Big 12 commish considers Texas, Oklahoma departures 'personal betrayal'

Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby appears to hold some animosity towards Texas and Oklahoma's decision to join the SEC.

"Being, to use your term, pissed off about it, I can't allow myself that," Bowlsby said during the Big 12's men's basketball media days, according to the Austin American-Statesman's Brian Davis. "I have to get over the sense of personal betrayal and do what’s necessary for our eight continuing members. And that’s what we did."

Bowlsby remains confused as to why either school would want to leave the conference. "To this day, they’ve given us no answers to that question. Either one."

The Longhorns and Sooners took the college world by storm in July when both announced they would be leaving the Big 12 to form a 16-member SEC conference.

The two programs have maintained that they will remain in the Big 12 until June 30, 2025, when the conference's grant of rights expires.

The Big 12 has not initiated any legal proceedings against Texas or Oklahoma.

Following the departure of two key members, the conference extended memberships to Houston, Cincinnati, Central Florida, and BYU, and the four universities will join in 2023.

The commissioner indicated neither school asked questions before announcing their withdrawal, and the programs have not responded to queries from the Big 12 following the blockbuster announcement.

Bowlsby speculated money and recruiting factored into the Longhorns' choice to leave his conference, but he still scrutinized the decision.

"Anybody that thinks Texas' football problems have been a result of league affiliation are completely delusional."