While Taylor Swift is bringing her “Eras Tour” to Cincinnati. This weekend marks the end of an era for the University of Cincinnati. As they officially join the Big 12 Conference on Saturday.

UC’s move to the Big 12 brings an end to their decade in the American Athletic Conference. While it’s nice to see Cincinnati move to a higher-profile conference. There are a few things about the AAC that I will miss. Moreso, there will be things about UC being in the AAC that I will miss. Starting with the fact that the AAC isn’t a Power Five Conference.

The AAC features many schools that compare to UC. With many regional public universities like Memphis and East Carolina. Some of whom have been conference rivals with UC in other conferences. Such as Conference USA and the long-gone Metro Conference. All competing with schools like Temple and Navy.

Second, consider the efforts UC put in during their time in the AAC. To show that it’s worthy of being a power five school. Working hard to build up their Football and Men’s Basketball programs. Bringing both programs back into national prominence. Bringing any program into prominence is a welcome sight for UC fans and alumni. Regardless of the school’s conference affiliation. Though it certainly helped attract the Big 12.

Throughout the AAC years, Cincinnati’s Men’s Basketball team rose back into national prominence. Winning two AAC tournament titles and three regular season AAC titles. Helping the AAC get clout as a major basketball conference. A label the AAC will struggle to maintain without UC and Houston. Now the Cincinnati Bearcats are heading into a conference regarded as College Basketball’s best in recent years. 

Football is a major reason why the Bearcats are Big 12 bound. Cincinnati pulled off one of college football’s best stories recently. By becoming the first group of five school to advance to the College Football Playoff. Undermining the country club-like atmosphere that has encircled college football in the CFP era. Showing that one doesn’t need to be a power five school to contend for the CFP title.

As a result, the Power Five conferences have embarked on a pursuit to hang onto its clout. Beginning an utterly inane conference realignment period. With the primarily midwestern Big Ten Conference planning to add UCLA and USC. A move that puts the future of the Pac-12 Conference in doubt. Which is wild to fathom since the Pac-12 could be considered the West’s Ivy League. UC’s addition is the Big 12’s response to losing Texas and Oklahoma to the Southeastern Conference. Making UC a beneficiary of the Power Five’s desperate moves.

The pursuit of preserving the blue blood’s clout is being challenged in other ways. March Madness showcased a changing landscape for college basketball. With three non-blue blood programs advancing to this year’s men’s Final Four. Thanks to Name, Image and Likeness compensation and the transfer portal. Non-blue blood programs in various sports can find more ways; to build themselves into national title contenders.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling regarding affirmative action this week. Presents another potential challenge for the blue bloods. The ruling could particularly limit those school’s ability to have a diverse student body. Which could also limit their future alumni/booster base. While presenting an opportunity for growth at comparatively less selective/more affordable schools like UC. That opportunity could help UC have a bigger and even more diverse student body. Which could also boost UC’s future alumni and booster pool.

Meanwhile, Football provides another reason why I’ll miss UC being in the AAC. The AAC’s football championship format showcases college football at its most fun. With an on-campus venue instead of a neutral site. The atmosphere at Nippert Stadium for AAC title games was phenomenal to see. Especially for someone who can remember when Cincinnati Football games were one of the easiest tickets in town to get. Back in the 1990’s, if you got to Nippert around halftime. Ushers would often let fans in for free.

If anything, the Big 12 should consider having their football title game at a campus venue. Instead of the neutral AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. While AT&T Stadium is by all accounts a fine stadium. College Football’s biggest assets are its traditions and stadium atmosphere. Campus venues like Nippert Stadium for football conference title games highlight that.

UC can find a way to succeed as a Big 12 school. Cincinnati has shown that the conference shouldn’t matter. When it comes to contending for a national title, how a team fares in competitions matters more. Why college football has resisted that notion so far in the CFP era is bizarre to me. Cincinnati has shown that it can compete at a top level in a non-power five conference. Now, they’ll need to show that they can contend in the Big 12.