Texas considered Big Ten, ACC before leaving Big 12 for SEC

Texas was looking at the ACC and the Big Ten before deciding to leave the Big 12 for the SEC.

University of Texas president Jay Hartzell said they looked at joining the ACC and the Big 12 before eventually deciding to leave the Big 12 along with arch rival Oklahoma for the SEC.

While Chris Hummer of 247Sports says this was all done internally and Texas did not reach out to the ACC or the Big Ten about possibly joining their conferences, they did throw this idea around at least a little bit. What this signifies is Texas was all about getting out of the Big 12 as quickly as possible, hoping any of the other Power Five conferences of note would be interested in them.

What does Hartzell’s comments about his university looking around mean to Texas and the SEC?

Texas reportedly kicked the tires on ACC, Big Ten before leaving Big 12 for SEC

Look. This is the second time Texas has contributed to a conference collapsing. The old Southwest Conference is no more, and the Big 12 could soon join it if the eight other member institutions do not stick together. While the SEC makes a great deal of sense geographically and for football reasons, the league cannot be pleased by the new guy’s president making them look third-rate.

While the SEC is a football conference at its core, it is not like it is devoid of great academic institutions. Ask people who didn’t get into Florida, Georgia, Missouri or Vanderbilt about their academic standards. What this all comes down to is Texas only cares about Texas. That may have worked in the Southwest and the Big 12, but this is the SEC and they may not want to play nice.

Maybe don’t talk about other options you considered before you begin play in your new league?

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