KTUL.com - Tulsa's Channel 8 - News, Weather & SportsTCU Joins the Big 12

As expected The Big 12 has replaced the Texas A&M Aggies with the TCU Horned Frogs.

Texas Christian held a press conference at 6pm Monday evening to accepted the Big 12's invitation to join the league.

It is TCU's fifth conference move since the Southwest Conference folded in 1996.

The Horned Frogs were supposed to start play in the Big East Conference next year.

But they will pay a five million dollar exit fee and begin Big 12 play in 2012.

Athletic director Chris Del Conte says the opportunity is "living proof that dreams do come true."

Oklahoma Head Football Coach Bob Stoops had this to say about TCU joining the Big 12, "I think it's great. They're an excellent program. You see what they've been doing throughout the years," Stoops said. "I love the proximity for all the fans. Ours, theirs, everyone in this region. Fans and player families, it's another game that's relatively close and in this region. I think it's great, I think it's going to work out well."