Texas Football: SEC rumors are starting to become more real

As Texas football embarks on a critical 2021 season where there is a lot on the line for new head coach Steve Sarkisian, something still managed to overshadow it all. On the afternoon of July 21, the reports started to come out about how Texas was looking to gauge interest in potentially leaving the Big 12 to join the SEC. This would obviously be a seismic shift, but the reality of it happening is starting to feel a bit more concrete.

It was hard to know, when the report first came out on July 21 from the Houston Chronicle, if this rumor had any actual legs to it. But the media firestorm and reaction that followed showed that there was something here. While it’s hard to tell if the Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners are starting to lean one way or another, it’s clear that this is a real discussion being had.

For Texas to leave the SEC for the Big 12, it’s clear that a few things must happen first. The first thing that tends to come to mind for SEC fans when considering Texas joining the mix is the Longhorn Network.

Texas football and OU to the SEC starting to look more realistic

That might have to go if the Longhorns want to be a part of the SEC.

With the report coming down on the night of July 21 that Oklahoma and Texas will not renew the Big 12 media contracts this year gives material evidence now of the push to join the SEC. This could be a real first step to the Longhorns and Sooners making the necessary media moves to join the SEC.

And a report from Orangebloods on the night of July 21 signaled that Texas and Oklahoma both could let the Big 12 know about the intention to leave the conference as soon as next week. If something comes down that abruptly, then it would really signal a favoring to leave the Big 12 for the SEC as soon as possible.

Of course, this is a developing storyline for the Longhorns and the Sooners in the quest to join the SEC. We will continue to monitor as any major developments come about, as they likely will in the coming days and weeks.

The last time that the Big 12 underwent a major conference realignment was roughly one decade ago. That time saw the likes of the Mizzou Tigers (SEC), Texas A&M Aggies (SEC), Colorado Buffaloes (PAC-12), and Nebraska Cornhuskers (Big Ten), all leave the Big 12.