Fort Worth Star Telegram Logo

Texas A&M to announce move to SEC on Wednesday | Fort Worth Star-Telegram

×
  • E-edition
    • Customer Service
    • Mobile & Apps
    • Newsletters

    • Local
    • Fort Worth
    • Arlington
    • Northeast Tarrant
    • Texas
    • Crime & Courts
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • Bud Kennedy
    • Databases
    • Nation and World
    • Cowboys
    • Rangers
    • TCU
    • Mac Engel
    • Colleges
    • Mavericks
    • Motorsports
    • Stars
    • High School Sports
    • Scores & Schedules
    • All Sports
    • Football
    • Baseball
    • Softball
    • Volleyball
    • Boys Basketball
    • Girls Basketball
    • Editorials
    • Letters
    • Submit a letter
    • Cheers and Jeers
    • Submit a Cheer or Jeer
    • Bud Kennedy
    • Michael Ryan
    • Cynthia M. Allen
    • Other Voices
    • Business
    • Growth
    • Restaurants
    • Arts & Culture
    • Movies
    • Things To Do
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Party Pics
    • Horoscopes
    • Comics
    • Contests
    • Puzzles and Games
    • Food & Drink
    • Arts
    • Health & Fitness
    • Indulge
    • The Keller Magazine
    • Neil Sperry
    • Social Eyes
    • Dear Abby
    • Weddings
    • Arlington Citizen-Journal
    • Keller Citizen
    • Star-Telegram Northeast
    • Mansfield News-Mirror
    • Weatherford Star-Telegram
    • La Estrella
    • Locales
    • Noticias
    • Deportes
    • Entretenimiento
    • Contáctenos
    • Media Kit
    • Today's Obituaries
    • Obituaries in the News
    • Submit an Obituary

    • All Weddings
    • Announcements
    • Bridal Show
    • Contact Us
    • Inspiration
    • News & Advice
    • Vendors
    • Hispanic Heritage
    • Cancer Awareness
    • Healthy Lifestyle
    • Dining, Entertaining
    • Breast Cancer Awareness
    • Think Green
    • Money Matters
    • All About Pets
    • Careers and Business
    • Health and Wellness
    • How To...
    • Women Today
    • Family and Parenting
    • Easy Living Tips
    • Lawn and Garden
    • Giving Back
    • Men Today
    • On the Road 1
    • On the Road 2
  • Public Notices
  • Local Deals
  • Cars
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Homes
  • Classifieds
  • Mobile & Apps

Sports

Texas A&M to announce move to SEC on Wednesday

By Jimmy Burch - jburch@star-telegram.com

    ORDER REPRINT →

September 06, 2011 10:23 PM

An official announcement of Texas A&M's move to the Southeastern Conference is expected today in College Station.

School officials spent Tuesday preparing for a news conference at Kyle Field to celebrate the move, pending a favorable vote from SEC presidents to extend an invitation. The SEC presidents met Tuesday night and approved an invitation to A&M, said sources with knowledge of the situation, but the SEC made no formal announcement.

A&M officials have indicated they would accept an SEC invitation. The move would be effective for the 2012 football season.

A&M's move, once completed, could trigger another round of widespread conference realignment in college athletics, as well as the breakup of the Big 12.

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to the Star-Telegram

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

A&M would become the third school in the past 15 months to leave the Big 12, following Nebraska (Big Ten) and Colorado (Pac-12). Those schools are first-year members of their leagues this season.

The Aggies' move has been expected, pending a formal invitation from the SEC. A&M President R. Bowen Loftin notified Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe of the school's intention to withdraw on Aug. 31, saying the it was "in the best interest of Texas A&M" to compete in another conference.

The lingering question, at this point, is what impact the Aggies' departure will have on the nine remaining schools in the Big 12. Although league officials have formed an expansion committee to consider replacements, there has been speculation that at least two, and possibly four, Big 12 schools could be headed to an expanded Pac-12.

Oklahoma President David Boren and Oklahoma State President Burns Hargis have acknowledged plans to explore other conference options in concert with one another. The Oklahoman has reported that OU's "sole focus" is on joining an expanded Pac-12, and Hargis said OSU plans to remain in the same league as OU. Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott has said his league would explore expansion if another conference made the first move. The SEC just did that by adding A&M.

It is possible that Texas and Texas Tech could be part of a four-team move to the Pac-12 -- a scenario that almost occurred last summer -- but Texas officials have yet to embrace the idea. To join the Pac-12, Texas would need to downsize its Longhorn Network, a collaborative effort with ESPN, and make it one of the league's regional networks. Such a move likely would mean a reduction in rights fees from the existing $300 million, 20-year agreement.

Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops may have upped the ante during a Tuesday news conference in efforts to expedite a decision from Texas, saying he doesn't consider it "necessary" for the Sooners to remain in the same league with the Longhorns. Stoops added that the annual Red River Rivalry game in Dallas could be a casualty of the realignment process.

"I don't think it's necessary to keep the OU-Texas game if we do move out of a conference with Texas," Stoops said, adding that he plans to leave the realignment decisions to Boren and athletic director Joe Castiglione.

"I know no one wants to hear that, but things change. If it changes, you've got to change with it. I love the game, but if it doesn't work out we will find other places to play and get excited about."

Asked about remaining in a conference with Texas in the future, Stoops said: "I don't think that's necessary." Stoops added that he was "all in" on any decision Boren makes in regard to realignment.

Texas officials declined comment.

Although A&M administrators expressed concerns this summer about issues related to the Longhorn Network, Loftin said in his letter to Beebe that the desire for greater national visibility and "stable financial resources" were the driving forces behind the decision to leave the Big 12. The SEC shares conference revenues equally, unlike the Big 12, and football teams from the SEC have combined to win the last five BCS national championships.

A Big 12 spokesman said Tuesday that league officials plan to offer a response today to A&M's departure. A league source indicated tweaks could be made to existing league policies in efforts to keep other schools from leaving, adding that the Big 12 must "get stabilized" internally before it explores expansion opportunities.

Follow Jimmy Burch on Twitter @Jimmy_Burch.

Jimmy Burch, 817-390-7760

  Comments  

Videos

Rick Carlisle on Dirk’s All-Star performance: ‘Summed up his career’

4 moments in sports and black history

View More Video

Trending Stories

Texas senator calls on GOP supporters to ‘Stop Beto’

February 20, 2019 04:03 PM

Will I-35W congestion finally be fixed? Fort Worth mayor has news for North Texas drivers

February 19, 2019 04:29 PM

Machado deal ‘great for the players.’ Did the Rangers consider a late push to land him?

February 19, 2019 02:47 PM

Want to build a home in the country? A new Texas law may block your access to water

February 19, 2019 07:00 AM

Voice on the school board for almost 30 years to leave, open the way for challengers

February 19, 2019 01:36 PM

Read Next

Briles, Baylor respond to the NCAA. Why they’re hoping for best, fearing the worst
Video media Created with Sketch.

Mac Engel

Briles, Baylor respond to the NCAA. Why they’re hoping for best, fearing the worst

By Mac Engel

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 20, 2019 12:14 PM

Baylor and Art Briles have responded to the NCAA’s notice of allegations, and now move forward defiantly that they did not commit major infractions against a governing body that may be determined to penalize them.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to the Star-Telegram

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE SPORTS

Is retirement lurking in two years for Choo the same way it was for Beltre?

Texas Rangers

Is retirement lurking in two years for Choo the same way it was for Beltre?

February 20, 2019 05:35 PM
Quick trip to Cancun helped, but Luka Doncic still adjusting to NBA schedule

Dallas Mavericks

Quick trip to Cancun helped, but Luka Doncic still adjusting to NBA schedule

February 20, 2019 05:14 PM
Why Tony Romo won’t let his sons play football until 8th grade, why he really retired

Dallas Cowboys

Why Tony Romo won’t let his sons play football until 8th grade, why he really retired

February 20, 2019 04:17 PM
Top Class 5A softball players in Dallas-Fort Worth to watch during the 2019 season

High School Sports

Top Class 5A softball players in Dallas-Fort Worth to watch during the 2019 season

February 20, 2019 04:09 PM
Report: Rioting at Gainesville State School was sparked by gangs, boredom, ‘issues’

Texas

Report: Rioting at Gainesville State School was sparked by gangs, boredom, ‘issues’

February 20, 2019 12:57 PM
Bochy on Pence: ‘He’s so genuine, and I’m thankful that I had him for seven years’

Texas Rangers

Bochy on Pence: ‘He’s so genuine, and I’m thankful that I had him for seven years’

February 20, 2019 12:02 PM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
Advertising
  • Information
  • Place a Classified
Copyright
Commenting Policy
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story