Heather Dinich discusses what's next for Texas, Oklahoma and other states after the SEC voted in favor of extending membership to both schools. (1:30)On Thursday, the 14 SEC chancellors and presidents voted unanimously to invite Big 12 co-founders Oklahoma to join the league. There is one last formality to complete the deal: OU or Texas must officially accept it. This could occur as early as Friday.Greg Sankey, SEC commissioner, stated that today's unanimous vote was both a testimony to the SEC’s longstanding spirit of unity, mutual cooperation, and a recognition of outstanding legacies of academic excellence and athletic excellence created by the Universities of Oklahoma, Texas.Both the Oklahoma and Texas boards of regents have set aside separate meetings Friday morning to discuss membership in athletic conferences. Oklahoma's regents meet in Oklahoma City while Texas' regents meet via conference phone.Next, it will be determined when and what happens to those schools that are still in the Big 12. Texas and Oklahoma released a joint statement on Monday stating that they will remain in the Big 12 until June 30, 2025 when the current Big 12 media rights agreement expires. However, it is possible for the schools to leave sooner. To break the agreement, each university would need to pay penalties of $75 million to $80 millions. Or hope that the Big 12 disintegrates before that deadline.Bob Bowlsby of the Big 12 accused ESPN of manipulating other conferences to pursue its members on Wednesday. He said that Thursday's SEC announcement "reaffirms" that these plans had been in the making with ongoing discussions between the parties.Bowlsby stated that he was disappointed with the outcome of these discussions. He also said that he did not include other Big 12 members in his statement. "Despite our concerns about the process and the overall health college athletics, both universities will do all they can to ensure that student-athletes have an enjoyable experience during the remaining four years.ESPN replied to Bowlsby's claims earlier Thursday by stating that it had "engaged no wrongful conduct."Multiple meetings were made public this week after months of closed-door negotiations. This historic decision is expected to cause a tsunami of change in the college landscape. Texas A&M was the only SEC school that publicly expressed reservations about Texas joining the league. This abruptly changed course in the last week.On Wednesday, the Aggies' board voted 8-1 to direct M. Katherine Banks, president of the Aggies, to vote in favor to extend invitations to OU or Texas."The Board was concerned about the communication process in relation to this matter. However, today the Board received all the information it required to properly consider long-term implications of possible expansion," said a Wednesday statement from the board. "The board determined that the expansion would increase the long-term value the SEC for student athletes and all institutions they represent, including Texas A&M."On Tuesday, OU and UT officially informed the SEC that they are seeking an invitation to join beginning July 1, 2025.
