The latest in local college sports: The Cougars have been clawing their way toward Big 12 Conference membership ever since the Southwest Conference disbanded in 1996. Now big opportunities, and big challenges, await. Nearly three decades later, UH will switch from the American Athletic Conference to the Big 12 on Saturday, elevating its profile, boosting its revenue streams and rejoining a collection of in-state rivals it competed against in the former Southwest Conference. On the other hand, Rice is one of six schools going from CUSA to the AAC on July 1. Rice officials hope this is a big step in their seemingly endless trek to relevance when the university and its 14 teams officially join the American Athletic Conference. #RiceUniversity #UniversityofHouston #AAC #Big12 #HoustonAthletics #CollegeSports