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Oklahoma and Texas have officially notified the SEC that they are seeking “an invitation to become a member” effective July 1, 2025, according to a joint statement from the Big 12 Flagship Programs.
The statement said OU and Texas sent their request to SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey on Tuesday morning.
“The two universities look forward to the prospect of a discussion on this matter,” the statement said.
According to the letter, dated July 27 and made public, Texas President Jay Hartzell and Oklahoma President Joseph Harroz Jr. wrote: “We believe there would be mutual benefit to universities on the one hand. , and the SEC on the other hand. part, for universities to become members of the SEC. “
Sources said SEC presidents and chancellors were meeting on Thursday to consider OU and Texas as official members of what would become the first 16-team superconference. Despite the formal notification from the 12 major schools, a source familiar with the process warned that it still does not guarantee that the SEC will vote at that time. A three-quarters majority vote of SEC presidents and chancellors (11 out of 14) would be required for the invitations to be extended.
Sources previously told ESPN that it was believed enough SEC schools would vote to add the two new members.
“While the SEC has not proactively sought new members, we will pursue significant changes when there is a clear consensus among our members that such actions will further enrich the experiences of our student-athletes and lead to better academic and athletic results on our campuses, “Sankey said in a statement.” SEC presidents and chancellors, in their capacity as conference chief executives, will consider these requests in the near future. “
The Texas and Oklahoma board of directors has separate special meetings scheduled for Friday morning, during which athletic conference membership will be discussed. The Oklahoma regents will meet in Oklahoma City, while the Texas regents will meet by conference call.
Texas and the OU said in the letter that they intend to stay in the Big 12 until June 30, 2025, as that is when the current media rights agreement of the Big 12 is expiring – but that doesn’t guarantee they won’t find a way to leave. before this date. If this happens sooner, each university will have to pay a penalty of at least $ 75 to $ 80 million to break this agreement; or hope that the Big 12 dissolves before the rights contract expires.
A Big 12 source has suggested the possibility that OU and Texas are banking on a relationship that turns so sour over the next few years that the Big 12 is willing to let them go for less.
An SEC source said the Longhorns and Sooners “have a lot of legal work to do before they can just join us.”
ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg and Mark Schlabach contributed to this report.
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