Bob Bowlsby Calls Sunday Meeting with OU, Texas ‘Cordial’

The Big 12 might be on life support, but it appears it isn’t gone quite yet.

The Big 12’s executive committee met with University of Oklahoma president Joe Harroz and University of Texas president Jay Hartzell on Sunday afternoon via video conference.

This comes after the two schools reportedly inquired about joining the SEC, reports that neither Oklahoma nor Texas have denied. The Big 12 held a meeting with its schools Thursday, which OU and UT were reportedly were invited to but chose not to attend. The Big 12 released a statement after Sunday’s meeting where commissioner Bob Bowlsby gave what has been the league’s best news all week.

“The meeting was cordial, and the Executive Committee expressed a willingness to discuss proposals that would strengthen the Conference and be mutually beneficial to OU and UT, as well as the other member institutions of the Conference,” Bowlsby said in the Big 12’s release. “I expect that we will continue our conversations in the days ahead and we look forward to discussing thoughts, ideas and concepts that may be of shared interest and impact.”

The Big 12’s executive committee consists of Texas Tech president Lawrence Schovanec, Baylor president Linda Livingstone and Bowlsby.

CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd reported this week that at the meeting of eight schools, there was discussion to increase payouts to OU and Texas to help keep the conference alive, likely what Bowlsby was hinting at about being beneficial for the two schools.

This story has had its twists and turns since breaking Wednesday. Oklahoma State issued a pair of statements since then, the first more a reactionary statement saying it was gathering information but would be disappointed if the reports were true.

New OSU president Kayse Shrum released a stronger statement Friday, calling out OU for a “lack of engagement and transparency” after it was reported that OU’s talks with the SEC have been going on since late December/early November.

Many reports from all around the country have called the Sooners’ and Longhorns’ move all but a done deal, so it’s a wonder if the Big 12’s meeting with the schools could undo what seems to be done.