OU wrestling will remain in Big 12 as affiliate member when Sooners move to SEC in 2024
NORMAN — OU announced Thursday that its wrestling program will remain in the Big 12 as an affiliate member following the university's move to the SEC on July 1, 2024.
The decision was reached via a vote by the Big 12's governance group, which consists of university presidents and athletics directors.
OU's wrestling program has won seven national championships to go along with 24 conference championships, including three in the Big 12 era (1996-present). It has also produced 35 individual conference champions and eight individual national champs since the league was established.
"We're thrilled to remain in the Big 12 Conference as an affiliate member starting in the 2024-25 season," OU head coach Roger Kish said. "We have a tremendous amount of respect for the Big 12 and are enthusiastic about the opportunity to continue contributing to the conference's wrestling success on a national scale."
Starting July 1, the Big 12's wrestling membership will include legacy programs OU, OSU, Iowa State and West Virginia.
It'll also include affiliate programs Air Force, Northern Colorado, North Dakota State, Northern Iowa, South Dakota State, Utah Valley and Wyoming. Finally, it'll add conference newcomer Arizona State.
OU is set to host its Crimson and Cream intrasquad dual at 7 p.m. Wednesday inside McCasland Field House. It'll then begin its regular season with a road dual against Central Michigan on Nov. 9.
"This opportunity affords our program and student-athletes the chance to compete against top-tier wrestling programs every week as we strive to compete for championships at Oklahoma," Kish said.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU wrestling: Sooners will remain in Big 12 as affiliate member
