Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC is really happening
It’s really happening. The Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners are leaving the Big-12 and heading to the SEC, according to a report.
The college football landscape is undergoing a massive shift and it doesn’t look like anything can stop it.
Texas and Oklahoma are going to leave the Big 12 and, “barring any unforeseen developments,” will join the SEC, according to Chip Brown of Horns247.
Since the news that the Big 12 powers were looking at the SEC broke, it’s been a wild 48 hours. What was a possibility is now a certainty.
List of SEC schools now that Texas and Oklahoma have joined
Here’s what the SEC looks like now that it has expanded to include the Longhorns and Sooners.
- Alabama Crimson Tide
- Arkansas Razorbacks
- Auburn Tigers
- Florida Gators
- Georgia Bulldogs
- Kentucky Wildcats
- LSU Tigers
- Mississippi State Bulldogs
- Missouri Tigers
- Ole Miss Rebels
- Oklahoma Sooners
- Tennessee Volunteers
- Texas Longhorns
- Texas A&M Aggies
- South Carolina Gamecocks
- Vanderbilt Commodores
The only thing left to resolve is how quickly the move could be finalized. Texas and Oklahoma are locked in to the Big 12 media rights deal until 2025. It’ll be an awkward five seasons for the conference if they decided to wait out the deal. They could also pull off the bandaid and jump ship earlier by giving up their revenue rights. It could get messy.
It’s clear they won’t be a member of the Big 12 going forward.
Texas and Oklahoma will send a letter next week to the Big 12 informing the league that it won't renew its grant-of-rights upon expiration, sources tell @TheAthletic.
— Sam Khan Jr. (@skhanjr) July 23, 2021
(@ChipBrown247 first reported)
Reaction to the imminent move brought out the memes, even from other teams taking swipes.
— Maryland Terrapins (@umterps) July 23, 2021
Texas A&M definitely doesn’t want to make it easy for another program from the Lone Star State to join the SEC.
Oklahoma & Texas: We're joining the SEC!
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) July 21, 2021
A&M: pic.twitter.com/BS276467Gf
On Thursday, SEC Presidents held a regularly scheduled call. And yes, Texas & Oklahoma were discussed, sources told @Stadium. At this point, besides Texas A&M, it’s unknown if any other league members oppose adding UT (& OU)
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) July 23, 2021
A lot of people asking me: "Can't SEC schools just vote no" on Texas/Oklahoma?
— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) July 23, 2021
Of course they can. Thing is, everyone knows OU/Texas are leaving the Big 12. Voting no means another league scoops them up, and in turn, gets a bigger TV deal.
No way SEC will allow that
Prepare for a bunch of conference realignment scenarios.
"... and so WHEN Texas & Oklahoma move to the SEC, that frees up KANSAS to move into the Big Ten, and that means TCU can either stay in the Big 8 OR join forces with BOISE STATE to form the new ROCKY MOUNTAIN CONFERENCE with Utah, but that means Blue Mountain State has to..." pic.twitter.com/2GqGNEY3fz
— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) July 23, 2021
It’s hard to imagine the Big 12 existing without Texas and Oklahoma. That means the remaining eight members could end up joining other conferences. The ACC, Pac-12 and Big Ten are going to be in an interesting position.
Buckle up. The conference realignment journey is just beginning.
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