Big 12 era begins for Bearcats
Bearcats look to flourish in a Power 5 conference
The University of Cincinnati officially entered the Big 12 as a conference member on July 1, 2023.
Cincinnati Athletics hosted a Big 12 Bash at Rhinegeist Brewery to celebrate the university's entry into the Power Five conference with festivities beginning at noon Friday. Local radio personality Mo Egger began the formal program at 7 p.m.
The Big 12 announced on Sept. 10, 2021, that UC, along with Houston, UCF and BYU, would join the conference, kicking off an exciting fall that saw the Bearcats' football team become the first Group of Five program to reach the College Football Playoff.
The Big 12 boasts one of the biggest, most loyal fan bases in all of sports. Since their teams travel well in terms of fan support, the city, state and region will also benefit from the growing economic impact of Big 12 fans coming to Cincinnati each year. UC officials say the Power 5 membership will enable the university to re-energize its alumni and co-op connections in Big 12 states, too.
Become a Bearcat
Whether you’re a first-generation student or from a family of Bearcats, UC is proud to support you at every step along your journey. We want to make sure you succeed — and feel right at home.
Related Stories
Nominations now open for UC Alumni Association's top awards
June 1, 2026
Each year, the UC Alumni Association recognizes and celebrates the many contributions and overall excellence of UC alumni in countless fields of endeavor, throughout the world. Next year’s slate of honorees will be recognized during Alumni Week, April 12-17, 2027, at the UC Alumni Celebration. The UC Alumni Association is currently accepting nominations for its top awards through July 15.
UC hosts regional summit on the future of healthcare education
May 29, 2026
The University of Cincinnati College of Allied Health Sciences recently welcomed educators, clinicians and healthcare leaders from across the region for the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP) 2026 Regional Summit focused on preparing workforce-ready healthcare graduates.
CityBeat tackles indie horror game based on Crosley Tower
May 28, 2026
CityBeat highlighted an indie horror video game set in Crosley Tower, a 16-story classroom and lab building under demolition at the University of Cincinnati.