Oklahoma from September 21st to 23rd.
UCF
Subsequently, the season tour will convene in UCF, matching up against Baylor from September 28th to 30th.
BYU
The October headliner is BYU from October 19th to 21st when they play Texas Tech.
Big 12 Media Days
Before they face the heat on the pitch, these newcomers will feel their first taste of the Big 12 experience during the Big 12 Media Days. These annual conferences held at Arlington, Texas serve as the unofficial curtain-raiser for the season.
Transitions and Exits
The Big 12’s consolidation comes in parallel with the departure of their two marquee names – Oklahoma and Texas. The 2023 season will be the last for these two flagships in the Big 12, with their onward journey set to the SEC in the summer of 2024.
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