Texas Longhorns reject invite to join Pac-10

We will  have to wait to see how this affects the Mountain West, but here is a story from the Dallas Morning News concerning Texas' decision to stay in the Big XII.

Several small details need to be ironed out, but the framework of an agreement appeared to be in place Monday afternoon.

Pac-10 Commissioner Larry Scott confirmed that the University of Texas has declined an invitation to join the conference. The decision will preserve the Big 12 as a 10-team conference, assuming Texas A&M elects to remain. Texas A&M officials were deliberating Monday afternoon. 

In a brief phone conversation, Scott said: "We've been informed by University of Texas president Bill Powers that Texas will stay with the Big 12. We have not received definitive details about this decision. It is our understanding that Texas was going to meet the terms that we have proposed." 

As he left the Main Building, Powers declined comment. 

Big 12 member schools and TV partners met Monday to work on a lucrative television deal that would convince the University of Texas and three other schools -- Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech -- to abandon pursuit of Pac-10 membership. 

The TV dollars were also enough to convince Texas A&M to stay with the conference. The Aggies had been pursuing a bid to the Southeastern Conference. 

Under Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe's plan, Texas would see a sharp increase in revenue under a new cable TV right deal with Fox Sports. Because of the Big 12's revenue sharing formula, Texas would probably make more than the $17 million average, perhaps close to $20 million. The Longhorns would also be allowed to form their own network, something that would not be allowed in the Pac-10. 

A source said the network could eventually produce up to $5 million in revenue based on projections, which would likely bring Texas more money than a move to the Pac-10. 

Another reason the conference remained intact was team travel, especially without the possibility of Texas A&M, despite the Pac-10's hope to focus on divisional travel and avoid numerous distant road trips to the Northwest. 

The fate of the conference born in 1996 when the Big 8 merged with four members of the Southwest Conference has been at risk for days, and Texas emerged as the key to the Big 12's survival when Nebraska (Big Ten) and Colorado (Pac-10) decided to leave over the next two years. The Pac-10 has courted Texas and other Big 12 South Division schools, while Texas A&M reportedly expressed interest in going to the Southeastern Conference barring a better offer. 

Big 12 officials have told member schools that the loss of the Denver television market and Nebraska would not weaken the league's negotiating position with TV networks as much as feared, the person said.

Texas, the biggest and most lucrative of the Big 12 members, has been the pied piper in the league discussions, with other schools seemingly ready to line up behind the Longhorns once the school decides where it wants its cash cow football program to compete. 

Regents at Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State have scheduled meetings Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss conference allegiances. Texas A&M regents are expected to meet later this week.

Dallas Morning News and Wire Reports Contributed