Pac-12 Commissioner: League won't expand for Texas, Oklahoma

The Pac-12 Conference will not add Texas, Oklahoma or any other school, temporarily halting any disintegration of the Big 12 Conference.

"After careful review we have determined that it is in the best interests of our member institutions, student-athletes and fans to remain a 12-team conference," Commissioner Larry Scott said in a statement Tuesday night. "While we have great respect for all of the institutions that have contacted us, and certain expansion proposals were financially attractive, we have a strong conference structure and culture of equality that we are committed to preserve.

"With new landmark TV agreements and plans to launch our innovative television networks, we are going to focus solely on these great assets, our strong heritage and the bright future in front of us."

In a wild three-week stretch where the storylines changed almost every minute, the 10-school Big 12 appeared set to implode. Texas A&M announced it would leave the league at the end of the current school year, and the Southeastern Conference voted unanimously to accept the Aggies as the league's 13th school.

Oklahoma officials then started to re-evaluate that school's future within the Big 12 and sought the Pac-12 as a possible home. Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas Tech also were heavily discussed for Pac-12 membership.

The Pac-12's decision not to expand was expected by Oklahoma President David Boren, who released this statement:

"We were not surprised by the Pac 12's decision to not expand at this time. Even though we had decided not to apply for membership this year, we have developed a positive relationship with the leadership of the conference and we have kept them informed of the progress we've been making to gain agreement from the Big 12 for changes which will make the conference more stable in the future. Conference stability has been our first goal and we look forward to achieving that goal through continued membership in the Big 12 Conference."

Texas A&M still plans to leave for the SEC, and numerous reports had Missouri receiving an SEC invite. But the Big 12 will survive another day, and the Pac-12 won't become a destination for any wayward Big 12 schools -- at least for a while.