On July 21, 2021, news broke that Texas and Oklahoma were planning to leave the Big 12 and join the SEC starting in ’25.
After the college football universe overcame the shock and awe of the news, it collectively cast doubt on the timing of the move:
A year and a half later, that question remains unanswered. And the reason why is a somewhat complicated mess that involves two testy blueblood universities (Texas and OU), eight frustrated legacy Big 12 members, a pair of neighboring FBS conferences (Big 12 and SEC) and—most notably—two rival television networks.
Despite a report Friday of negotiations stalling, many believe the situation remains fluid, while acknowledging that recent “snags” in discussions—most of them centered on television rights—have slowed momentum.
“These things are difficult and complex,” says former Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby. “There are a lot of stakeholders. There’s nothing easy about it.”
So what makes it so complicated? What are all of the moving parts? Those answers are easier to explain.
