Could Texas A&M bolt for SEC?

It was always assumed that Texas and Texas A&M were joined at the hip as the Lone Star State’s two biggest universities. In fact, Texas could not join the SEC back in 1992 because the state legislature demanded Texas A&M go with it. Anywhere that Texas went, be it the Pac-10 or staying in a revamped Big 12, then A&M would do the same.

As Lee Corso would say, not so fast my friend.

Officials from Texas and Texas A&M met on Thursday to discuss their future with Nebraska set to announce Friday a move to the Big Ten. That means the Big 12 is near a collapse after also losing Colorado to the Pac-10. The most likely next step is that A&M, UT, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State will head to the Pac-10 as well and make that the Pac-16 and a monster of a football conference.

However, now there are reports that the Aggies are looking at a possible move to the SEC without the Longhorns.

The meeting between officials from the two schools Thursday failed to produce a consensus on the direction the Longhorns and Aggies should take. And the time for a decision may approach quickly given the Pac-10’s aggressiveness.

The Aggies have historic rivals in the SEC, including Arkansas and LSU. They would also give the SEC, which includes football powers Florida and defending national champion Alabama, a key entry point into the Texas market. The SEC wouldn’t add just one team because it would then be at 13 – it would have to add a second.

A&M regent Gene Stallings, who won a 1992 national championship while coaching at Alabama, is leading the push for A&M to head to the SEC. Reportedly that conference has reached out to Texas and Oklahoma, but the Horns aren’t interested and the Sooners say they will never split from Texas. The Big Ten also wants Texas but that’s also not seen as likely.

Stallings said it’s conceivable that A&M and UT could go their separate ways.

“I would think there would be a possibility, but to say they’d definitely do that …?” Stallings said. “I don’t know who all will be involved. But I’d be stupid not to say that. Whether it’s much of a possibility, I don’t know. I’m not going to venture out on that until I know what all the options are.”

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