Texas and Oklahoma confirmed to join SEC in 2024

• Texas and Oklahoma accepted invites to join SEC again in July 2021
• Universities can pay a mixed US$100m in early withdrawal charges

The University of Texas and University of Oklahoma’s path to becoming a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in 2024 has been cleared after the pair agreed a deal to exit the Big 12 a 12 months early.

The universities’ athletics departments had accepted invites in summer season 2021 to join the SEC in 4 years’ time, a transfer which can see the Longhorns and Sooners soccer groups change faculty sports activities conferences.

Texas and Oklahoma’s media rights take care of the Big 12 wasn’t due to expire till 2025, however the two have now finalised an settlement with the convention and its broadcast companions to exit the league one 12 months sooner than scheduled.

There had been hypothesis that talks over an early separation had hit a snag, although Sports Illustrated (SI) reported that ESPN and Fox restarted negotiations and had been steered in direction of a compromise by Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark.

As a part of the exit settlement, Texas and Oklahoma can pay a mixed US$100 million to the convention, a lot of which will probably be distributed to the eight Big 12 legacy universities to offset an anticipated lower in their 2024 convention income.

Fox will even get compensation for the lack of the 2 universities, in accordance to CBS. ESPN and Fox have rights to the Big 12 till the top of 2030/31, with the previous additionally having an unique take care of the SEC from 2024.

Texas and Oklahoma will formally join the SEC on 1^st July 2024, taking the variety of groups to 16, and are anticipated to obtain a share of distribution from the ESPN deal in 2024, although the quantity is unsure.

“As I have consistently stated, the conference would only agree to an early withdrawal if it was in our best interest for Oklahoma and Texas to depart prior to June 30th, 2025,” mentioned Yormark

“By reaching this agreement, we are now able to accelerate our new beginning as a 12-team league and move forward in earnest with our initiatives and future planning.”