UCF accepts invitation to join Big 12 Conference

ORLANDO, FLA. — The University of Central Florida board of trustees voted to accept an invitation to join the Big 12 Conference on Friday.

The Big 12 Conference board of directors voted Friday morning to extend membership invitations to UCF, Brigham Young University, the University of Cincinnati, and the University of Houston.

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The Knights were most recently a member of the American Athletic Conference.

The Big 12 is a power five conference in football, which means playing more recognized brands than they face the American Athletic Conference getting millions of dollars more in TV money and potentially better access to the college football playoffs.

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UCF will actually be the youngest football program in the power five, with the team having first hit the field in 1979.

The money will provide a big boost to the athletic department as a whole and help fund its non-revenue sports.

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Officials said the invitation came after a vote of a supermajority of Big 12 directors, and unanimous approval by the eight continuing members.

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