After a visit from Pac-10 officials Saturday, a special meeting of the OU Board of Regents has been set for Wednesday afternoon.
OU President David Boren and athletic director Joe Castiglione met with Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott and former Big 12 commissioner Kevin Weiberg in a closed-door meeting.
Jay Doyle, Boren’s spokesman, said the regents will meet Wednesday afternoon “to weigh possible conference options available to the university.”
OU’s latest meeting comes after the Texas and Texas Tech board of regents plan to meet Tuesday to discuss the viability of the Big 12 and “look at all the options.”
Texas is considered the key to the Big 12’s survival after the exodus of Colorado to the Pac-10 and Nebraska to the Big Ten on Thursday and Friday.
Although OU, Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas Tech have allegedly been invited to join the Pac-10, Texas A&M has reportedly been considering options from both the Pac-10 and SEC.
Texas A&M president Bowen Loftin would not comment on whether the Aggies were leaning toward one conference over another.
"We were very happy to stay in the Big 12, the way it was. It's changing now," Loftin said. "The Big 12 is not what it was, and we have to think about its future, and ours."
Weiberg was the Big 12 commissioner from 1998 to 2007 before resigning to take a position with the Big Ten Network. He was also the Big Ten deputy commissioner from 1989 to 1998 before being named to his current post as Pac-10 deputy commissioner in February 2010.
He was replaced by current Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe, who has taken much of the criticism during the past month for the Big 12’s seemingly imminent collapse.
In a teleconference held Friday afternoon, Beebe highlighted the strength of the remaining 10 members and urged them to commit to holding the league together amid reports that OU, Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas Tech are already halfway out the door.
"The information we have is pretty strong that the 10 members we have would continue to provide a tremendous amount of revenue if we hold together," Beebe said.
He also said money "shouldn't be part of the equation,” but acknowledged that revenue sharing was a factor outside of his control.
Beebe reiterated his intent to keep the Big 12 together, regardless of the number of schools left.
One possible scenario still on the table would be to keep the remaining members and continue on as a 10-team conference or add schools along the way.
Schools mentioned as possible additions include Air Force, BYU, Utah, Cincinnati, Louisville, Arkansas and LSU among others.
"I'm going all the way to the final whistle and I have every intention of holding together the 10 we have," he said. "I'm playing it out as hard and fast as I can, and I'm doing the best I can to get them to understand what they would give up by leaving and what they have by staying."
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localsooner 1 year, 11 months ago
It's all about money. This hasn't been a secret for a long time....
SoonerFanatic2016 1 year, 11 months ago
OU needs to stay as part of the reamining ten teams. The remaining teams need to stay together and leave the Pac-10 and SEC alone.
cchsooner 1 year, 11 months ago
Moving to the PAC 10 is going to be a mistake if we go. This seems to me like this is all about money and no one is thinking about the fans. The fan will NOT travel as well those games year in and year out are to far. Staying in the BIG 12 or moving to the SEC is what all the fans and people around US want but it seems like no one cares what the fans think. The SEC would be the best move hands down a better conference and better for traveling purposes. Ark. and LSU would be the best move for the BIG 12 south teams to join. It's closer and would be alot better teams to play. Why don't all u big shots try thinking about that for once the fans are what make all this happen and you guys need to look in to that!