The University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma have reached out to SEC officials in an attempt to join the conference, the Houston Chronicle first reported Wednesday.
The newspaper cited a high-ranking college official as its source. Texas and Oklahoma are presently members of the ten-team Big XII, which is headquartered in Irving.
A person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks were intended to be confidential, told the Associated Press that officials from Texas initiated the discussion.
Adding two members would give the powerhouse SEC 16 teams, the most in major college football. Losing two schools would be a devastating blow to the 10-member Big 12.
Questions about the report were greeted by a series of no comments from the primary parties involved, but no denials.
"I’m talking about the 2021 season," SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said at SEC football media days.
Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork was adamant about not wanting the Longhorns, once the school's greatest rival, in the SEC.
"We want to be the only SEC program in the state of Texas," Bjork told reporters. "There’s a reason why Texas A&M left the Big 12, to be standalone, to have our own identity. And that’s our feeling."
SEC bylaws require at least three-fourths (11) of the members to vote in favor of extending an invitation to join.
"The college athletics landscape is shifting constantly," Oklahoma said in a statement. "We don’t address every anonymous rumor."
A Texas statement offered a similar response: "Speculation always swirls around collegiate athletics. We will not address rumors or speculation."
Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby did not return messages seeking comment. Just last week at Big 12 media days in Arlington, Texas, he talked about how conference realignment was no longer a top concern for the Big 12.
"Not to say it couldn’t happen, but it’s not one of the things that keeps me up at night," he said.https://www.fox4news.com/sports/houston-chronicle-texas-oklahoma-attempting-to-join-secThis is what happens when the NCAA decided to permit players to make money.
The SEC is the cream of the crop for a football player to get the most money.
Big losers will be A&M and the NCAA.
If the NCAA gets too tough on the SEC, then the SEC with its clout could just leave and form its own premier league.
A&M will be reduced once again to an also-ran team as it existed in the SWC and Big12
