The University of Oklahoma board of regents authorized President David Boren to take “any and all actions necessary” in regards to the university’s athletic conference alignment, meaning whether OU will join an expanded Pac-12 or stay in the Big 12.
Boren said on Monday those were the two options. He said if he knew which one Oklahoma would take he would say so. But, he acknowledged the regents’ vote was not a vote of confidence for the Big 12 leadership.
Boren told reporters it’s not inevitable OU will move. But alluding to Texas’ TV network, for which it struck a 20-year, $300-million deal with ESPN, he said it would take a Big 12 move to equalize revenue sharing to keep OU.
“Our goal is to be an equal partner in any network, and we think it ought to be the goal of every other member of any conference that we’re a part of to be an equal member of that conference,” Boren said. “We all ought to value each other – every single member of that conference – and none of us should seek to play a stronger leadership role than anyone else.”
Also on Monday the University of Texas board of regents gave their President Bill Powers the OK to negotiate a conference deal.
Meanwhile, Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe said the conference remained viable. And, there were reports on Monday that if Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas Tech jump to a Pac-16 conference, then the remaining Big 12 members may merge with the Big East conference, which was reeling Monday from the weekend announcement that Syracuse and Pittsburge was leaving it for the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Beebe said the OU and Texas regents’ action Monday was anticipated, adding, “We continue to apply all effort and resources toward assuring our members that maintaining the Big 12 is in the best interest for their institutions.”
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