COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Texas, Oklahoma To Join SEC Earlier Than Expected

Feb 9, 2023, 5:51 PM | Updated: Feb 10, 2023, 10:30 am

BY CHANDLER HOLT
KSL Sports

SALT LAKE CITY – The Big 12 Conference just announced that they agreed on terms that would allow Texas and Oklahoma to join the SEC after the 2023-2024 academic year.

The new date is one year earlier than what was originally announced.

Big 12 Announces Agreement for Withdrawal of Oklahoma and Texas

📰 https://t.co/z0VJE51Os6 pic.twitter.com/k86Bm0Iljs

— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) February 10, 2023

“As I have consistently stated, the Conference would only agree to an early withdrawal if it was in our best interest for Oklahoma and Texas to depart prior to June 30, 2025,” said Commissioner Brett Yormark. “By reaching this agreement, we are now able to accelerate our new beginning as a 12-team league and move forward in earnest with our initiatives and future planning. I appreciate the approaches of OU President Joe Harroz and UT President Jay Hartzell to ensure an amicable conclusion to this process, and look forward to the bright days ahead for the Big 12 Conference.”

On July 1, 2023, the Big 12 welcomes new members BYU, Central Florida, Cincinnati, and Houston. The conference will compete as a 14-team league for the 2023-24 season.

BYU football always played Pac-12 teams as an Independent

When BYU was an FBS Independent, the Cougars helped fill late November dates for Pac-12 programs. Since the Pac-12 allows programs to play mid-season rivalries, BYU was the perfect filler at the end of the season.

BYU closed out four Independent regular seasons against Pac-12 teams: Cal (2014), Utah (2018), USC (2021), and Stanford (2022).

The next time BYU is scheduled to play a team from the Pac-12 is in 2024. That’s when they renew their rivalry with two-time Pac-12 Champion Utah again. Utah is scheduled annually from 2024 to 2028. BYU also has games scheduled against Arizona in 2026 and 2027. Plus a home game against Stanford in 2031.

Chandler Holt is a Digital Sports Producer for KSLSports.com, specializing in all things basketball and football. Follow Chandler on Twitter at @ChandlerHoltKSL.