Brent Zwerneman of the Houston Chronicle dropped a bombshell Wednesday afternoon, reporting Texas and Oklahoma could be looking to join the SEC. The two premiere Big 12 schools would join the already 14 team league, making what some might call a “super conference”.
While nothing is close to official, an announcement could be coming within a couple of weeks. The Longhorns and Sooners would be leave behind eight other football programs scrambling to retain their Power Five status. Not something they want to do.
You can add a ninth program that would be against Texas and Oklahoma abandoning the Big 12 ship.
Texas A&M would surely vote against the addition of the Red River rivals if a vote is called upon in the SEC. In fact, athletic director Ross Bjork has already made it clear where he stands on the possible expansion.
Texas A&M AD Ross Bjork on news that Texas and OU could be coming to the SEC: “We want to be the only SEC team from the state of Texas.”
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) July 21, 2021
Since leaving the Big 12 in 2012, Texas A&M has been able to build up its brand better than if it had stayed. Staying away from the “shadow” of the Longhorns was always the goal.
Bjork doubled down on the sentiments, saying the Aggies got away from the Big 12 for those exact reasons.
“There’s a reason why Texas A&M left the Big 12 – to be stand alone & have our own identity. That’s our feeling.”
Texas A&M may have a difficult time getting other affiliate schools on board with rejecting Texas and Oklahoma, however. Two of the top named programs in the country joining the conference would help more than hurt.
From a football standpoint, and what this is really all about — money — it is a no-brainer.
Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinions.