College football conferences will see a shake up in 2012. Twelve teams in total will shift into new conferences this year, including four teams just from Texas.
Here is a look at who they are and where they are going:
1. West Virginia, Big 12: Despite a lawsuit by the Big East, West Virginia will debut in Big 12 football this year. Oliver Luck, WVU AD, didn't mince words about leaving the Big East for bigger and better things. CBS quoted Luck's comments: "I can't see any of the big bowls wanting Big East teams."
2. Missouri, SEC: Missouri will depart the Big 12 and head to the SEC. This could be a scary jump for Missouri, as it enters the conference that has won every BCS title since 2006.
3. TCU, Big 12: The Horned Frogs ditched the Mountain West and headed to the Big 12. The Big 12's automatic qualifier for the BCS may have been too tempting for TCU to pass up.
4. Texas A&M, SEC:
Like Missouri, the Aggies will be leaving the Big 12 and entering the rough waters of the SEC.5. Texas State, WAC: Texas State is only going to have a cup of coffee with the WAC. Texas State will celebrate its inaugural season with the WAC by preparing for its inaugural season with the Sun Belt.
6. UTSA, WAC: Yet another conference-jumping Texas team. The Roadrunners will race out of the Southland Conference and in to the open arms of the WAC.
7. Nevada, Mountain West: After 12 years with the WAC, Wolf Pack football will be moving to the Mountain West Conference.
8. Temple, Big East: This may be the most interesting. The Big East kicked Temple out in 2004 for performance issues. Temple joined the MAC, but the Big East invited Temple back home. Temple accepted. Sounds like a dime-store romance novel, if you ask me.
9. Fresno State, Mountain West: Fresno State will be following Nevada out of the WAC and into the Mountain West Conference.
10. Hawaii, Mountain West:
Not be outdone by Fresno State and Nevada, Hawaii football decided to ditch the WAC for the Mountain West as well.11. South Alabama, Sun Belt: The South Alabama Jaguars are still new to college football. They created their program in 2009, and will be stepping up with big boys as they join the Sun Belt Conference this year.
12. Massachusetts, MAC: Another team stepping up to the NCAA FBS is UMass. It will begin play in the MAC in 2012.
Christopher Beheler is a Georgia native and lifelong Georgia Bulldogs fan.
