While Cincinnati Football is set to benefit the most. From the University of Cincinnati’s pending move to the Big 12 Conference. This move is set to benefit both UC and the Big 12 in other ways.

This move gives Cincinnati Football a more realistic chance to qualify for the College Football Playoff. Simply by joining a Power Five Conference. Financially, moving into the power five gives UC two things. More prestige and more revenue for it’s athletic programs. It might even help Cincinnati Football in the playoff chase this year. Along with the playoff chase in UC’s last years in the American Athletic Conference.

Another winner in this move is Cincinnati’s men’s and women’s basketball teams. The Big 12 is set to beef up an already jacked basketball conference. Through adding Cincinnati Basketball and Houston Basketball. Whose men’s teams that have been perennial AAC title contenders recently. They will join a conference featuring defending men’s national champions Baylor Basketball.

Baylor’s women’s team has been a consistent powerhouse in recent years. Cincinnati’s women’s team is taking a step up conference-wise. Joining a conference without a program that singularly dominates the conference. Like Connecticut Basketball did in the AAC; until they moved to the Big East Conference last year. Giving Cincinnati room to grow the program with higher-profile conference opponents.

Back to men’s basketball, Texas Tech advanced to the 2019 National Championship Game. There’s Kansas Basketball, one of the sports blue blood programs. Once coached by the inventor of basketball Dr. James Naismith himself. Then there’s the reunion with former Cincinnati men’s basketball coach Bob Huggins. With UC giving West Virginia University a geographically closer conference rival. Ironically, the Big 12 will soon feature three programs Huggins has coached at some point. Cincinnati, West Virginia and the relatively consistent Kansas State Basketball.

Giving West Virginia a closer conference opponent isn’t the only geographic benefit for the conference. The Big 12 is set to benefit from the media markets and regions they’re entering. Through adding Houston, the conference will have a deeper presence in America’s fourth-largest city. While reviving some former Southwest Conference rivalries in the process. Central Florida brings the Big 12 further into the south. While also expanding into one of America’s fastest growing and most populous states. That applies not only to Florida but Texas as well.

Cincinnati brings the conference deeper into the Midwest. While also giving the conference a direct presence in a major league midwestern city. Something Iowa State, Kansas and Kansas State don’t bring to the metaphorical table. Brigham Young takes the Big 12 further west. While adding a historically prominent football program and and consistent March Madness contender.

In football and basketball, Cincinnati and Brigham Young add the most among expansion schools. Their respective football and basketball programs have been nationally relevant recently. Houston on the other hand has been shaky recently in football. While Central Florida is shaky in men’s basketball. Even when considering the years when Tacko Fall was their star player.

Other sports will benefit through more revenue and a competition upgrade. While the prestige of the conferences don’t weigh as heavily in other sports beyond football. Cincinnati will soon join a stronger baseball conference. Which will soon to be without Texas; one of the two exiting Big 12 schools that launched this realignment. Texas and Oklahoma are both doing Cincinnati a favor by leaving the conference.

Texas will be in for a wake up call in the Southeastern Conference in various sports. They’re heading out of a respectable conference that they’re baseball team often dominated. Into a baseball conference stacked with juggernauts. Such as Vanderbilt, Georgia, Florida and Jeff Brantley’s alma mater Mississippi State. Oklahoma’s exit gives Cincinnati a better chance to do well in the Big 12 football-wise. Without perennial conference title contender Oklahoma Football. While still facing hefty programs like Oklahoma State and Iowa State Football.