Oklahoma and Texas unlikely to join SEC early, per reports

When Oklahoma and Texas accepted their SEC invitations in the summer of 2021, the move was officially set for 2025. There was speculation that the Sooners and Longhorns could negotiate early exits from the Big 12, but that is currently looking unlikely according to college football insiders.

While there had been recent optimism that Texas and Oklahoma would join the SEC in 2024, it’s looking like the conference won’t expand to 16 teams until 2025. Reports from college football insiders on Friday morning indicated that weeks of negotiations that also involve ESPN and FOX have stalled.

Texas and Oklahoma will join the SEC in 2025, as parties couldn’t come to terms amid a complex negotiation between two schools (OU/Texas), two networks (ESPN/FOX) and the Big 12.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) February 3, 2023

Chances of Texas & Oklahoma leaving Big 12 early to join SEC in 2024 is not “officially dead,” but sources told @ActionNetworkHQ they’re not optimistic it happens “unless somebody blinks.” In December, all parties were hopeful deal b/w OU, UT, Big 12, ESPN & Fox would get done

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) February 3, 2023

Source: After weeks of recent negotiations, the effort to get Oklahoma and Texas out of the Big 12 and into the SEC one year ahead of schedule has reached a “breaking point,” with talks currently stalled between the conferences, schools and TV partners.

— Matt Fortuna (@Matt_Fortuna) February 3, 2023

It looks like the Big 12 will have 2 seasons as a 14-team conference. The conference has added BYU, UCF, Cincinnati and Houston for 2023 and beyond, additions made after Texas and Oklahoma signed up for the SEC.