Kansas State AD Believes Nothing is Imminent in Conference Realignment

On a radio call with John Kurtz of 1350 The Game in Manhattan, Kansas, Kansas State athletic director Gene Taylor said he believes that conference realignment is done for now and that the actions of Oklahoma and Texas have galvanized the Big 12.

Taylor, who is also on the College Football Playoff selection committee following the exit of Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte, told Kurtz that the college football landscape has stabilized, at least for the moment.

On @TheGameKMAN w/ @jlkurtz, @kstatesports AD & @CFBPlayoff selection committee member Gene Taylor says he thinks conference realignment is done for now, actions of @OU_Athletics & @TexasLonghorns galvanized others in Big 12: https://t.co/ZPKMNwmxxi @FootballScoop

— John Brice (@JohnDBrice1) August 10, 2021

Taylor said he’d be shocked if anything happens in the realignment realm this year, citing those he knows in the college football world saying they’re not doing anything. However, the Big 12 was completely in the dark with the Oklahoma and Texas exits, so it would not be unprecedented for secret discussions to be ongoing.

As the world of college football has seemingly settled, for now, Taylor said the Big 12 members will meet later this month to further discuss the future of the conference.

Like others associated with the Big 12, Taylor expressed his shock and disappointment in Oklahoma and Texas and felt like it was the right call to stick together, citing the need to stay together in order to preserve the grant of rights agreements and the revenue that comes with it.

Taylor told Kurtz that there needs to be trust in the remaining Big 12 members going forward, but each school should be continuing to put itself in the best position individually to look out for its own interests, too. He continued by saying that the Oklahoma and Texas exits impacted the remaining Big 12 schools strongly enough to not want to do the same to each other.

As the 2021-22 college football season continues to draw closer, conference realignment will likely continue to loom over the action on the field.