Texas and Oklahoma will formally join the SEC in time for the 2024 football season, the Big 12 workplace announced Thursday.
The two faculties had initially been set to depart the Big 12 after the 2024-25 athletic year, however will now accomplish that a year early. The Longhorns and Sooners will compete within the Big 12 by the 2024 spring athletic season, then change conferences.
“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 30, 2025,” Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark stated. “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.
“I appreciate the approaches of OU President Joe Harroz and UT President Jay Hartzell to ensure an amicable conclusion to this process, and look forward to the bright days ahead for the Big 12 Conference.”
The Big 12 has operated with 10 member faculties for the reason that departure of Utah and Colorado for the Pac-12 in 2011 and the departure of Missouri and Texas A&M for the SEC a year later. West Virginia and TCU joined the Big 12 that very same year.
Central Florida, BYU, Houston and Cincinnati will join the Big 12 this summer season, which means it’s going to function as a 14-team league for one year. After Texas and Oklahoma depart, it’s going to settle at 12 member faculties.
In a transfer first introduced in July 2021, Texas and Oklahoma join what’s going to change into a 16-team SEC. Future SEC alignment — divisional or in any other case — and schedule rotations are but to be decided.
As a part of the separation settlement, Texas and Oklahoma will forfeit some $100 million in distribution income. However, each faculties ought to have the opportunity to recoup that as a part of the SEC.
“We have always been committed to fulfilling our contractual obligations to the Big 12. The collegiate athletics landscape has continued to evolve rapidly, and working together to accelerate our exit produced benefits for all parties,” Hartzell stated. “The Big 12 has been a respected partner for nearly three decades, and we look forward to a final season of spirited competition with our friends and rivals.
“I appreciate Commissioner Yormark’s and (Big 12 chairman Lawrence) Schovanec’s thoughtful approach and the collaborative work toward a solution that prioritizes the best interests of all institutions.”
Said Harroz, “We are grateful to Commissioner Yormark and Chairman Schovanec for their concerted efforts to carve a path forward that allows us all to move ahead with clarity and certainty. With the new era of collegiate athletics fully upon us, an opportunity emerged for all parties involved to explore the value of an early departure. These terms further guarantee the sustainability, stability, competitiveness and excellence of us all.
“The exciting matchups and passionate rivalries of the past quarter century will always be a celebrated part of our shared history. We look forward to showcasing that intensity this season, next season and beyond.”
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