UT, OU To Join SEC After Schools Formally Accept Invitations

AUSTIN, TX — The University of Texas officially will join in-state rival Texas A&M in the Southeastern Conference.

The University of Texas Board of Regents voted unanimously Friday morning to accept the SEC's invitation for membership when its grant of media rights with the Big 12 expires in 2025. The University of Oklahoma Board of Regents followed suit shortly after with an unanimous vote of its own.

"Today’s action by the Board of Regents is in the best interests of UT student athletes, the UT Austin athletics program overall, and the university," UT System Chancellor James B. Milliken said in a news release. "This move ensures a strong future for an outstanding athletics program, providing the opportunity for our student athletes to compete at the highest levels."

The SEC, which extended invitations to both Texas and the University of Oklahoma on Thursday, released a statement Friday stating the two schools would become members in 2025.

"This is an important moment for the long-term future of the Southeastern Conference and our member universities," SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said in the statement. "Oklahoma and Texas are outstanding academic institutions with two strong athletics programs, which will add to the SEC's national prominence."

With the move, it is likely the Lone Star Showdown matchup between Texas and Texas A&M will renew on an annual basis, barring a reorganization of the SEC's division structure. The teams haven't played since A&M joined the SEC after the 2011 season.

A&M's Board of Regents voted to support the move in a meeting Wednesday, and Thursday's SEC vote to extend invitations to the two schools was unanimous.

When A&M joined the SEC in 2012, it paid a $12.4 million buyout to the Big 12. If Texas and Oklahoma were to leave before their grant of rights expired, the price tag would be much more than that, with some estimates around $75 million.

Chris Del Conte, athletic director at Texas, indicated the Longhorns would stay in the Big 12 until the contract expires.

"I want to just reiterate that we will be in the Big 12 for the foreseeable future," Del Conte said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.