Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby issues statement after Texas and Oklahoma request to join SEC

Based on the statement he issued on Tuesday, Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby can’t be happy.

The way Bowlsby sees things, Texas and Oklahoma have been working toward leaving the league well before the news broke.

Thanks for that view, captain obvious.

Considering the news broke less than a week ago, and Texas and Oklahoma have formally requested to join the SEC, that goes without saying.

Here is the statement Bowlsby issued on Tuesday following each school’s decision to leave the Big 12:

“The Big 12 Conference has learned that the University of Oklahoma and the University of Texas have submitted formal requests to the SEC to be considered for membership beginning with the 2025-2026 athletic year. The events of recent days have verified that the two schools have been contemplating and planning for the transition for months and this formal application is the culmination of those processes. We are unwavering in the belief that the Big 12 provides an outstanding platform for its members’ athletic and academic success. We will face the challenges head-on, and have confidence that the Big 12 will continue to be a vibrant and successful entity in the near term and into the foreseeable future.”

Michael Wayne Bratton

A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com