Just In: 12 Key Stats and Facts Behind Arizona’s Big 12 Move

On Friday, the University of Arizona will officially join the Big 12 athletic conference, concluding a 45-year stint in the Pac-12. The move signifies a major shift in the landscape of college athletics for the Wildcats, as they join a revamped conference alongside Colorado, Utah, and Arizona State, expanding the Big 12 to 16 teams. This transition not only changes the competitive environment for Arizona’s sports teams but also introduces a host of new traditions, rivalries, and destinations for fans and athletes alike.

Changes on Campus

The switch to the Big 12 brings a significant visual transformation to the University of Arizona’s facilities. In preparation for the new conference affiliation, the university has been updating its campus symbols and branding. Recently, U of A Facilities Management teams removed the Pac-12 logos from Arizona Stadium’s football field and replaced them with the Big 12 emblem. Similarly, the Lute and Bobbi Olson Court at McKale Memorial Center now proudly displays the Big 12 logo, marking the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter.

Nate Wiechers, the interim communication director for Arizona Athletics, emphasized the importance of these changes, stating, “The goal is to have all of the logos changed out before the semester starts at all the facilities used by our fall sports.” The replacement of logos across various athletic venues will continue throughout the year as teams begin their respective seasons.

The campus store, newly renamed from the University of Arizona BookStore to the Campus Store, will also play a role in celebrating this transition. Starting August 26, the first day of the fall semester, fans will have the opportunity to purchase a range of Big 12-themed merchandise. The store will offer T-shirts and memorabilia featuring the mascots and logos of all Big 12 universities, providing a tangible way for fans to commemorate the Wildcats’ new conference affiliation. Peter Neff, the store’s executive director, noted, “We’re trying to find unique items because we feel that’s important. It’s a great change for Arizona Athletics, and we want to be a good partner and show our support of our teams. We hope it helps our fans feel proud of being in the Big 12.”

A New Era of Athletics

The move to the Big 12 represents more than just a change in conference affiliation; it symbolizes a broader evolution in college athletics. Desiree Reed-Francois, the university’s director of athletics, has described this period of transition as the most significant in her 25-year career in college sports. She remarked, “Any time of transformation, there will be bumps in the road. But we’re seeking to be the modern model of intercollegiate athletics: focused on the student-athlete, values-based and unapologetically high-performance.”

As the University of Arizona embarks on this new journey, here are 12 interesting facts about the Big 12 that highlight what lies ahead for the Wildcats:

1. Limited Historical Matchups: The University of Arizona and Baylor University have faced each other only once in football history. The matchup occurred in the 1992 John Hancock Bowl, where Baylor emerged victorious with a score of 20-15. For the upcoming season, the Wildcats and Bears are not scheduled to meet in the regular conference games, maintaining their sparse historical encounters.
2. Former Rivals Reunited: Arizona will rekindle rivalries with two Big 12 schools with which it has a storied past. The Wildcats and Texas Tech were long-time adversaries in the Border Conference before Texas Tech joined the Southwest Conference in 1952. Similarly, Arizona and Brigham Young University (BYU) competed in the Western Athletic Conference from 1962 to 1978, renewing a historical rivalry.
3. New Football Competitors: The Big 12 introduces three schools that Arizona has never previously faced in football: the University of Central Florida, the University of Cincinnati, and West Virginia University. These new opponents will add fresh challenges and opportunities for the Wildcats as they navigate their new conference.
4. Conference Milestones: The Big 12 is the fourth conference affiliation for Arizona. The Wildcats were founding members of the Border Conference in 1931 and the Western Athletic Conference in 1962. They transitioned to the Pac-10 in 1978, which evolved into the Pac-12 with the addition of Colorado and Utah in 2011.
5. Land-Grant Universities: Arizona is among five land-grant universities in the Big 12. The other land-grant institutions are Iowa State University, Kansas State University, Oklahoma State University, and West Virginia University. These universities share a commitment to public service and research, which is a defining characteristic of land-grant institutions.
6. Men’s Basketball Achievements: With Arizona’s addition, the Big 12 boasts six schools with national championships in men’s basketball. The list includes Utah (1944), Oklahoma State (1945 and 1946), Kansas (1952, 1988, 2008, and 2022), Cincinnati (1961 and 1962), Arizona (1997), and Baylor (2021). This rich history underscores the conference’s competitive legacy in the sport.
7. Prestigious Marching Bands: Seven Big 12 marching bands have earned the Sudler Trophy, a prestigious award recognizing excellence in collegiate marching bands. These bands include The Pride of Arizona (U of A), the Sun Devil Marching Band (ASU), the Iowa State University Cyclone Marching Band, the Marching Jayhawks (University of Kansas), the Kansas State University Marching Band, the Goin’ Band from Raiderland (Texas Tech), and The Pride of West Virginia (West Virginia University).
8. Rivalry Games: The Big 12 is home to several notable rivalry games, each with its unique tradition and intensity. In addition to the Duel in the Desert (Arizona vs. Arizona State), the conference features rivalries such as Farmageddon (Iowa State vs. Kansas State), The Holy War (BYU vs. Utah), Rumble in the Rockies (Colorado vs. Utah), Sunflower Showdown (Kansas vs. Kansas State), Farm Bureau Insurance Shootout (Baylor vs. Texas Tech), The Revivalry (Baylor vs. TCU), and The West Texas Championship (TCU vs. Texas Tech).
9. Football Scheduling: In football, each team in the Big 12 will play nine regular-season conference games. Over the next four years, every team will face each of the other 15 teams both at home and on the road. This scheduling format ensures a comprehensive competitive experience for all schools and fosters a balanced and equitable conference structure.
10. Geographic Diversity: The 16 institutions in the Big 12 represent 10 different states. This geographical diversity adds to the conference’s dynamic nature and broadens the reach and influence of its member institutions.
11. Animal Mascots: Eleven Big 12 athletic programs feature animal-themed costumed mascots. These include four cats: Arizona Wildcats (Wilbur and Wilma), BYU Cougars (Cosmo), Houston Cougars (Shasta), and Kansas State Wildcats (Willie). There are also three bird mascots: Iowa State Cyclones (Cy the Cardinal), Kansas Jayhawks (Big Jay and Baby Jay), and Utah Utes (Swoop the red-tailed hawk). Other animal mascots include Baylor Bears (Bruiser and Marigold), Cincinnati Bearcats (The Bearcat), Colorado Buffaloes (Chip), and TCU Horned Frogs (SuperFrog). The remaining mascots represent different themes: a knight (University of Central Florida), a cowboy (Oklahoma State), a mountaineer (West Virginia University), a masked rider (Texas Tech), and a sun devil (ASU).
12. Football Records: Arizona will encounter 12 new conference opponents in football, each with a unique historical matchup record against the Wildcats. The records are as follows: Baylor (0-1), BYU (12-12-1), Central Florida (0-0), Cincinnati (0-0), Houston (1-3), Iowa State (4-1-1), Kansas (2-3-1), Kansas State (5-1-1), Oklahoma State (4-5), TCU (1-1), Texas Tech (5-26), and West Virginia (0-0). These records highlight the diverse competitive landscape Arizona will face in the Big 12.

As the University of Arizona transitions into the Big 12, the excitement and anticipation are palpable across campus and among fans. The move represents a fresh chapter for Arizona Athletics, marked by new rivalries, traditions, and opportunities for growth. The Wildcats will navigate a new conference landscape, face new challenges, and build new memories, all while continuing to uphold their storied athletic legacy.

The Big 12’s blend of historical success, competitive rivalries, and diverse institutions promises to offer an enriching experience for Arizona’s athletes and fans. As the Wildcats embark on this new journey, the entire U of A community looks forward to embracing the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead, celebrating each milestone along the way.