TCU was scheduled to join the Big East as an all-sports member beginning in 2012, but thanks to the instability created by Syracuse and Pittsburgh departing for the ACC, the Horned Frogs are now headed to a more natural location, the Big 12.
The Big 12 has quietly been seeking new members to replace Nebraska, Colorado and Texas A&M for the past year, but had kept its targets under wraps.
The move is a more natural fit for TCU than the Big East because of the geographical rivals that it will be joining. Rather than playing UConn, Louisville, and South Florida, the Frogs will be battling Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma St., and others.
For the Big East, this is another blow to its already fragile existence as TCU was expected to give the Big East Conference some much needed legitimacy on the football side after the Frogs won the Rose Bowl during an undefeated season in 2010.