Texas Gov. Rick Perry says his alma mater, Texas A&M, and the SEC are discussing the Aggies possible future membership in the league, according to a report in the Dallas Morning News.
“I’ll be real honest with you. I just read about it the same time as y’all did. … As far as I know, conversations are being had. That’s frankly all I know. I just refer you to the university and the decision makers over there.”
A source close to the talks told GigEm247 that a select group of high ranking A&M officials, possibly including members of the Board of Regents, would be meeting with A&M’s business and legal representatives in the coming days in College Station in an effort to try to finalize the deal as quickly as possible..
It sounds like Texas A&M representatives are doing everything in their power to finalize this deal in time for the Regents to vote on a proposal on the 22nd of August.
Texas A&M leaders have expressed concern about the Longhorn Network’s effect on the longterm stability of the Big 12, and rumors of renewed talks between the university and the conference have persisted in recent weeks.
The SEC adding Texas A&M would create a major shift in the college football landscape. If A&M joins, there is no way the SEC would stay at 13 teams, the bigger question would it go to 14 or 16 teams. Here are some programs the SEC would consider:
Big 12 teams: Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Missouri – Oklahoma and OK State would make a bigger competitive splash than Texas A&M, Kansas would be interesting if they factor how the Jayhawks could improve the conference in basketball. Kansas however appears content with making sure in-state rival Kansas State and Iowa State remand together in a major conference. Missouri would give the SEC access to the St. Louis and Kansas City markets, although Missouri has entertained the thought of joining the Big 10.
ACC teams: Florida State, Georgia Tech, Clemson, Virginia Tech – On the surface if appears the perfect match; South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida would not welcome these schools. There recruiting “Ace up the Sleeve” is pitching the fact they are SEC, Florida State would threaten Florida, Georgia, and their recent success recruiting the state of Alabama, the Crimson Tide and Auburn would have to question that move as well. Another ACC team to consider would be Virginia Tech, a traditional football power in the ACC and the SEC could bank extending itself in the DC/Maryland/Virginia market.
Conference USA teams: Houston, Louisville, Memphis – Extreme long shots but they have good size markets that the SEC could consider if they needed a 16th team. Louisville and Memphis would not be welcome by Kentucky, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt.
It will be an interesting month going to the NCAA season; the seismic realignment shift once considered a pipedream could become reality.