The Southeastern Conference is staying just as it is — for now. However, the game of major college conference realignment appears far from finished.
Bernie Machen, the chairman of the Southeastern Conference’s presidents and chancellors committee, said the group met yesterday and “reaffirmed our satisfaction with the present 12 institutional alignment.”
Machen, president at the University of Florida, said no action was taken regarding Texas A&M or any other schools. He didn’t, however, close the door on change.
“We recognize, however, that future conditions may make it advantageous to expand the number of institutions in the league,” Machen said in a statement. “We discussed criteria and process associated with expansion.”
The Aggies reportedly are looking to leave the Big 12. The Texas A&M System board of regents is to meet today, and among the items on the agenda is conference alignment.
A&M President R. Bowen Loftin said in a statement yesterday there is “a considerable amount of misinformation” regarding the school and the SEC. Loftin said he didn’t participate in the meeting yesterday with the SEC, but would be authorized by the regents to “take all actions related to athletic conference alignment.”
If it leaves the Big 12, Texas A&M’s first destination preference appears to be the SEC. Arkansas Chancellor Dave Gearhart said that much was made clear at the SEC meeting yesterday.
“[Texas A&M] did approach the SEC, not the other way around,” Gearhart said. “I’m not really sure of all the reasons for that. I’m sure that there’s a lot of speculation on behalf of a lot of people that what caused them to do that. The bottom line is they did approach the SEC.”
Gearhart said the Aggies were among a number of topics discussed at the SEC meeting in Atlanta.
“It was really an open discussion, not just about A&M but about the future of the conference and the future of other conferences,” Gearhart said. “We did talk about Texas A&M. It’s a great university, a great place. But I think the decision was to make no decision at this particular time.”