AUSTIN, Texas -- The Big 12 Conference could see the value of its television deal cut in half once Texas and Oklahoma bolt for the Southeastern Conference, Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said Monday at a hearing of Texas lawmakers.
A committee of Texas senators heard testimony from university leaders at Baylor, TCU and Texas Tech on the monetary and academic losses that conference realignment would mean for the Big 12 and its members once Texas and Oklahoma leave for the SEC in 2025.
University of Texas at Austin President Jay Hartzell testified that the path to making the switch became clear "into the summer," and that UT told Bowlsby that in a call following news of the move.