Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s formation of a committee studying college sports’ future in Texas after The University of Texas (UT) at Austin announced plans to leave the Big 12 Conference for the Southeastern Conference apparently is visionary.
Patrick announced his plans on July 26 for the Select Committee’s formation in light of the fact that UT planned to leave the Big 12. UT and the University of Oklahoma on July 27 sought “an invitation for membership in the SEC starting on July 1, 2025,” a joint statement by the two schools said.
On July 29, the SEC voted to invite UT for membership, and on July 30, the University of Texas System Board of Regents unanimously approved UT joining the SEC “at the expiration of its current grant of rights contract with the Big 12 Conference,” a press release said. On July 30, The University of Oklahoma Board of Regents also unanimously approved OU’s joining the SEC in 2025, a press release said.
“With the announcement by UT today (July 26), and possible SEC invitation this week, I asked @SenJaneNelson to chair a new Select Committee on the Future of College Sports in Texas, to study the athletic and economic impact to Texas schools and communities by UT’s exit. Hearing will be 8/2 #txlege,” Patrick tweeted on Twitter.
While many responses to Patrick’s tweet derided Patrick’s action as an unimportant fight to take on, Gregg Chambliss, who describes himself as loving “the University of Texas” and bleeds “burnt orange” also wondered about the intentions of the Select Committee.
“Please spend your time, energy and our hard earned tax dollars addressing REAL issues effecting our great state of Texas,” Chambliss replied on Twitter. “How about addressing the border issue? Stop wasting tax dollars on the University of Texas changing conferences, you should be better!!”
The move to the SEC is in the best interests of the university, UT Austin athletics program and UT student athletes, University of Texas System Chancellor James Milliken said in the press release.
“This move ensures a strong future for an outstanding athletics program, providing the opportunity for our student athletes to compete at the highest levels,” Milliken said.
UT has been in the Big 12 Conference over 25 years, with 2021 being its 26th year, the press release said.