Oklahoman and Texas Officially Ask SEC For Membership

The University of Texas and the University of Texas have submitted their formal request to SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey to join the Southeastern Conference. The two schools have taken major steps this week to depart from the Big 12 and start a new relationship with the SEC.

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The two schools formally informed the Big 12 of their intention to not renew grants of media rights to the league following the current contract, which expires in 2025.

Big 12 bylaws require 18 months notice for a school to withdraw from the league, meaning a breakup between the universities and the conference may not be immediate. Should the schools be interested in leaving the Big 12 prior to the 2025 media agreement expiring both schools would be forced to pay a buyout fee equal to two years of the departing school's share of revenue distribution.

The two schools would be the SEC's first additions since 2012 when the conference added Texas A&M and Missouri. The SEC additionally added South Carolina and Arkansas in 1992.

Now that both schools have formally declared their intention to join the SEC, the conference must now vote to admit them into the league. The SEC needs 11 of its 14 presidents to agree on the the two school's admittance.