Orangebloods.com quotes a source as saying that the University of Texas is set to determine their conference plans within the next two weeks. By all accounts, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State want to move to the Pac-12, but Texas could still take several days to decide their destination.
A Big 12 administrator said if Texas really wants the Big 12 to survive, the Longhorns should wait things out and see if OU and OSU get bids on their own to the Pac-12. If they don’t, Texas could try to convince the Sooners and Cowboys to give the Big 12 one more chance, the administrator said.
Why would Texas commit to the Pac-12 any sooner than they absolutely have to, if UT really wants the Big 12 to survive? The Pac-12 isn’t going to take OU and Oklahoma State and then get nervous and grab two other schools. The Pac-12 would hold open a spot for Texas.
Orangebloods quotes another source as suggesting that the ACC would like Texas with Kansas or Missouri, but they have no interest in Texas Tech because of academics. A Texas Tech source also tells them that Tech could have a shot at joining Texas A&M in the SEC.
Meanwhile, back in the Texas, Tech, Oklahoma, OSU to the Pac-12 scenario, the oft reported compromise between Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott and Texas apparently involves the exit of ESPN from the process.
But it’s likely ESPN would give up control of the Longhorn Network in some sort of buyout by the Pac-12, so that programming would be overseen by the conference – to be consistent with the other six regional networks in the Pac-12, sources said. The name would likely also be changed to include reference to the Pac-16.