I'll Be Back: Colorado Could Be Returning to Big 12 After Rocky Pac 12 Stint
May 30th, 2023 - 8:26
Dominoes seem to fall every time a school seeks greener pastures. The Ivy League is only Division I conference to remain intact since the late 1980s.
They didn't stay at "home," but did return there. Colorado appears on the verge of going full circle and returning to the Big 12 Conference as a member. If so, the Buffaloes would join the following institutions re-enlisting with a conference after leaving for various durations:
| School | DI Conference (Membership Tenure) | School Status During Interim |
|---|---|---|
| Abilene Christian | Southland (1969-73 and since 2014) | Lone Star |
| Boise State | Big West (1997-2001 and since 2014) | WAC (2002-11) and Mountain West (2012 and 2013) |
| Campbell | Big South (1986-94 and since 2012) | TAAC/Atlantic Sun (1995-2011) |
| Charlotte | Conference USA (1996-2005 and since 2014) | Atlantic 10 (2006-13) |
| Connecticut | Big East (1980-2013 and since 2021) | American Athletic (2014-20) |
| Creighton | Missouri Valley (1929-48 and 1977-2013) | Independent |
| Davidson | Southern (1937-88 and since 1993) | Big South (1991 and 1992) |
| Drake | Missouri Valley (1908-51 and since 1957) | Independent |
| Duquesne | Eastern 8/Atlantic 10 (since 1977 except for 1993) | Midwestern Collegiate (1993) |
| Georgia State | Sun Belt (1977-81 and since 2014) | TAAC/Atlantic Sun (1985-2005) and CAA (2006-13) |
| Harvard | EIBL/Ivy League (1902-09 and since 1934) | Independent |
| Lamar | Southland (1969-87, 1999-2021 and since 2023) | American South (1988-91), Sun Belt (1992-98) and WAC (2022) |
| Murray State | Ohio Valley (1949 through 2022 except for 1962 before leaving for Missouri Valley) | Independent |
| New Orleans | Sun Belt (1977-80 and 1992-2010) | Independent and American South (1988-91) |
| Northern Illinois | Mid-American (1976-86 and since 1998) | Mid-Continent (1991-94) and Midwestern Collegiate (1995-97) |
| Oregon | Pacific Coast (1916-59 and since 1965) | Independent |
| Oregon State | Pacific Coast (1916-59 and since 1965) | Independent |
| Pacific | WCAC/West Coast (1953-71 and since 2014) | PCAA/Big West (1972-2013) |
| Penn State | Eastern 8/Atlantic 10 (1977-79 and 1983-91) | Independent |
| Prairie View A&M | SWAC (since 1921 except for 1991) | Discontinued program one season |
| Texas-Arlington | Western Athletic (2013 and since 2023) | Southland (1969-2013 except for 1987) and Sun Belt (2014-22) |
| Virginia Military | Southern (1926-2003 and since 2015) | Big South (2004-14) |
| Washington State | Pacific Coast/Pac-12 (1917-59 and since 1964) | Independent |