Texas, OU Formally Request Invitation For SEC Membership

AUSTIN, TX — The University of Texas and University of Oklahoma took the next step in leaving the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference on Tuesday.

The universities sent a joint letter requesting an invitation for membership to SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. In the letter, the universities request the starting date of their membership as July 1, 2025. On Monday, Texas and Oklahoma made a joint statement indicating they would let their Big 12 grant of media rights expire in 2025.

“While the SEC has not proactively sought new members, we 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 and athletic achievement across our campuses,” Sankey said in a statement Tuesday.

Sankey added that SEC member presidents and chancellors would consider the request “in the near future.”

Potential additions to the conference require a 75 percent vote from current SEC member institutions to gain entry, which means at least 11 of 14 SEC schools need to vote yes to admit Texas and Oklahoma.

When the Houston Chronicle's Brent Zwerneman broke the initial story on Texas and Oklahoma's SEC interest last week, there was speculation that nearby Texas A&M might try to block the move or potentially move conferences if it should happen. A&M President M. Katherine Banks released a statement Saturday stating that the school had no intentions of leaving the SEC.

"The last few days have been challenging in many ways, and I recognize that change in college athletics often is unsettling for those who love their institutions," Banks said. "Rest assured, the chancellor (John Sharp), our athletic director (Ross Bjork), and I, and everyone involved in this matter are focused solely on what is best for Texas A&M University. Since 2011, we have been a proud member of the best intercollegiate athletic conference in history and we look forward to continued success in our SEC partnership for many years to come."