It’s finally official. The SEC has extended offers to Big 12 powers Oklahoma and Texas to join the conference in 2025. If you been following this story and pay attention to the college football landscape it makes sense why they would want to leave. The Big 12 is the most financially weak conference and with competition better in the SEC it was a no brainer for them.
SEC presidents voted on Thursday to bring Texas and Oklahoma into the conference.
This story happened very quickly with something coming out every other day.
The vote was unanimous despite protest from Texas A&M. Texas A&M System Board of Regents said they would direct university president M. Katherine Banks to vote in favor of adding the Longhorns and Sooners, the Aggies’ former Big 12 rivals.
“Today’s unanimous vote is both a testament to the SEC’s longstanding spirit of unity and mutual cooperation, as well as a recognition of the outstanding legacies of academic and athletic excellence established by the Universities of Oklahoma and Texas,” SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement.
“I greatly appreciate the collective efforts of our Presidents and Chancellors in considering and acting upon each school’s membership interest.”
The effective date that they will be joining the conference is July 1, 2025.
The Texas and Oklahoma board of regents will meet on Friday to officially accept the invitations.
There is a whole lot more left to be answered for however. Yesterday we reported on Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby sending a cease and desist letter to ESPN accusing them of colluding with Texas and Oklahoma to leave and join the Big 12. Also in the letter, Bowlsby accuses ESPN of reaching out to other Big 12 member to leave.
A lot to unpack with this decision and a lot left to be answered.