Things change fast: The latest on Big 12 alignment, A&M and the SEC

[Wow… I’ve been trying to get this posted since first thing this morning, and events just keep on changing. Here’s where we stand right now.]

While students were spending the weekend packing bags, getting ready to return to school (Welcome Week starts Thursday!), Big 12 leaders were busy working to keep the conference strong. Here’s a recap of what’s happened since our last post, and what’s next:

• Saturday, Big 12 presidents and athletic directors conferred, with every school (but A&M) reaffirming its commitment to the league.
• Sunday morning, an op-ed from Baylor President Ken Starr ran in the Waco Tribune-Herald; in it, Starr again emphasized Baylor’s commitment to the Big 12 and its historic rivalries.
• Sunday afternoon, the SEC reaffirmed its current alignment of 12 schools, but said expansion is not off the table entirely.
• This afternoon, the TAMU Board of Regents met and authorized A&M President R. Bowen Loftin “to take all actions related to athletic conference alignment.”
• About the same time, the Texas House of Representatives’ Higher Education Committee announced that it had postponed its scheduled Tuesday meeting that was to have examined whether a conference change for A&M is in the best interests of the state of Texas.

Several sources have reported that the SEC and A&M have slowed matters down out of concern for possible lawsuits. The Big 12’s billion-dollar TV contract with Fox, signed just four months ago, could be in jeopardy if the Aggies leave.

The potential economic impact on the state of Texas, as detailed today in an updated report from economist Ray Perryman, is also nothing to sneeze at.

Things continue to move quickly; stay tuned to the Baylor Nation site (www.baylor.edu/nation) and Baylor Proud on Twitter (@BaylorProud) for updates.

Sic ’em, Baylor Nation!