Texas, Oklahoma: No change in Big 12 exit date

Regardless of incoming Massive 12 commissioner Brett Yormark saying he can be keen to hunt out a “win-win state of affairs” for Texas and Oklahoma to depart the convention early, the 2 colleges’ athletic administrators mentioned on Monday that nothing has modified on a possible exit date.

The SEC has mentioned Texas and Oklahoma will be part of the league on July 1, 2025, however there was hypothesis that they may or would like to affix earlier. Yormark mentioned at Massive 12 media days final week that he was open to an amicable breakup.

“That being mentioned, it is essential that no matter occurs is in the perfect curiosity of this convention,” he mentioned, “however I sit up for the correct time to have these conversations.”

After talking at a session collectively on navigating change in athletic departments on the Texas Excessive College Coaches’ Affiliation convention in San Antonio, the ADs mentioned that they had but to have any of these discussions.

“Look, I do know individuals are asking quite a lot of these questions and it is honest,” Oklahoma AD Joe Castiglione mentioned. “There’s lots altering round us. If that facilitates a dialog that should happen about an earlier departure then it does. However I’ve mentioned very persistently — I do know my counterpart [at Texas] Chris Del Conte mentioned the identical factor, as have our presidents — that we knowledgeable the convention that we’d lead after ’25 and we plan on fulfilling our obligations and do the honorable factor.”

Del Conte mentioned he has but to fulfill Yormark or have a dialog with him apart from leaguewide Zoom conferences.

“We’re within the Massive 12,” Del Conte mentioned. “We will honor our commitments. These issues are all untimely.”

Each Castiglione and Del Conte, who’re shut mates and discuss practically every day, they mentioned, talked about they weren’t shocked by additional dominoes in realignment with USC and UCLA exiting the Pac-12 for the Massive Ten.

Castiglione mentioned their strikes have been just like the thought course of he went by means of in looking for the perfect match for the Sooners.

“You must look over the horizon,” Castiglione mentioned. “And so we have been doing that. It does not imply we have been discrediting anyone we have been with or that we lacked loyalty or something like that. However we have now been watching these modifications evolve over fairly just a few years. A few years. We simply felt like there have been going to be some large modifications. Now, a yr later, there’s been lots evolve. So a few of it’s, in a way, in line with what we noticed over the horizon.”

Del Conte was requested about Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy’s feedback that if he have been the Massive 12 commissioner, he would not permit Texas or Oklahoma within the league’s enterprise conferences.

“I perceive coaches,” he mentioned. “You have to put on that emotion in your sleeves. Coach Gundy is unbelievable human being, a terrific coach, and what a program he is constructed at Oklahoma State. However I get it.”

Each Del Conte and Castiglione have been complimentary of the Massive 12 and what the convention has executed so as to add BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF since their very own departures have been introduced.

“Proper now we’re making an attempt to assist,” Castiglione mentioned. “It could sound a bit bit disingenuous, and I do not imply it to sound that method. I am not naive, however we’re making an attempt to do all the things we are able to to be supportive and be a terrific member within the Massive 12 whereas we’re nonetheless right here.”

When requested in regards to the potential of recent timing on the addition of Oklahoma and Texas on Monday at SEC Media days, commissioner Greg Sankey mentioned, “That is lower than me. That is in regards to the relationship between Oklahoma, Texas and the Massive 12. We’re centered on the addition being efficient July 1st, 2025.”

Sankey did say that Oklahoma and Texas have been concerned in “essential updates or conversations” about the way forward for the league.

“They have been nice, rising companions on this course of speaking about their pursuits and priorities, simply as our different 14 do,” Sankey mentioned.