Texas A&M appears close to officially leaving the Big 12 Conference. There have been enough Texas A&M rumors to write a book about it recently, and now the school may be just the latest to want out of the Big 12.
According to ESPN, Big 12 official are expecting an announcement from Texas A&M within the next week. That would finally put the plans in motion to increase the size of the SEC, even if the conference has claimed to be content with its 12-team structure. It could be that this is simply posturing by the SEC so that it doesn’t look like the conference is trying to lure a team that is entrenched in another conference.
The Big 12 has been having trouble keeping its biggest schools happy in recent years, and that led to both Colorado and Nebraska bailing. Colorado went to the new Pac-12 Conference with Utah and Nebraska joined the Big Ten to give that conference 12 teams total. No, the Big Ten has not taken steps to change its name to the new Big 12 yet.
Coming into the 2011 college football season, there are just 10 teams left in the Big 12, and it appears as though there will only be nine by the start of the 2012 or 2013 season. Texas is the powerhouse now, with teams like Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Missouri trying to retain a level of respect for the conference. It’s harder to do when storied teams like Nebraska have had enough though, and losing Texas A&M could be equally tough to take.
If Texas A&M goes to the SEC, it certainly gives the school a huge boost in the field of recruiting. Being able to play in the SEC is something that the conference uses in recruiting some of the best players from around the country. Getting to play against teams like Alabama, LSU, and Auburn is an easy sell for kids in Texas should Texas A&M join the fold.
If ESPN has this right, then Texas A&M will leave the Big 12 in early September and then apply to be a member of the SEC. If the SEC approves that application, then the conference is expected to seek out a 14th team in order to keep the two divisions balanced. Schools like Florida State have popped up in rumors before, and it is likely that the conference could easily find at least one more school to join a 14-school powerhouse.