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Texas Christian University has accepted the Big 12's offer to join the conference. The university's Board of Trustees accepted the invitation in a vote Monday.
TCU, the defending Rose Bowl champion in football, agreed earlier this year to leave the Mountain West Conference after this season for the Big East, which has an automatic BCS berth.
The Horned Frogs will have to pay a multi-million dollar exit fee to the Big East. However, because it has not officially joined the conference, it will begin Big 12 play next year.
The move also allows TCU to rekindle rivalries it had in the Southwest Conference, which disbanded in 1996. Athletic director Chris Del Conte says the opportunity is "living proof that dreams do come true."
The Big 12 lost Nebraska (Big Ten) and Colorado (Pac-12) over the summer and will lose Texas A&M to the SEC next year. Missouri is also exploring options to leave the Big 12.
TCU is located in Fort Worth, Texas. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, swimming & diving, tennis, indoor and outdoor track & field. Women's sports are basketball, cross country, equestrian, golf, rifle, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, indoor and outdoor track & field and volleyball.
TCU participates in every sport sponsored by the Big 12 Conference, except gymnastics, rowing, softball and wrestling. The Big 12 sponsors every sport the Horned Frogs participate in except rifle.
The school officially becomes part of the Big 12 on July 1, 2012.