Texas Board Votes To Accept Invitation To SEC; OU On Deck
Jul 30, 2021, 10:42 AM
DALLAS, TEXAS - A general view of play between the Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners during the 2019 AT&T Red River Showdown at Cotton Bowl on October 12, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
AP – The board of regents for the University of Texas voted unanimously Friday to accept an invitation for the Longhorns to join the Southeastern Conference.
The University of Oklahoma board of regents was also meeting to consider a change of conference from the Big 12 to the SEC, and a similar result was expected.
The SEC voted to extend invitations to Texas and its Big 12 rival Oklahoma on Thursday, with the move scheduled for July 1, 2025 — for now.
That's some SEC speed from the Longhorns. https://t.co/QOAcJPKXR7
— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) July 30, 2021
Texas and Oklahoma are bound to the Big 12 and its other eight members by a media rights agreement through the 2024-25 school year.
“I want to just reiterate that we will be in the Big 12 for the foreseeable future,” Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte said.
Del Conte and Texas University President Jay Hartzell met by teleconference with the board and they quickly signed off.
“Collegiate athletics is changing rapidly, whether any of us wants it to or not,” Hartzell said.
“We recognize that we must be willing to make changes with our eyes on the future. In a world of uncertainty and change, it is incumbent upon on us as leaders to protect and enhance our athletic program and university,” Hartzell said.
