The Big 12 Conference is a prominent collegiate athletic conference in the United States, distinguished as one of the NCAA's "Power Four" due to its highly successful FBS football programs and substantial earnings. Founded in February 1994, it began play in 1996 by merging all eight teams from the former Big Eight Conference with four from the Southwest Conference. Over the years, the conference has undergone significant realignment, including the departure of key members like Colorado and Nebraska in the early 2010s, and the addition of new institutions such as TCU and West Virginia. A massive recent expansion between 2023-2025 welcomed BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, UCF, Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah, even as long-standing members Texas and Oklahoma departed. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, the Big 12 is now composed of 16 full-member universities spread across 10 states, led by Commissioner Brett Yormark since August 1, 2022.