Big 12 Executive Committee Meets Texas, Oklahoma Presidents Amid Speech to Outgoing SEC

The executive committee of the Big 12 met with the presidents of Texas and Oklahoma on Sunday amid speculation that the two schools plan to leave for the SEC.

Jay Hartzell of Texas and Joe Harroz of Oklahoma met via video conference for a committee that includes Big 12 chairman and Texas Tech president Lawrence Schovanec, Baylor president Linda Livingstone and league commissioner Bob Bowlsby.

“The meeting was cordial, and the Executive Committee expressed its willingness to discuss proposals that will strengthen the conference and be mutually beneficial to the OU and UT, as well as the other member institutions of the conference,” Bowlsby said in a statement. “I look forward to continuing our discussions in the coming days and looking forward to discussing thoughts, ideas and concepts that may be of interest and impact.”

The big 12 sources told ESPN’s Heather Dinich that they still expect Oklahoma and Texas to officially notify the league on Monday that they do not intend to renew their current media rights agreements at a conference ending in June 2025. While it is the first official step to leave, both leave the schools will remain in the Big 12 until the trade ends. One source speculates that it is a possible legal strategy that would replace the reality of broken relationships that it will certainly cause in the league.

Big 12 sources continue to tell ESPN that they are still trying to understand exactly what Oklahoma and Texas are looking for. One big 12 source told ESPN that officials at their conference expect SEC presidents and federal chancellors to finally vote on the official extension of the invitation to Oklahoma and Texas. According to a SEC source, there is no current timetable for when the vote can take place. The question is if the SEC would continue to call, knowing that the legal strategy for Texas and Oklahoma is to stay on the television contract – if those schools choose to do so.

It is also possible that Texas will shop for other conferences, leaving at least a small chance that the SEC will not be its final destination.

The big 12 officials initially held a call on Thursday to discuss the future of the league. Texas and Oklahoma were not involved in the discussion. The two schools should give the Big 12 an 18-month notice period before official departure.

Big 12 owns Oklahoma and Texas first and second tier media rights to football and men’s basketball until June 30, 2025. The Big 12 would still have these rights even if the schools left for another conference.