141:(which imposes a substantial exit fee to departing members, equal to three times the ACC's operating budget or around $ 50 million in the early 2010s), the SEC allows members to voluntarily leave the conference at will, with no exit fees. In addition, whereas a major point of contention within the Big 12 was the unequal distribution of revenue among member schools, the SEC distributes television revenues generally equally among member schools (with slightly higher allocations for schools participating in bowl games and the NCAA men's basketball tournament).
400:
384:
17:
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244:(UIL), the governing body for public school athletics in the state – and the perceived detriment of the conference's other schools) "was too much to bear." Though the Big 12 made new rules to stop the high school telecasts (and the NCAA would ultimately declare that such broadcasts would be considered in violation of recruiting rules), on August 15, 2011, the A&M System Regents met in a special session to, among other matters, authorize "the president (
1319:
187:
reported on June 11 that Texas, Texas Tech, and the two
Oklahoma schools were prepared to accept an invitation from the Pac-10. The report also indicated that Texas A&M was torn between the Pac-10 and SEC, and was given a 72-hour deadline to decide on its future destination. Ultimately, the Texas
255:
A&M announced on August 31, 2011, that it would leave the Big 12 in June 2012 to join the SEC (in what Dr. Loftin referred to as "the 100-year decision"), but the invitation process was prolonged by various moves by the Big 12, which feared that A&M's departure would scuttle the conference.
152:
The most notable rumor involved Big 12 member Texas A&M. (This was not the first time that A&M had been rumored as an SEC candidate; A&M had been considered for membership as far back as 1990, when
Arkansas and South Carolina ultimately joined.) A&M was part of a rumored move of six
280:
The SEC expansion also indirectly led the Big 12 to revise its network deal with ESPN to extend it to 2025 (the same time as its deal with Fox Sports expires) and, more significantly for the stability of the conference, the conference also extended the league's grant of rights from six to 13 years
276:
Though once again no ACC-member school opted to leave for the SEC, the ACC announced (concurrently with the announcement of Notre Dame joining the conference as a member in all sports except football) an even more massive increase in exit fees. The fee jumped from a fixed $ 20 million to an amount
264:
Although at the time of the SEC's announcement of A&M's admission it was not actively pursuing additional members (notwithstanding scheduling issues arising from having 13 members), schools such as the aforementioned ACC schools and West
Virginia from the 2010-2011 rumors once again came up as
260:
threatened legal action if the SEC invited A&M. In early
September, the SEC issued a formal invitation to Texas A&M, but it was dependent on the Big 12 and its members releasing the conference from any liability with regard to the move. The SEC invitation was not final until September 25.
110:
conference realignments affected the SEC, as the conference neither gained nor lost members during either event, although once again Texas and Texas A&M were considered as members in 1996 after the dissolution of the
Southwest Conference, before both joining the newly formed
232:
sports that was set to launch a month later. Shortly before the meeting, an official of ESPN, partners with Texas in the network, gave a radio interview in which he strongly hinted that the network would also televise high school games of potential
Longhorns recruits.
207:
Texas A&M). Ultimately, neither West
Virginia nor any ACC school joined the SEC. However, the threat of one or more of its members possibly joining the SEC in the future led the ACC to vote unanimously on September 13, 2011, to raise its exit fees to $ 20 million.
248:) to take all actions relating to Texas A&M University's athletic conference alignment", the first official step in A&M's long-rumored move to the SEC. In a 2021 interview for ESPN, Loftin recalled, "When the LHN was announced, that just galvanized our
216:
As with the prior wave of realignment, the SEC had no issues with members seeking to leave and no concrete plans to expand. But as with the prior wave, rumors of possible expansion surfaced, once again led by Big 12 member Texas A&M.
39:
that began in the 2010–11 academic year and continued through the first half of 2014. The SEC was one of the least impacted conferences, as no member schools announced plans to join other conferences, while two schools from the
272:
was not listed among the "expected" ten members for the 2012–13 school year. The hint turned out to be correct: nine days later, on
November 6, 2011, the SEC officially announced that it had added Missouri as its 14th member.
1301:
188:
and
Oklahoma schools elected to remain in the Big 12, with A&M guaranteed a $ 20 million annual payment from Big 12 television revenues (equal to that of Texas and Oklahoma but above that of the remaining members).
47:
Although realignment within the NCAA continued into 2013 and 2014, the next credible rumors involving either current or potential future SEC members did not surface until 2021, when Big 12 members
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281:(until 2025). This means that if a school leaves the Big 12 during the term of the newly extended contract, the league will keep all of that school's broadcast revenues for the duration.
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149:
Though the SEC was not looking to expand (and in no danger of losing any existing members), it was rumored that several schools were interested in joining the conference.
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55:
were widely reported to have seriously discussed a potential move to the SEC, soon followed by both schools receiving and accepting invitations to join the SEC in 2024.
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equal to three times the conference's annual operating budget (at the time a member announces its intent to leave; for 2012–13, the fee would be roughly $ 50 million).
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writer Andy
Staples, the Longhorn Network broadcasting high school games (to the perceived benefit of Texas – which already operates the
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173:). However, A&M was reportedly also considering a move to the SEC (either paired with Oklahoma or by itself); it was rumored that
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in all other sports, joined. This allowed the SEC, which after the additions had 12 members, to split into divisions and hold
204:
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157:(which would be the first school offered and quickly joined), the other schools rumored involved long-time rival Texas,
44:
joined the conference as all-sports members. Several other schools have been rumored as potential expansion candidates.
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530:"1990-1991 SEC Expansion - Arkansas & South Carolina join Southeastern Conference | Saturday Down South"
130:) announced plans to expand to 12 members. These moves triggered a cascade of conference moves nationally.
72:
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35:
conferences and institutions. Moves that involved the SEC were a relatively small part of a much larger
1039:
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31:(SEC) dealing with several proposed and actual conference expansion and reduction plans among various
480:"Texas and Oklahoma to SEC? Live news updates as Big 12 powers may kick start conference realignment"
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from the Big East, and the ACC member institutions from Virginia and North Carolina excluding
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719:"Texas A&M University System Board of Regents to hold special telephonic meeting Aug. 15"
671:
158:
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potential members. However, West Virginia ultimately joined the Big 12 on October 28, 2011.
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579:"Oklahoma president: SEC invited Sooners, Texas A&M during conference expansion frenzy"
68:
745:"How Texas A&M and the SEC, college football's top conference, formed a 'perfect fit'"
8:
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858:"Notre Dame to the ACC, football not included ... but football will have ACC feel to it"
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177:, the former A&M and Alabama football coach who was at that time a member of the
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41:
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http://www.secdigitalnetwork.com/Portals/3/SEC%20Website/compliance/Constitution.pdf
554:
http://www.secdigitalnetwork.com/Portals/3/SEC%20Website/compliance/Constitution.pdf
199:(the two "traditional Southern states" where the SEC does not have a member school;
137:(which required a 27-month notification period before a member could leave) and the
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But the Big 12 Conference's press release also hinted at another departure –
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as it existed between 1991 and 2012, with East (blue) and West (yellow) divisions
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913:(Press release). Texas A&M University. August 31, 2011. Archived from
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593:"'Decision made' for Texas, others to join Pac-10; A&M on the fence"
405:
The SEC as it has existed between 2012 and 2024, after the additions of
1166:
1130:
454:"Sources: Texas, Oklahoma reached out to SEC about joining conference"
257:
252:
and current students. We went from 50-50 to 95-5 almost overnight."
169:(at that time, the entirety of the Big 12 South Division excluding
937:"Missouri Tigers' move to SEC official, but Big 12 hurdles remain"
952:
1188:
81:
the first conference championship game in Division I-A football
505:"SEC grants membership to Oklahoma and Texas starting in 2025"
953:
CollegeSportsInfo.com Conference realignment news and updates
1318:
816:"West Virginia Mountaineers formally invited to join Big 12"
224:
Board of Regents met to discuss the long-term impact of the
191:
Meanwhile, on the eastern side, rumored candidates included
1143:
184:
118:
The next wave of realignment began in 2010, after both the
694:"Prep games on Longhorn Network could drive Aggies to SEC"
364:
333:
203:
being the most rumored as a possible pairing with fellow
1284:
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522:
507:(Press release). Southeastern Conference. July 30, 2021
813:
836:"West Virginia University To Join Big 12 Conference"
776:
519:
375:
63:The SEC last had a membership change in 1992, when
153:Big 12 schools to the then Pac-10: in addition to
1428:
664:"ACC finds solid ground in unstable environment"
655:
876:
791:. Sports Illustrated. p. 2. Archived from
661:
635:
838:(Press release). Big 12 Conference. 2011-10-28
629:
1270:
973:
911:"Texas A&M announced departure of Big 12"
885:"Big 12 verbally agrees to new ESPN/Fox deal"
75:, a football independent and a member of the
181:Board of Regents, was leading the SEC move.
1239:2010–12 Southeastern Conference realignment
987:
451:
25:2010–12 Southeastern Conference realignment
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980:
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1400:Colonial Athletic Association realignment
929:
903:
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807:
607:"Source: UT, 3 others poised for Pac-10"
1384:Western Athletic Conference realignment
782:
1429:
855:
742:
638:"ACC adding Big East's Syracuse, Pitt"
477:
1437:2010–2014 NCAA conference realignment
1258:
961:
814:ESPN.com news services (2011-10-28).
284:
133:Unlike other conferences such as the
83:. The SEC had also considered adding
1369:Mountain West Conference realignment
882:
856:Schwab, Frank (September 12, 2012).
1442:Southeastern Conference realignment
1353:Southeastern Conference realignment
1302:List of schools changing conference
1287:2010–14 NCAA conference realignment
599:
452:Scarborough, Alex (July 21, 2021).
13:
1416:Atlantic 10 Conference realignment
15:
14:
1453:
946:
617:from the original on 13 June 2010
478:Sallee, Barrett (July 22, 2021).
376:Gallery of SEC membership changes
242:University Interscholastic League
1317:
1088:
434:1996 NCAA conference realignment
429:2005 NCAA conference realignment
398:
382:
1379:Sun Belt Conference realignment
1343:Big East Conference realignment
849:
762:
736:
711:
686:
556:SEC Constitution Article 3.1.4.
256:Most notably, Baylor president
222:Texas A&M University System
1338:Big Ten Conference realignment
783:Staples, Andy (July 5, 2012).
743:Wilson, Dave (July 21, 2021).
662:McCreary, Joedy (2011-09-22).
636:Dinich, Heather (2011-09-19).
585:
571:
559:
547:
497:
471:
445:
228:, a new TV channel devoted to
1:
1348:Big 12 Conference realignment
439:
58:
883:Dodd, Dennis (May 7, 2012).
568:SEC Constitution Article 31.
211:
144:
7:
424:NCAA conference realignment
417:
37:NCAA conference realignment
10:
1458:
1374:Conference USA realignment
1040:Mississippi State Bulldogs
1035:LSU Tigers and Lady Tigers
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770:"Southeastern Conference"
1409:Non-Football Conferences
1184:Lincoln Financial Sports
1098:Championships and awards
1060:South Carolina Gamecocks
889:College Football Insider
304:Date move was announced
1362:Non-Automatic Qualifier
1329:BCS Automatic Qualifier
990:Southeastern Conference
789:Inside College Football
785:"TCU finally in Big 12"
205:senior military college
29:Southeastern Conference
1218:TVS Television Network
1208:Lorimar Sports Network
1179:Jefferson Pilot Sports
1105:National championships
668:Bloomberg Businessweek
307:Year move took effect
20:
1080:Vanderbilt Commodores
674:on September 24, 2015
124:Pacific-10 Conference
19:
1153:Former media outlets
1110:Conference champions
1075:Texas A&M Aggies
1065:Tennessee Volunteers
1005:Alabama Crimson Tide
917:on November 16, 2011
69:Southwest Conference
1010:Arkansas Razorbacks
1197:list of affiliates
939:. 6 November 2011.
298:Former conference
285:Membership changes
238:Sports Illustrated
220:In July 2011, the
120:Big Ten Conference
21:
1424:
1423:
1252:
1251:
1030:Kentucky Wildcats
613:. June 11, 2010.
373:
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113:Big 12 Conference
42:Big 12 Conference
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1232:Related articles
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1025:Georgia Bulldogs
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365:November 6, 2011
351:Full membership
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226:Longhorn Network
77:Metro Conference
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1308:Superconference
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1070:Texas Longhorns
1055:Ole Miss Rebels
1045:Missouri Tigers
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795:on July 8, 2012
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334:August 31, 2011
301:New conference
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246:R. Bowen Loftin
230:Texas Longhorns
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868:September 12,
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746:
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725:on 2014-08-11
724:
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700:on 2014-01-25
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678:September 19,
673:
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536:on 2013-08-25
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484:CBSSports.com
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389:A map of the
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197:Wake Forest
1431:Categories
1167:CBS Sports
1161:SEC on CBS
1131:SEC Nation
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842:2011-10-30
821:2011-10-29
729:2013-01-02
704:2013-01-14
540:2013-05-27
440:References
159:Texas Tech
59:Background
295:Sport(s)
258:Ken Starr
212:2011-2012
145:2010-2011
67:left the
754:July 22,
749:ESPN.com
642:ESPN.com
621:June 12,
615:Archived
611:ESPN.com
511:July 30,
489:July 22,
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458:ESPN.com
418:See also
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135:Big East
106:nor the
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1295:General
1222:defunct
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1193:defunct
895:May 10,
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292:School
1189:SEC TV
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324:Big 12
316:Aggies
250:former
171:Baylor
165:, and
128:Pac-12
95:, and
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1119:Media
369:2012
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126:(now
97:Miami
85:Texas
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1144:ESPN
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897:2012
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756:2021
680:2011
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513:2021
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409:and
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108:2005
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