Big 12
Oklahoma and Texas Officially Request Invite to Join SEC
Oklahoma and Texas have officially requested an invitation into the SEC, the news coming after a week of uncertainty surrounding the pairs’ Big 12 future and desire to land with the SEC.
In a joint statement shared by The Athletic‘s Nicole Auerbach, Oklahoma and Texas requested an invitation for membership in the SEC starting on July 1, 2025. The statement said there would be a mutual benefit for both Oklahoma and Texas and the SEC.
Texas and Oklahoma have formally requested an invitation for membership to the SEC, starting on July 1, 2025: pic.twitter.com/wpVX0jZNTe
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) July 27, 2021
With an official request for an invitation now on the SEC’s plate, the next step in the process comes down to the individual SEC members themselves. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey issued a statement Tuesday afternoon, shared by AP‘s Matt Thornsbury, confirming the conference’s upcoming decision.
Statement from SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey pic.twitter.com/UBn90qgBhG
— Matt Thornsbury (@mthornsburyap) July 27, 2021
Sankey’s statement said the SEC hasn’t actively sought new members, the conference will, “pursue significant change when there is a clear consensus among our members that such actions will further enrich the experiences of our student-athletes and lead to greater academic opportunities.”
The statement said the SEC presidents and chancellors will consider the request from Oklahoma and Texas, “in the near future.” The SEC bylaws state that three-fourths of the SEC’s member schools must agree to extend an invite to Oklahoma and Texas.
ESPN‘s Adam Rittenberg reported that Texas and Oklahoma, despite going about the exit as a united front, will host separate meetings on Friday to discuss a couple of issues, including the conference membership.
Regents for both #Texas and #Oklahoma will hold separate meetings Friday to discuss conference membership, among other issues.
Texas: https://t.co/LORlGKc4BM
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) July 27, 2021