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Big 12 Releases Statement after Meeting about OU, Texas SEC Rumors

“The eight members strongly desire to retain the current composition.”

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Things don’t seem to be much more clear to the general public after the Big 12’s meeting Thursday evening, but issues around the conference have at least further been acknowledged.

With murmurs of Oklahoma and Texas inquiring about joining the SEC, the rest of the Big 12 ADs and CEOs got together to discuss the potential of the Sooners and Longhorns leaving the conference. After said meeting, the Big 12 released a bulleted statement to the media that reads as follows:

Oklahoma and Texas are founding members of the Big 12 and we value their traditions and history of success.

The eight members strongly desire to retain the current composition, which has proven it can compete at the highest levels.

There is a recognition that institutions may act in their own self-interest, however there is an expectation that members adhere to Conference bylaws and the enforcement of Grant of Rights agreements.

This is a time of dramatic change within intercollegiate athletics that presents both opportunities and challenges, and the Big 12 Conference looks forward to continuing to play a major role in its evolution.

[SI’s Ross Dellenger/Twitter]

In layman’s terms, the eight remaining Big 12 would like things to remain status quo with Texas and Oklahoma still in the conference, and the Big 12 expects schools to follow the rules should they look for another conference to join.

It has been a tumultuous two days for the Big 12 after the Houston Chronicle first reported Wednesday that OU and UT reached out about joining the SEC. If those two schools were to leave the Big 12, the conference would be without its two biggest brands and likely struggle to compete financially with the other Power Five leagues.

Oklahoma State released a statement Wednesday afternoon saying it would be “gravely disappointed” but do what is best for Oklahoma State if the rumors were true.

A night’s sleep did nothing to mute speculation leading to the eight other Big 12 schools’ Thursday evening meeting.

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