Texas A&M TCU
In stunning news that has caught many a Horned Frog off guard, Texas A&M officially acquired Texas Christian University Tuesday. While details of the purchase, including the final price tag, have not been made public, initial reports indicate that TCU has officially become the 12th member of the Texas A&M University System effective immediately.
According to a joint press release, TCU will take on its new moniker, Texas A&M University-Fort Worth — branding that aligns with the state university system’s previous acquisitions — beginning in earnest for the fall 2025 semester.
As more information rolls out over the coming days, it’s safe to say the details will reveal a purchase that is unprecedented in scope and significance.
“To become part of a system steeped in unmatched tradition and excellence made the sale a no-brainer,” TCU president Daniel Pullin said in the joint press release. “With their clear vision and objectives, we have little doubt the Texas A&M University System will launch the newly christened TAMUFW into the upper echelons of great academic institutions.”
In joining the system of their old Southwest Conference foe, the soon-to-be-dubbed TAMUFW, which we're told will be pronounced tam-you-few, joins a large network of other Texas universities, including nearby Tarleton State and East Texas A&M in Commerce.
While many are understandably shocked by the purchase, this is not the first institution of higher education acquired by Texas A&M in the Fort Worth area. In 2013, Texas A&M purchased the Texas Wesleyan School of Law for $73 million. And, at over $17 billion, the College Station university possesses the largest endowment among all public universities in the United States.
Texas A&M's footprint in Fort Worth has since expanded with new downtown research facilities expected to be part of the greater Texas A&M University-Fort Worth.
“Fort Worth and Texas A&M became an important partnership in 2013,” Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker said in an email responding to this morning’s news. “This acquisition only enhances the city’s relationship with one of the state’s oldest and most celebrated institutions. For our city to become part of that great Aggie tradition is a true honor.”
While the traditional purple and white will remain the school’s primary colors, a decision has already been made to include Texas A&M’s maroon as an accent color for all athletic teams moving forward. “There needs to be cohesion between both schools,” Texas A&M athletic director Trev Alberts says in a statement. “We want people to know that this incredible institution is now party of the Aggie family.”
Alberts went on to say that discussions about replacing the horned frog as TAMUFW’s official mascot will inevitably take place. Yet, there remains no timetable on when this change might occur.
Despite the shocking news, it appears most current students have reacted positively and appear pleased with the acquisition. According to reports, some students have already begun referring to the campus as College Station Two, and a petition is already making the rounds to rename the Amon G. Carter Stadium the “Johnny Manziel Stadium,” after the Heisman-winning quarterback who once briefly lived in Dallas.
“Bringing this wonderful school into the Aggie family was truly a long time coming,” Texas A&M University president Mark A. Welsh III said in the statement. “While TCU was always a friend, I’m now happy to call TAMUFW our little brother.”
For those who made it this far and have yet to connect the dots, Happy April Fools' Day!
