BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Texas A&M is set to join Southeastern Conference, the league said Sunday, apparently signaling that legal hurdles have been cleared for the Aggies to leave the Big 12.
The SEC announced Sunday that the move will be effective next July, and said Texas A&M will participate in all sports during the 2012-13 academic year. That gives the SEC 13 members and its first addition since South Carolina and Arkansas in 1992.
The Aggies' defection from the Big 12 had been held up by the possibility of legal action from Baylor and other members, who would not waive their rights to sue the school and the SEC. The statement released by the SEC did not mention that situation, and spokesman Charles Bloom did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
A source told ESPN's Joe Schad that Texas A&M's negotiation of an exit fee with the Big 12 "will now begin in earnest."
The SEC's announcement said that Texas A&M beginning play in the conference next year is "unconditional," sources told Schad.
If any institution, such as Baylor, files litigation it would be dealt with at that time.
Baylor's decision not to waive its right to sue the SEC or Texas A&M was based in large part, however, on a desire to get the remaining nine schools to commit, which Big 12 leadership says is a goal they have recently moved closer toward.
SEC presidents and chancellors voted in favor of the move on Sept. 6.
"We are excited to begin competition in the nation's premier athletic conference," Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin said in the statement.
It's unclear if the SEC will add a 14th member for next season or go with unbalanced divisions. Other rumored possibilities have included the Big 12's Missouri and West Virginia of the Big East.
Texas A&M initiated the courtship in July, unhappy with rival Texas' Longhorn Network and setting off a tumultuous period for the Big 12.
The Aggies, who play Arkansas Saturday in Arlington, give the SEC entry into major TV markets such as Houston and Dallas
"Texas A&M is a nationally prominent institution on and off the field and a great fit for the SEC tradition of excellence -- athletically, academically and culturally," Commissioner Mike Slive said in the statement.
Four Big 12 teams -- Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State -- had explored moving to the Pac-12, which decided not to expand this year.
Oklahoma President David Boren said the nine remaining schools besides Texas A&M agreed last week to give a six-year grant of their first- and second-tier television rights to the Big 12 for the next six years. That means all revenue from the top television games -- shown currently on networks owned by ABC/ESPN and Fox -- would continue to go to the Big 12 even if a school bolts to another league.
That deal, however, had not been finalized.
The Big 12 also ousted Commissioner Dan Beebe last week after five years and replaced him with former Big Eight Commissioner Chuck Neinas on an interim basis.
A&M's official departure from the Big 12 was considered the next step needed to determine where this round of conference realignment is headed.
Once that is done, the SEC can decide on a 14th member, if it wants one and the Big 12 can replace the Aggies.
