Arizona State University will join the Big 12 Conference in 2024, a move that ASU’s president said was “necessary to remain competitive in top-tier Division I athletics.”

The University of Arizona and University of Utah also announced their move from the PAC-12 Conference on Friday.

"We are joining a premier athletic conference and bringing with us programs on the rise, our rich traditions and history and the metro Phoenix media market,” ASU President Michael Crow said in a release.

“We're in a good spot, and we are pleased to be with UArizona and Utah in the move."

Aligning with the University of Arizona and Utah was a key factor for ASU, the release said.

“The moves will help create a strong Arizona-Utah-Texas portion of the conference that will extend current rivalries, create new ones, and offer regional travel for student-athletes.”

The Big 12 Conference voted Friday to accept the schools as full members, effective Aug. 2, 2024.  

"The financial package is strong. The stability of the Big 12 is strong. We are ready, and the timing is right," said Ray Anderson, vice president for university athletics at ASU.

"The exposure and visibility as well as the resources from the conference will help us compete for championships. From enhancing our ability to recruit Texas for football to the Big 12's strength in basketball, good days are ahead."

Not so for the PAC-12.

“Today’s news is incredibly disappointing for student-athletes, fans, alumni and staff of the Pac-12 who cherish the over 100-year history, tradition and rivalries of the Conference of Champions,” the conference said in a statement.

“We remain focused on securing the best possible future for each of our member universities.”

The super-conference era has arrived in college sports, and it has swallowed the Pac-12 — the conference the produced Jackie Robinson, John Elway, Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Barry Bonds.

After the Big Ten paved the way Friday morning for Oregon and Washington to join, the Ducks were first to make it official with a unanimous vote by the school’s 13 trustees.

The Big Ten a short time later said its presidents’ council had voted to accept Oregon along with Washington and become an 18-team coast-to-coast conference, with four West Coast members.

The Big 12, meanwhile, had three more Pac-12 schools in its sights, a week after luring Colorado.

Arizona’s entry was approved Thursday night, but the Big 12’s long-brewing expansion plan was far from complete.

Once it became apparent on Friday that Oregon and Washington were leaving the Pac-12, Arizona State and Utah didn’t have much choice but to jump, too. The Big 12 presidents OK’d the Sun Devils and Utes, and soon after the conference made it official.

The Big 12 will be a 16-team conference, spanning from Florida to Arizona, in the fall of 2024.

“We are thrilled to welcome Arizona, Arizona State and Utah to the Big 12,” said Commissioner Brett Yormark.

 “The conference is gaining three premier institutions both academically and athletically, and the entire Big 12 looks forward to working alongside their presidents, athletic directors, student-athletes and administrators.”

The  Associated Press contributed to this story.

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