Report: Big 12 negotiations open door for early Texas, Oklahoma exit to SEC

Oklahoma and Texas are slated to leave the Big 12 for the SEC by the 2025 season, at least for now. Per a report, the two programs could be looking to leave the conference sooner thanks to the Big 12 starting television rights negotiations early with ESPN and Fox.

According to Dennis Dobbs of CBS Sports, the Big 12’s talks have led the Longhorns and Sooners to have “active discussions” regarding their departure. Dobbs says it’s a “consequence” of the negotiations starting early.

“As a consequence of @Big12Conference starting negotiations early with rightsholders sources tell CBS Sports there are now active discussions regarding Texas and Oklahoma leaving early for the SEC,” Dobbs said.

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If Oklahoma and Texas are to leave early, the 2023 season would be the earliest. Both are locked into the Big 12 this year with kickoff just a few weeks away. Things can develop quickly in the offseason though, as we have seen with all of conference realignment.

The Big 12 will be bringing four new members into their conference for the 2023 season as well. Both departing schools could want to jump ship before their arrival. Especially if new television deals are being worked out with ESPN and Fox.

Early SEC move possible due to Big 12 discussions to get advantage over Pac-12

The Big 12 and its media partners have agreed to enter into early contract discussions regarding the league’s next television deal. This was initially reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

The expectation is that negotiations will begin between the Big 12, ESPN, and Fox shortly. That is approximately a year and a half before negotiations were scheduled to begin. It also comes as the conference is going through changes to its membership and welcomes a new commissioner in Brett Yormark.

The official announcement came from the Big 12 shortly after the move was initially reported.

“It is an exciting time for college athletics and given the changing landscape we welcome the opportunity to engage with our partners to determine if an early extension is in the best interest of all parties,” Brett Yormark said in a statement.  “The Big 12 has enjoyed a fantastic relationship with its multi-media rights holders, and I look forward to having these conversations.”

This move to negotiate is also expected to weaken the PAC-12’s advantage, which the conference had recently gained by entering into early media deal negotiations itself.