Members of the Southeastern Conference voted unanimously on Thursday to admit Texas and Oklahoma to the conference to begin play by the 2025-26 season.
The schools now owe the Big 12 close to $80 million in exit fees and could forfeit up to $160 million each in conference distributions, Front Office Sports previously reported.
The Big 12 already launched an offensive to ensure it receives the payments.
This latest round of realignment further solidifies the SEC as the dominant Power 5 conference on the field and at the bank.
- The conference could generate $1.3 billion in revenue in 2024-2025 — matching the NCAA’s projected haul that year.
- USA Today reports that the SEC would have seven of the top 10 athletic budgets in the country with the addition of OU and Texas.
Recent reports have stoked speculation that the SEC also plans to assemble a “Super Conference” that, at least for football, could leave the NCAA entirely.
The effects on other conferences are still a rumor mill.
The Big 12 could try to expand, unless it implodes first. The Athletic reported that the conference discussed reaching out to the Pac-12. Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby alleged to CBS Sports that the AAC was trying to poach the conference’s remaining members.
