The Southeastern Conference voted unanimously to welcome the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma into the conference, beginning with the 2025-26 season. This announcement comes two days after both universities submitted applications to join the SEC.
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey’s statement on both schools joining the conference said. “Today’s unanimous vote is both a testament to the SEC’s longstanding spirit of unity and mutual cooperation, as well as a recognition of the outstanding legacies of academic and athletic excellence established by the Universities of Oklahoma and Texas. I greatly appreciate the collective efforts of our Presidents and Chancellors in considering and acting upon each school’s membership interest.”
With Texas and Oklahoma officially headed to the SEC, it leaves the Big XII with eight teams. However, they also keep the “Red River Showdown” rivalry intact. The SEC will have sixteen teams, and many expect them to go to a pod system in 2025. This is perfect timing for the SEC after signing a three-billion-dollar deal with ESPN last year that starts in 2024. Both teams will reunite with former Big XII members Missouri and Texas A&M.
Shortly after the announcement, Big XII Conference Commissioner Bob Bowlsby released a statement. “Today’s SEC announcement reaffirms that these plans have been in the works with ongoing discussions between the parties and television partner for some time. We are disappointed these discussions went as far as they did without notice to, or inclusion of, other Big 12 members. Despite our concerns for the process and for the overall health of college athletics, we will do everything possible to make sure that the student-athletes at both universities enjoy an excellent experience throughout the remaining four years of their participation and competition in the Big 12 Conference.”
The additions of Texas and Oklahoma also help with recruiting. Over the years, the SEC has lured the top high school players in the country. However, Oklahoma and Texas will have a challenge to attract those kids to their schools now that they are in the same conference as Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and LSU.
For Texas, this move is good for their Longhorn Network. There is a chance that more people are willing to subscribe to their network to see them play the other SEC teams like Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State. In addition, the more prominent schools like Alabama are likely going to be aired on national television.
You can now make a case that the SEC are now “The Super League” of college football. The rest of the conferences like the Big 10, PAC 12, and ACC will respond to this news. The conference realignment is underway, and it will look different by 2025.
