The Big 12 enters its 27th year as one of the nation’s premier athletic conferences under the direction of new commissioner Brett Yormark. TCU and West Virginia joined the league on July 1, 2012 and became the Big 12’s first additions since inception, joining Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas Tech. Beginning on July 1, 2023, BYU, UCF, Cincinnati and Houston will become members. The Conference’s hard work ethic and strong values have translated to enormous success in its first 26 years. Since it began competition in 1996-97, the league can boast of 77 NCAA team titles and over 700 individual national championships. The Big 12 sponsors 23 sports. Men’s squads include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, indoor track & field, outdoor track & field, swimming & diving, tennis and wrestling. Women’s teams are fielded in basketball, cross country, equestrian, golf, gymnastics, indoor track & field, outdoor track & field, rowing, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis and volleyball. Big 12 institutions create a league that encompasses five states and nearly 38 million people. Nearly 5,000 student-athletes from across the United States and around the World compete annually in the sports sponsored by the Conference. The Conference currently conducts postseason championships for 22 of its 23 sports with the Football Championship Game returning in 2017 after a six-year absence. Each championship helps to determine teams and/or individuals that will represent the Conference in national postseason competition. The Conference office is headquartered in Irving, Texas.