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AAC agrees to early exit plan for programs bound for Big 12
By Paul Harvey
Published:
The Big 12 is bound for an exciting campaign in 2023 after a trio of AAC programs has been granted early release to join the conference.
On Friday, AAC Commissioner Mike Aresco announced in a statement that Houston, Cincinnati and UCF will be allowed to leave the conference for the 2023 season. BYU is also set to join the conference for 2023.
According to Sam Khan Jr. with The Athletic, the departing programs will owe $18 million to the AAC over a course of 14 years.
Expected but now official: UCF, Cincinnati and Houston to depart AAC for Big 12 on July 1, 2023. pic.twitter.com/89d1xZdPOH
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) June 10, 2022
The buyout that Houston, Cincinnati and UCF will pay the AAC to depart early is $18 million, sources tell @Williams_Justin and me.
— Sam Khan Jr. (@skhanjr) June 10, 2022
As things currently stand, the Big 12 is looking at having 14 teams for a few seasons. Texas and Oklahoma are set to join the SEC, but that departure is currently set for the 2025 season, barring a similar deal between the SEC and the Big 12.
Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.