Official: Colorado Re-Joining Big 12 Conference in 2024

The Big 12 released a statement regarding the University of Colorado joining the conference.

“They’re back,” the Big 12 said.

Colorado officials met over Zoom on Thursday to discuss the move. CU President Todd Saliman said, “we think it’s time to change conferences.” Pete Thamel of ESPN reported on Wednesday that the Big 12 officials already voted on Colorado joining the conference. The vote was unanimous.

For the first time since 2010, Colorado will be Big 12 affiliate. The Buffaloes will become the 13th team in the conference as Oklahoma and Texas depart for the SEC next summer.

With Colorado, who played in the Big 12 from 1996-2010 after being a founding member of the Big Eight from 1948-95, reportedly joining the Big 12, that brings their membership to 13. Since being in the Pac-12 Colorado football has struggled with just two winning seasons in that time frame. They’ve since hired former two-sport professional athlete Deion Sanders who has re-energized the program with a highly touted transfer class. They’ve gone from a 1-11 laughing stock to one of the most exciting teams in one off-season. It’s difficult to imagine that without Sanders, Colorado would be making this move.