AAC hopes to wrap up exit talks with UCF, Cincinnati and Houston by spring

[Coach Andy Mac]

The next step in UCF’s move to the Big 12 Conference could happen sometime this spring as the Knights discuss an exit strategy with the American Athletic Conference.

UCF, Cincinnati and Houston accepted bids to join the Big 12 last September but are contractually required to remain with the AAC through 2024. All indications are that the three schools would prefer to leave in 2023.

The clock’s ticking, but we’ve had ongoing discussions with the group and they’ve been very amicable,” AAC commissioner Mike Aresco told the Orlando Sentinel on Wednesday. “We have great relationships with not only [UCF athletics director] Terry [Mohajir] but [Houston AD] Chris Pezman and [Cincinnati AD] John Cunningham.

“I’m hoping that by spring, we’ll have something resolved.”

read more:  https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/ucf-knights/os-sp-ucf-aac-mike-aresco-talks-departure-big-12-timeline-20220127-5vi7pboyxfh5leozkbu7n3xanm-story.html

[Coach Andy Mac]

The American went to East and West divisions in 2015 but dropped them in 2020 when the departure of UConn left the conference with 11 members. Even when the AAC reconfigures to 14 teams, Aresco isn’t sure the league will return to divisional play.

 

“I’m not sure we’ll ever go back to divisions even when we get to 14 teams,” Aresco said. “We will look hard about continuing to go without divisions.”

Edited January 28, 2022 by Coach Andy Mac