TULSA, Okla. — Moving on.
University of Oklahoma President Joseph Harroz Jr. and University of Texas President Jay Hartzel officially filed a request to SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey to join the football conference starting July 1, 2025.
On Monday, the Sooners and the Longhorns announced they notified the Big 12 officials the schools will not be renewing their media rights contracts with the athletic conference.
The full joint statement says:
The University of Oklahoma and The University of Texas at Austin (the “Universities”) request invitations for membership to the Southeastern Conference (the “SEC”) starting on July 1, 2025. We believe that there would be mutual benefit to the Universities on the one hand, and the SEC on the other hand, for the Universities to become members of the SEC. We look forward to the prospect of discussions regarding this matter.
READ MORE: OU, Texas denies to renew contract with the Big 12, expected to join SEC
The OU Board of Regents will meet July 31 to discuss athletics conference membership. The meeting will be held in person and is open to the public at the OU Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City.
Not long after the announcement Tuesday, the SEC released a statement on social media:
NEWS | Statement from @SEC Commissioner @GregSankey: pic.twitter.com/6K9xW2sJ2o
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) July 27, 2021
The potential move of the two Big 12 powerhouses drew criticism from fellow conference competitor Oklahoma State on Monday.
OSU President Dr. Kayse Shrum called the dealings with the SEC by OU a "clear breach of the bylaws."
"It is difficult to understand how an Oklahoma institution of higher education would follow the University of Texas to the detriment of the State of Oklahoma," Shrum wrote on Twitter.
We remain confident @okstate is in the strongest position we have ever been in, and I am excited about the future of Oklahoma State University, our land-grant mission, world-class faculty and top-notch athletic programs.
— Dr. Kayse Shrum (@drshrum) July 26, 2021
OSU has not indicated that a conference move would immediately follow for the Cowboys.
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