Fort Worth, Texas -- Texas Christian University announced Monday it is abandoning the Mountain West Conference for the Big East, effective July 1, 2012.
TCU Athletic Director Chris Del Conte told reporters it was a "great" decision for the 8,700-student private school.
"This a great time to be a Frog. Today, we're going to the Big East," he said.
TCU, particularly known for
its football program, which is 12-0 and ranked No. 3 in the nation, will be a Big East member in all sports.
The Big East will offer the Horned Frogs the possibility of earning an automatic bid to the BCS bowls. The Mountain West, where TCU has been a member since 2005, does not have an automatic bid.