Officials at Kansas State University say the school would benefit from the addition of Texas Christian University to the Big 12.

Leaders of the conference voted Thursday to add TCU to the league as early as next season.

In a joint statement, Kansas State president Kirk Schulz and athletic director John Currie call the development a major step toward “long-term stability and prosperity for the Big 12 and very encouraging” for Kansas State, its fans, players and alumni.

TCU is located in Fort Worth. Schulz and Currie noted that the Dallas-Fort Worth area is a major market with the biggest number of Kansas State alumni outside the Sunflower State.