The overtures toward Hawaiʻi were at least partially driven by the prospect that TCU would receive an invitation to the Big East Conference , which ultimately came on November 29 . Following TCU 's impending departure , several current Conference USA members in Texas , especially Houston alongside either UTEP or SMU , as well as WAC member Utah State , were seen as potential MWC targets . In the end , TCU never joined the Big East , instead accepting an invitation from the Big 12 Conference in October 2011 . The latter conference is home to several of the Horned Frogs ' former Southwest Conference rivals . The Big 12 added TCU in part because Texas A&M had announced a move to the Southeastern Conference . Additionally , TCU 's Fort Worth campus is also in the same metropolitan area as the Big 12 headquarters
Big East Conference
Big East Conference (1979–2013)
2010–13 Mountain West Conference realignment