OU And UT Leadership Meet With Big 12 Commissioner To Discuss Future

Officials from Texas and Oklahoma met with Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby on Sunday to discuss keeping both programs in the division. The intriguing news that OU and UT could leave the Big 12 for a 16-team SEC conference surfaced earlier this week.

During the video meeting, Big 12 officials and Texas' Jay Hartzell and Oklahoma's Joe Harroz discussed potential scenarios to keep both powerhouse programs in the conference with financial incentive and other structural changes.

According to a statement released by Bob Bowlsby:

“The meeting was cordial, and the Executive Committee expressed a willingness to discuss proposals that would strengthen the Conference and be mutually beneficial to OU and UT, as well as the other member institutions of the Conference. I expect that we will continue our conversations in the days ahead and we look forward to discussing thoughts, ideas and concepts that may be of shared interest and impact."

On Saturday it was announced that the commissioner had discussed the potential exit of OU and UT during the Big 12’s conference call earlier in the week. With growing uncertainty irking the remaining the schools in the division, Bowlsby proposed upping shares of total revenue for both programs to an additional half-share. The change is set to bump their yearly revenue figures closer to the estimated earnings they would get from a switch to the SEC.

Texas and Oklahoma are expected to meet with the SEC next week to solidify the move, giving Bowlsby a shrinking window of opportunity to make his final bids.