Texas Christian University accepted an invitation to join the Big 12 next year, a move that will realign TCU with longtime geographic rivals.

Chancellor Victor Boschini Jr. made the announcement Monday night in Fort Worth, Texas.

The move allows TCU to reunite with Baylor, Texas and Texas Tech — schools it played against in the Southwest Conference, which dissolved in 1996.

TCU athletic director Chris Del Conte said the university was thrilled with the opportunity to join the Big 12.

“Today is living proof that dreams do come true because of your efforts,” Del Conte said. “We worked so hard to be here.”

OU football coach Bob Stoops said TCU was a good addition to the Big 12.

“I think it’s great, you know? They’re an excellent program,” Stoops said. “You see what they’ve been doing throughout the year. I love the proximity for the fans. It’s another game that’s relatively close and in this region, so I think it’s great.”

The Horned Frogs were the last team to beat the Sooners at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. TCU beat OU, 17-10, on Sept. 3, 2005.

TCU, the defending Rose Bowl champion, was scheduled to move from the Mountain West Conference to the Big East next July. Instead, the Horned Frogs received an invitation from the Big 12, which lost Nebraska (Big Ten) and Colorado (Pac-12) over the summer and will lose Texas A&M to the Southeastern Conference next year.

Negotiations between TCU and the Big 12 did not take long, Del Conte said. The Big 12 board of directors voted last week to accept TCU as a full conference member.

“I think we were full-steam ahead in every intention [of joining the Big East] until conversations started to take place that gave us a glimmer of hope,” Del Conte said.

Del Conte said the university will pay an exit fee to the Big East but declined to confirm it was the $5 million in line with the league’s policy.

However, because TCU was not officially a Big East member, it is not required to give 27 months’ notice, per a rule the conference added last month.

“Although never having competed as a member of the Big East Conference, we are disappointed with the news that TCU is joining the Big 12,” Big East commissioner John Marinatto said in a statement.

Big 12 interim commissioner Chuck Neinas said league officials were excited to add TCU, noting the Horned Frogs bring athletic prestige to the conference.

“Not only do they bring an excellent football program to our conference, but numerous other programs that have been successful on a national level as well,” Neinas said.

TCU is undergoing a $143 million renovation to its football stadium, which will have more suites, a new press box and close to 50,000 seats when completed. School officials said they expect the stadium to be ready in time for the 2012 season opener.

Click here to read more about the addition of the Horned Frogs from TCU 360 associate editor Lexy Cruz.