What has been rumored for days is now become a reality.
The University of Oklahoma and the University of Texas released official joint statements on Monday to confirm that they will not be renewing their grant of media rights. This is the first major step toward a move to the SEC.
“The University of Texas at Austin and The University of Oklahoma notified the Big 12 Athletic Conference today that they will not be renewing their grants of media rights following expiration in 2025. Providing notice to the Big 12 at this point is important in advance of the expiration of the conference’s current media rights agreement. The universities intend to honor their existing grant of rights agreements. However, both universities will continue to monitor the rapidly evolving collegiate athletics landscape as they consider how best to position their athletics programs for the future,” the statement reads.
Big 12 officials originally held a call Thursday to discuss the league’s future, with Texas and Oklahoma absent from the discussion. The two schools would have to give the Big 12 an 18-month notice before formally leaving. Consider today as that notice.
The Big 12 owns Oklahoma’s and Texas’ first- and second-tier media rights for football and men’s basketball until June 30, 2025. The Big 12 would still hold those rights until then even if the schools left for another conference.
