The University of Arizona officially became a member of the Big 12 athletic conference on Friday, July 31, 2024, marking the end of its 45-year tenure in the Pac-12.
The move, alongside Colorado, Utah, and Arizona State, expands the Big 12 to 16 member institutions. Arizona Stadium has already undergone visible changes to reflect the conference shift, with crews replacing the Pac-12 logos on the football field with the Big 12 logo earlier this month. Similar updates are underway at McKale Memorial Center, with the Lute and Bobbi Olson Court receiving the new conference branding. According to Nate Wiechers, interim communication director for Arizona Athletics, logo replacements will continue throughout the year, completed before the start of each sport’s competition season.
The transition to the Big 12 represents a significant change for the University of Arizona, which previously competed in the Border Conference (founded 1931) and the Western Athletic Conference (joined 1962) before joining the Pac-10 in 1978 – later becoming the Pac-12 in 2011 with the addition of Colorado and Utah. Arizona is one of five land-grant universities now within the Big 12, joining Iowa State University and Kansas, among others.
Arizona Athletics is preparing for its inaugural Big 12 season with merchandise available for purchase beginning August 26, coinciding with the first day of the fall semester. The newly remodeled Campus Store will offer a range of items, including T-shirts and collectibles featuring the logos and mascots of all Big 12 universities. “We’re trying to identify unique items because we feel that’s important,” said Peter Neff, the store’s executive director. “It’s a great change for Arizona Athletics, and we desire 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.”
The Arizona Wildcats men’s basketball team concluded the 2023-24 season with a 24-13 record, reaching the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in their final year in the Pac-12. The team is currently projected as a potential No. 1 seed in upcoming NCAA Tournament media mock brackets.
