Tucson Standard

On Friday, the University of Arizona will officially become a member of the Big 12 athletic conference after 45 years in the Pac-12. The U of A makes the move alongside Colorado, Utah, and Arizona State, bringing the total number of conference members to 16. The transition means new competitors, fan bases, traditions, and destinations for Wildcats sports teams and their fans.

It also means a new look for some prominent parts of campus. Last week, U of A Facilities Management crews replaced the two shield-shaped Pac-12 logos on the football field at Arizona Stadium with the Big 12 logo. Additionally, a contractor finished painting the logo on Lute and Bobbi Olson Court at McKale Memorial Center this week.

"The goal is to have all of the logos changed out before the semester starts at all the facilities used by our fall sports," said Nate Wiechers, interim communication director for Arizona Athletics.

Logo replacement projects at other Arizona Athletics facilities will occur throughout the year before each sport begins competition.

Arizona fans will be able to shop for items commemorating U of A's inaugural Big 12 season beginning Aug. 26, the first day of the fall semester. The newly remodeled Campus Store will offer T-shirts and other collectibles featuring mascots and logos from each Big 12 university.

"We're trying to find unique items because we feel that's important," said Peter Neff, executive director of the store. "It's a great change for Arizona Athletics, and we want to be a good partner and show our support for our teams. We hope it helps our fans feel proud of being in the Big 12."

In June, Desiree Reed-Francois, director of athletics at U of A, told the Arizona Board of Regents that after working in college athletics for more than 25 years: "This is the most significant time of growth and change I've seen."

"Any time of transformation there will be bumps in the road," she said. "But we're seeking to be the modern model of intercollegiate athletics: focused on student-athletes, values-based and unapologetically high-performance."

As U of A prepares to join Big 12 here are twelve facts about its new conference:

1. The University of Arizona has played Baylor University once in football history; Baylor won 20-15 in their only meeting during the 1992 John Hancock Bowl.

2. The Wildcats have former rivals among their new conference members: Texas Tech (Border Conference) until 1952 and Brigham Young University (Western Athletic Conference) until 1978.

3. Three schools—University Central Florida (UCF), University Cincinnati (UC), West Virginia University—have never faced Arizona in football.

4. This marks U of A's fourth athletic conference membership since its founding: Border Conference (1931), Western Athletic Conference (1962), Pac-10/12 (1978).

5. UofA joins four other land-grant universities within Big 12: Iowa State University Kansas State University Oklahoma State University West Virginia University

6. Six men's basketball programs within Big Twelve have national titles: Utah (1944); Oklahoma State as Oklahoma A&M (1945 & '46); Kansas ('52,'88,'08,'22); Cincinnati ('61,'62); Arizona ('97); Baylor ('21).

7.Seven marching bands from this league were awarded Sudler Trophy by John Phillip Sousa Foundation recognizing musical excellence innovative routines including Pride Of AZ Sun Devil Marching Band ISU Cyclone Marching Band Marching Jayhawks KSU Marching Band Goin' Band From Raiderland Pride Of WVU

8.Eight named rivalries exist besides Duel In Desert Territorial Cup between AZ-ASU such as Farmageddon Holy War Rumble Rockies Sunflower Showdown Farm Bureau Insurance Shootout Revivalry West TX Championship

9.Football teams play nine regular-season games ensuring every team faces others home-away over next four years

10.Big Twelve represents ten states among sixteen schools

11.Eleven programs feature animal mascots like Wilbur-Wilma Wildcat Cosmo Cougar Shasta Cy Cardinal Swoop Red-Tailed Hawk Bruiser-Marigold Bear Chip Buffalo SuperFrog Horned Frog others include knight cowboy mountaineer masked rider sun devil

12.Arizona's record against twelve new opponents varies notably:

Baylor(0-1)

BYU(12-12-1)

Central FL(0-0)

Cincinnati(0-0)

Houston(1-3)

Iowa St.(4-1-1)

Kansas(2-3-1)

Kansas St.(5-1-1)

Oklahoma St.(4-5)

TCU(1-1)

Texas Tech(5–26)

West VA(0–0)