Fertitta: UH getting into Big 12 'not a dead issue'

Tilman Fertitta, who chairs UH's board of regents, wants to see the Cougars in the Big 12. Tilman Fertitta, who chairs UH's board of regents, wants to see the Cougars in the Big 12. Photo: Courtesy Of Landry's Photo: Courtesy Of Landry's Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Fertitta: UH getting into Big 12 'not a dead issue' 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

The University of Houston has a top-25 ranked football team for the first time in four years and Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta still wants to see the Cougars in the Big 12.

"We belong playing Texas and TCU and Baylor," Fertitta, who chairs UH's board of regents, told the Chronicle's editorial board Tuesday afternoon. "That's who we belong playing."

Fertitta in February said the Legislature should pressure the presidents of the Big 12 schools to "step up" and let the University of Houston into the conference.

The Big 12 is currently made up of just 10 universities, including the University of Texas at Austin, Texas Tech, Baylor and Texas Christian University. The commissioner of the conference said in December it's unlikely for that to change.

But that hasn't kept Fertitta from pushing for it. On Tuesday, he said that "things are happening out there behind the scenes."

"It's not a dead issue," he said.

How confident is the billionaire restaurateur, amusement park operator and gambling mogul?

"I think there's a better than 50 percent chance in the next 24 to 36 months that the University of Houston is in a major conference," Fertitta said.