Texas and Oklahoma’s hopes of joining the SEC officially became a reality on Friday when the conference accepted the two universities into the league.
Shortly following the announcement University of Alabama President Stuart R. Bell and athletic director Greg Byrne both released statements welcoming the SEC’s two newest schools.
“The addition of Oklahoma and Texas, two esteemed institutions of higher education with strong academic programs, will serve to make the SEC even stronger,” Bell said in his statement. “We are excited to welcome them to the SEC and believe the addition of these two schools will heighten our student-athletes’ opportunities to compete, enrich the fan experience and bolster the entire conference.