Oklahoma and Texas Have To Move First, Just Talking and Speculation for OSU and Others

STILLWATER – Not only are Oklahoma and Texas upsetting the Big 12 applecart with the news of this week first reported by Brent Zwerneman of the Houston Chronicle, courtesy of a jealous and upset Texas A&M, that those two Big 12 powers are heading to the Southeastern Conference, but it’s been going on for quite some time.

The reports from various sources such as the Austin American-Statesman and Chip Brown of Horns247 are that the discussions of the move have gone on for anywhere from six months to close to a year. Our sources that cover both the SEC and are involved inside the Oklahoma State administration confirm those reports.

It’s done and the Sooners and Longhorns are gone with only an unimagined last hour development stopping it from happening. We’ve reported that the last two days. Texas and Oklahoma are also stopping progress, at least concrete progress, for the other schools in the Big 12, including Oklahoma State.

All of this is talk so far. Technically, Texas and Oklahoma are still in the Big 12 and if they want to avoid hefty, or even negotiated penalties on their way out the door, then maybe they stay longer. Our sources have told us that OU and UT want out as soon as possible, even thinking of the prospect that their spring sports could play in the SEC. Right now, Oklahoma State and the other Big 12 schools can talk to and about other options, but if anybody did anything concrete about it like formally ask a conference for membership then they become the official first departure. The penalties would come down on them.

USA Today Sports Images

While OU and UT prepare to leave, it is hard for any schools to take action because those two have yet to do anything official.

A colleague of mine suggested on Friday that we apply for Freedom of Information rights to the emails and documents from University of Oklahoma President Joseph Harroz Jr. and OU athletic director Joe Castiglione. I told him that it would do no good. Oklahoma and Texas did the smart thing and used law firms, one in Texas and one in Oklahoma I am told by sources, to handle the communication with the SEC. Attorney/client privilege applies to some of this process and the communication from the law firms to the school was most likely all oral.

This was not only covertly handled, but it was also smartly handled. Now, all the schools have to wait until the first official shoe drops. According to multiple reports, starting with the Austin American-Statesman and reporters Kirk Bohls and Brian Davis, the news should come this week and the move to the SEC for Texas and Oklahoma will be expedited.

That means so far, all the remaining Big 12 schools, who met virtually on Thursday afternoon and evening, can do is reach out unofficially. If they are smart like Oklahoma and Texas, they’ll do so through third party emissaries.

The other option is for the Big 12 to stay together and add schools to make the conference viable. They even issued a statement after the meeting. The statement was released in bullet format.

• 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.

While this is all well and good, and my sources told me that much of the meeting time was spent discussing what olive branches in the form of revenue and incentives might be offered to Oklahoma and Texas to keep them in the fold, that ship has sailed. To consider staying together and bringing in schools that weren’t considered viable in the past is also a losing proposition, a band-aid that won’t stop the bleeding.  Big 12 leadership in the past has either not tried or has not been effective at luring schools from other Power Five leagues to the Big 12. It is highly unlikely that would change now.

The smart schools are looking for a solid seat at the table of a current Power Five conference that is not under siege.

Robert Allen - Pokes Report

Athletic director Chad Weiberg and OSU President Dr. Kayse Shrum have been proactive according to our OSU sources.

I can tell you that our sources have Oklahoma State as being the most proactive in a search for a new home but having done it smartly. One source told Pokes Report that Oklahoma State is a possibility with all three Power Five conferences that could be, and most likely will be looking to add to their numbers. You will see that the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten, and Pac-12 are all very vague, almost sounding disinterested in expansion. That is because nothing is official yet with Texas and Oklahoma and the Southeastern Conference.

Surprisingly, the Big Ten has reportedly engaged in unofficial third-party interest with Oklahoma State University.

Pac-12 Conference

Pac-12 Commissioner George Kliavkoff

By far, the Pac-12, who issued this statement from new Commissioner George Kliavkoff

“I consider the Pac-12 an exclusive club with a high barrier to entry,’’ Kliavkoff said Thursday when asked about a Houston Chronicle report indicating Oklahoma and Texas were leaving the Big 12 Conference. “I love the schools and the teams we have today. We are not actively seeking to poach any teams from any conferences. But we’d be foolish not to listen if schools call us.”

Speculation is the Big 12 Conference contacted the Pac-12 and asked about a merger into a 20-team conference. The other option would be for the Pac-12 to become the Pac-16 and become an equal in numbers with the SEC.  That would entail bringing in four new schools.

The preference should be to add Oklahoma State and its 52 NCAA Championships to the Pac-12’s “Conference of Champions” motto. Oklahoma State is fourth in all-time NCAA championships and the three schools ahead of them are all Pac-12 members in Stanford, UCLA and USC. The other part of the preference should be to bring in a decided Texas flavor for recruiting purposes. Texas Tech is a natural, but TCU and Baylor in the DFW Metroplex and the rich CenTex region respectively would be great. The issue is the Pac-12 has always been cold to the idea of having religious-based schools in their conference.  

Multiple reports had that going on yesterday with social media and blogger reports that Kansas and Iowa State had reached out to the Big Ten. This makes sense as both are geographically located in the footprint of the Big Ten or very close to it. Also, both schools are members of the prestigious Association of American Universities that most of the Big Ten members are also a part of.

Most of the reporting with regard to West Virginia centers on the Atlantic Coast Conference and should. WVU is in that geographic footprint and many of their former Big East brethren are there including longtime archrival Pittsburgh.

Oklahoma State Athletics

Thanks to footballs success under Mike Gundy, Dr. Shrum has ammunition to get OSU in a good position.

All, or some of this action could continue over the weekend. Remember, schools are in an urgent mode. Millions of dollars and the future of proud beloved athletic programs are on the line.

The ticket is football and good football. Oklahoma State with their success under Mike Gundy and with the current facilities has them as the next most attractive school. Some reports have Kansas, but the current state of Kansas athletics is questionable in multiple areas. Basketball is nice, but football is the money maker in all of this and the primary reason that any school will be courted and accepted.