Tim Weiser offered some candid comments this week at Big 12 Media Days in Arlington, Texas about the reasons for the departures of Oklahoma and Texas from the Big 12 to the SEC.

Coaches and administrators have commented extensively about the move, as Steve Sarkisian at Texas has said he expects to get everybody’s best shot in the final season this fall. Mike Gundy at Oklahoma State has said that rivalries were not considered during multi-billion dollar conversations.

Weiser offered his own perspective.

“I continue to maintain that the choice Texas made wasn’t a financial one because we all know what Texas’ resources are like. I think theirs was more about affiliating with a group of schools that on a given Saturday, they would rather get beat by Alabama than Kansas State. Or Florida than Iowa State. That was really I think driving the way they looked out down the road. In Oklahoma’s case, I’m not convinced that that was the issue for them. They were more what I would call the reluctant bride.”

The Sooners instead wondered about the future of their rivalry with Texas if they didn’t go.