I'll Be Back: Colorado Buffaloes Return to Big 12 Following Rocky Pac 12 Stint
May 28th, 2024 - 9:34
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 went full circle and returned to the Big 12 Conference as a member. The Buffaloes joined 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) |
| Colorado | Big 12 (1997-2011 and since 2025) | Pac 12 (2012-24) |
| 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 |