AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas regents will meet Monday to discuss the future of the Big 12 Conference.
The regents will discuss “appropriate action regarding . . . athletic conference membership.”
The meeting will come on the same day that University of Oklahoma regents are meeting on the topic of conference affiliation. Oklahoma has indicated it is deciding whether to leave the Big 12 after being approached by multiple conferences.
Texas officials flew to Oklahoma last weekend to try to convince Oklahoma to stay. Texas A&M has announced its intention to join the Southeastern Conference.
“There’s nothing Texas could have offered Oklahoma that would have changed their mind. They were set on leaving the Big 12 before Texas got there,” a well-placed source at a Big 12 school told the Austin American-Statesman, adding that Sunday’s meeting had a friendly and cooperative tone. “The Big 12’s done. Oklahoma wasn’t open to creating Big 12 stability.”
The Big 12 lost Nebraska (Big Ten) and Colorado (Pac-12) over the summer.
If the Big 12 implodes, Texas would have to decide between pushing for membership in the Pac-12 or Atlantic Coast Conference or turning independent, an option athletic director DeLoss Dodds has always strongly opposed.
“Texas’ first choice is to keep the Big 12 together. That’s always been and continues to be Plan A and B,” a well-placed Texas source said. “However, they know that if Oklahoma and Oklahoma State leave, the conference is no longer viable. Then it’s time to look at Plan C.”
The 23rd-ranked Longhorns (2-0) will get a taste of the Pac-12 today with a game against UCLA (1-1).
