Texas, Oklahoma release joint statement notifying Big 12 of leave for SEC

Texas and Oklahoma officially release a joint statement to the Big 12, signifying they will not be renewing their media rights contract in 2025, as they will apply for membership in the SEC.

With Texas and Oklahoma releasing a joint statement on Monday morning notifying the Big 12 they will let their media rights contract expire in 2025, they will now apply for SEC membership. The SEC is expected to have a unanimous 14-0 vote to approve both universities to join the conference.

The joint statement of Texas and Oklahoma not renewing their grants of media rights can be read below:

"The University of Texas at Austin and The University of Oklahoma notified the Big 12 Athletic Conference today that they will not be renewing their grants of media rights following expiration in 2025. Providing notice to the Big 12 at this point is important in advance of the expiration of the conference’s current media rights agreement. The universities intend to honor their existing grant of rights agreements. However, both universities will continue to monitor the rapidly evolving collegiate athletics landscape as they consider how best to position their athletics programs for the future."

News of Texas and Oklahoma maybe leaving the Big 12 last week sent shockwaves all throughout college athletics. These two traditional football powers may be a tad outside of the SEC’s geographical footprint, but they would certainly fit right in with the conference’s deep football culture. This is great news for Texas and Oklahoma, but devastating news for the Big 12.

SEC expansion: Texas and Oklahoma apply for SEC membership

It has been about a decade since the last wave of major college athletics realignment. While the Big 12 may want to hold steady with their other eight members, what is going to stop teams like Kansas and West Virginia from jumping ship and going to the Big Ten and the ACC, respectively? Texas and Oklahoma were the pillars of the Big 12 for the last quarter-century, and now they are leaving.

While Texas A&M may loathe the idea of its in-state rival joining the SEC, what other university is going to offer major pushback here? The SEC footprint would now gain major metro areas in Oklahoma City and Tulsa with Oklahoma’s inclusion. It would also gain two more of the 15 most significant college football programs in the history of the sport. The SEC is the king of college football.

Expect these two moves to have a major ripple effect across the rest of major college athletics.

For more NCAA football news, analysis, opinion and unique coverage by FanSided, including Heisman Trophy and College Football Playoff rankings, be sure to bookmark these pages.