PAC 12 "rejection" of Texas, et al. - what really happened

Posted on: July 14, 2024 at 11:43:19 CT

Texas propposed that it, OU, OState and Texas Tech move to the PAC 12. The proposal was presented to a meeting of the PAC 12 school presidents during the summer of 2011 (I believe that's the correct year).

According to subsequent stories in the LA Times and reporting by Kirk Herbstreit (sp?) of ESPN, the proposal was considered at a late spring meeting of the PAC 12 Presidents.

Reportedly, the proposal seemed likely to accepted by the PAC 12 unstil USC's President suggested that consideration of it be postponed.

There was long standing dissatisfaction among the PAC 12 schools with its original TV contract. At the the same time it was considering the Texas expansion proposal it was entering into a new TV contract. According to the LA Times and Herbstreit, USC President suggested that it put the proposed expansion (adding Texas, OU, OState and TTech) on hold for a period of time to see how the new TV contract would work out. Therefore, the PAC 12 did not accpet Texas' proposal. The passage of time made it mute.

Following the rejection of the Texas proposal, Oklahoma's President David Boren (the former U.S. Senator) held a news conference at which he suggested it was just a matter of time before OU, etal formed a new conference in order to get a TV deal.

Brady Deaton, MU's Chancellor, told Mizzou Alums that after learning of Boren's comments, he became concerned that the Big 12 might fall apart and Mizzou would be left in a situation that negatively impacted the Tiger AD's tv revenue and that was not acceptable. His response was to send Mike Alden to talk first to the Big Ten. It offered Mizzou admission on the same terms as Nebraska had accepted, a half share of the conference distribution for five years. Deaton then sent Alden to the SEC which offered Mizzou an immeidate full distribution. Deaton took the SEC deal.