© 2024 Public Radio Tulsa
800 South Tucker Drive
Tulsa, OK 74104
(918) 631-2577

A listener-supported service of The University of Tulsa
classical 88.7 | public radio 89.5
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Texas, Oklahoma schools weigh conference options

By Jack Carey, USA Today

Tulsa, OK – The short-term future of college conferences going through expansion upheaval might be worked out this week, but long-term, the view still could look cloudy.

Amid reports that Texas and at least three other schools in the Big 12 could soon announce they are leaving for the Pacific-10, Texas' Board of Regents has called a meeting for Tuesday in Austin to discuss conference membership and take "appropriate action if needed," according to a news release.

The Longhorns, Texas A&M and Texas Tech are being viewed as a package along with Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, but Texas A&M is said to be also eyeing the Southeastern Conference.

The presidents of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State met Saturday with top Pac-10 officials. OU's regents plan to meet Wednesday to "weigh possible conference options," spokesman Jay Doyle said.

Late last week, the Big 12 lost Nebraska to the Big Ten, effective in 2011, and Colorado to the Pac-10, probably effective in 2012.

Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe said that after speaking to Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany, he doesn't believe the Big Ten will pursue another Big 12 team. However, the Big Ten might not be finished expanding. Delany said last week that the league could expand in stages.

Beebe's task now is to try to persuade the remaining 10 teams in his conference to stay together, and Texas is viewed as the linchpin.

"Right now, the future of the conference is really in the hands of Texas," Iowa State president Gregory Geoffroy told the Des Moines Register.