Texas and Oklahoma Want Out of Big 12, So What Happens Next?

What started as rumor has indeed been proven true: both Texas and Oklahoma want out of the Big 12 and into the SEC.

It was reported last week that The University of Texas and The University of Oklahoma wanted out of the Big 12 and into the SEC. Those reports proved to be true on Monday morning, July 26, as both Universities have informed Big 12 officials that they want out.

The Southeastern Conference is already stacked with some of the NCAA's best college football programs - Alabama, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Tennessee, and Texas A&M just to name a few. Add Texas and Oklahoma to that list and you're looking at the premier division in College Football hands down.

Get our free mobile app

So what happens next? According to SI.com, both Texas and Oklahoma will have to wait until their media rights contract run out at the end of the 2024 season. That means the move won't happen until 2025 unless a buyout happens, which would cost around $150 million combined prior to any fees and penalties.

The SEC will have to vote to allow both universities to join. For now, Texas A&M seems to be the only school objecting to the proposal. There would have to be four universities objecting in order to kill the move. So far, the Aggies seem to be the only school objecting. What are the Aggies so afraid of?

According to The Athletic, Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby released a statement that says, "We recognize that intercollegiate athletics is experiencing rapid change and will most likely look much different in 2025 than it does currently. Like many others, we will use the next four years to fully assess what the landscape will look like in 2025 and beyond. The remaining eight institutions will work together in a collaborative manner to thoughtfully and strategically position the Big 12 Conference for continued success, both athletically and academically, long into the future."

What happens to the Big 12 when Texas and Oklahoma leave? The conference would have to find some teams to come in and replace the two they are losing. There are some options with a few teams from the PAC-12, but it remains to be seen as to who might leave that conference and join the Big 12.

Some are even speculating that the Big 12 might just dissolve completely with the eight remaining teams joining other conferences.