Oklahoma and Texas A&M Reportedly Eying SEC, but Pac-10 Still Has Edge

According to ESPN's Chris Mortensen via Twitter on Thursday night, Oklahoma and Texas A&M have made contact with and shown interest in the SEC.

The story was initially reported by two separate sources: SoonerScoop.com and Orangebloods.com for OU and A&M, respectively.

However, according to Chuck Carlton at the Dallas Morning News, Texas is not on board with the SEC flirtation.

This does leave the small possibility that Oklahoma and Texas A&M could go one direction while Texas, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma State go the other.

As far as Texas' estimation is concerned, the SEC does not provide the academic excellence as well as the championship-caliber history across all sports that the Pac-10 does. For a university that has climbed its way into a position of profound national respect, the Pac-10 is clearly the more appealing option.

Because both Oklahoma and Texas A&M have sterling academic and athletic reputations themselves, it is hard to imagine the SEC turning their petitions away. However, it is hard to figure out exactly what is pulling them toward the SEC.

Speculation by Carlton makes it seem that A&M is itching to rekindle historic rivalries between Arkansas and LSU. For Oklahoma, it could simply be an issue of geography.

While Texas A&M might be gutsy enough to make the jump on its own, providing the SEC with a gateway into the Texas fanbase, Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione has been very vocal in his desire to stay with Texas.

It is most likely that where Texas goes, the other schools will follow.

If Nebraska jumps ship for the Big Ten shortly, as is anticipated, Texas will view the Pac-10 as the best option, sources informed Carlton; that is even after today's summit between Texas schools.

If A&M did decide to leave for the SEC (and abandon their biggest rivalry with Texas) they would likely be replaced by Utah or Kansas. The Pac-10 has a clear backup plan in its expansion attempt.

It is still worthy to note that Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe is working to keep the conference together, but it certainly seems like too little too late.

Meanwhile, after the Pac-10 shunned Baylor's advance in favor of Colorado, the Bears have launched a strong support of Beebe's efforts behind athletic director Ian McCaw.

In order for the Big 12 to stay intact, the conference would likely add a couple of schools. Air Force and Arkansas have been mentioned as possible replacements for Colorado and Nebraska.

The anticipation throughout the college sports world is that once Nebraska jumps ship the package deal will come together and move to the Pac-10. Certainly, some alternate scenarios are being examined at this late hour.

Expect these Oklahoma and A&M reports to prove to be nothing more than last minute buyer's remorse from a couple of schools that tied their destinies to Texas in the Pac-whatever. Both have fanbases that are now too ingrained in those rivalries to give up the in-conference battles.

It also would seem to make sense for the heart of the Big 12, which always was the South division, to move together.