Arlington, Texas ? Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott is willing to listen if Oklahoma or others want to join his conference.
Speaking Saturday night, Scott acknowledged that “schools have reached out to us.”
He repeatedly said the conference was not seeking new members, as it was last year.
Scott added he had to listen to pitches from interested schools to evaluate what might be in the best interest of the Pac-12 members.
University of Oklahoma president David Boren said Friday that multiple conferences have shown interest in the Sooners recently and he expects to decide whether to leave the Big 12 or not within the next three weeks, if not sooner.
Before Texas and Oklahoma decided last summer to remain in the Big 12, there had been interest from the then-Pac-10 about moving West. That included Oklahoma State and Texas Tech as part of a potential 16-team league.
Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds reiterated Saturday before the Longhorns’ opener against Rice that they love the Big 12 and want to stay in the league. He said Texas will be watching to see what happens over the next few days if Oklahoma decides to leave, but that Texas will be fine no matter what happens to the Big 12.
Kansas State athletic director John Currie said his school remains committed to the Big 12, whether that means in its current configuration or through future expansion. He said the primary goal is to achieve stability.
For the Big 12, that has become a tedious challenge.
Missouri athletic director Mike Alden said Oklahoma’s interest in switching conferences only reinforces the notion of instability in the Big 12, but that he remains focused on keeping the conference intact.
Scott said further consolidation and more stability, in whatever form, would be healthy for college football.
