By the Associated Press and KFDI News:
Oklahoma and Texas took the first formal step Monday toward moving to the Southeastern Conference. They notified the Big 12 that they would not be renewing an agreement than binds the league’s members through 2025.
The schools sent out a joint statement that made no mention of the SEC and said they intend to honor agreements that give the conference control of the school’s media rights. Those arrangements run concurrent with the Big 12’s television contracts with ESPN and Fox.
Texas and Oklahoma have been in discussions with the SEC about joining the league, though neither the two schools nor the powerhouse conference has acknowledged that publicly.
The decision makes the future uncertain for the Big 12 conference, and it sets the stage for changes in the national landscape for college athletics. Media reports have said that Kansas, Iowa State and Oklahoma State have been in talks with the Big 10, while Texas Tech, TCU and Baylor have approached the Pac-12.
Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall issued a statement on Twitter in response to the day’s developments:
This is a sad day for sports fans and the end of the #Big12 as we know it. I have faith @kstatesports and @KUAthletics will do what is best for their athletes, and our resilient universities will come out of this realignment stronger than ever.
[image: Big 12 Conference – Facebook ]
