No one knows exactly what’s going to happen today.
It’s expected that the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma will inform their Big 12 athletic conference they will not be extending their media rights contract beyond 2025. Simple as that sounds, the implications have been reverberating throughout the world of college football since the rumors started last Wednesday, and the implications for college sports are huge.
Where it goes from here is anyone’s guess, but it appears they are heading to the highly lucrative, fiercely competitive SEC.
The SEC-affiliated Aggies have had the weekend to get over the shock, and by Sunday, were ready to say hesitantly say okay. They’re staying.
The Texas A&M Board of Regents are expected to hold a telephonic meeting at 5 this evening that is expected to be streamed live on a variety of sources. The first portion is expected to be public, and then there would be a private executive discussion, followed by another public portion of the conference call.
All of that could change in this very fluid, rapidly evolving set of circumstances. The Big 12 is rumored to be putting together a financial package for the Longhorns and Sooners to entice them to stay.
This is a statement put out Saturday by Texas A & M Saturday:
M. KATHERINE BANKS
PRESIDENT
July 24, 2021
The last few days have been challenging in many ways, and I recognize that change in college athletics often is unsettling for those who love their institutions. Rest assured, the chancellor, our athletic director, and I, and everyone involved in this matter are focused solely on what is best for Texas A&M University. Since 2011, we have been a proud member of the best intercollegiate athletic conference in history and we look forward to continued success in our SEC partnership for many years to come.
M. Katherine Banks
President, Texas A&M University
photo: Getty Images