Texas, Oklahoma formally request to join SEC in 2025

Texas and Oklahoma on Tuesday announced that they have formally asked the Southeastern Conference to be considered for membership starting on July 1, 2025, after their current media rights deals with the Big 12 expire.

“We believe that there would be mutual benefit to the Universities on the one hand, and the SEC on the other hand, for the Universities to become members of the SEC,” the two schools said in a letter to SEC Commissioner

Greg Sankey that was signed by Texas President

Jay Hartzell and Oklahoma President Joseph Harroz Jr.

The letter is the first official acknowledgment that Texas and Oklahoma wish to depart the Big 12 specifically for the SEC, a desire that first was reported last week. It comes one day after the two college sports powerhouses announced that they will not be renewing their grant of rights agreement with the Big 12 after it expires in 2025.

“While the SEC has not proactively sought new members, we will pursue significant change when there is a clear consensus among our members that such actions will further enrich the experiences of our student-athletes and lead to greater academic and athletic achievement across our campuses,” Sankey said in a statement.

ESPN reported that the presidents and chancellors of the SEC schools will meet Thursday to discuss expansion, though it was unclear whether they would vote on the issue.

ETC.

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