Texas, Oklahoma to SEC report: Horns, Sooners release statements as coaches, schools, conferences react

Reaction to a report that Texas and Oklahoma could leave the Big 12 for the SEC is coming in hot and heavy Wednesday.

The Houston Chronicle reported possible expansion could come “within a couple weeks.” AL.com’s John Talty reports that multiple college football insiders indicate Texas and Oklahoma had already taken steps to facilitate a possible move.

Here are what some coaches, administrators, schools, conferences, school presidents and, of course, Paul Finebaum have said about the idea of the Longhorns and Sooners leaving the Big 12 for the SEC.

“My first impression of this story is that there’s something to it,” Finebaum said. “The Commissioner of the SEC does want this to be about the players and the coaches, and what he said is accurate. But if you were sitting in a room at the SEC headquarters or anywhere and saying, ‘How can we make the SEC look even better than it already does,’ you would drop this story right in the middle of SEC Media Days. Let me assure you, that’s not true.

“There’s nothing further from — but if you’re a marketing genius, you go, ‘the SEC is already the most dominant, Nick Saban shows up today,’ and now you have a story that looks like Texas and Oklahoma are outside the Wynfrey Hotel, banging on the door saying, ‘Let us in.’”

Schools Texas

“Speculation always swirls around collegiate athletics. We will not address rumors or speculation.”

Texas President Jay Hartzell

“Sorry, I can’t comment on all the athletic rumors swirling around right now in this crazy time,” he said last week to the Austin American-Statesman.

Oklahoma

“The college athletics landscape is shifting constantly. We don’t address every anonymous rumor.”

Oklahoma State

“We have heard unconfirmed reports that OU and UT approached Southeaster Conference officials about joining the SEC. We are gathering information and will monitor closely. If true, we would be gravely disappointed. While we place a premium on history, loyalty and trust, be assured, we will aggressively defend and advance what is best for Oklahoma State and our strong athletic program, which continues to excel in the Big 12 and nationally.”

Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher

“I bet they would,” Fisher said when about the schools joining the SEC.

“Listen, it’s the best league in ball, and I’m sure they would like to be here,” Fisher told Paul Finebaum. “That’s something that Commissioner Sankey and them will have to gauge and see if that’s something the SEC wants to do. That’s still hard to say.

“I’ll say this though — be careful what you ask for in this league.”

Administrators SEC commissioner Greg Sankey

“We are only worried about the 2021 season. Somebody dropped a report from unnamed people.”

Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff Texas A&M AD Ross Bjork:

“The SEC has been a perfect fit for us,” Bjork told Paul Finebaum. “We want to maintain that same identity. Perhaps there’s a reason that Texas and Oklahoma are looking around – if that’s the case.

“We love being in the SEC. We love being the only (SEC) program in the state of Texas. We’re going to maintain that position, but we’re also going to make sure that we are a leader in college athletics and we’ll see what the future holds.”

Mark Heim is a sports reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim.

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