Per CBSSports:
The SEC has just finished its scheduled meeting of its presidents and chancellors, and unfortunately for secession-minded Texas A&M fans, the conference is staying put at 12 teams (for now). Here's the full statement just released by SEC presidents and chancellors chair (and Florida president) Bernie Manchen:
“The SEC Presidents and Chancellors met today and reaffirmed our satisfaction with the present 12 institutional alignment. We recognize, however, that future conditions may make it advantageous to expand the number of institutions in the league. We discussed criteria and process associated with expansion. No action was taken with respect to any institution including Texas A&M.â€
If there's any solace to be taken by Texas A&M fans, it's that the wording of the statement leaves open the possibility of Texas A&M joining the SEC sometime down the road. No action was taken by the SEC with Texas A&M, after all, so if the conference does add teams Texas A&M might still be getting a call.
It's also worth pointing out that Texas A&M has yet to authorize its own president to negotiate its conference standing; that action is set to take place Monday. Texas A&M is also, of course, still a member of the Big 12; it may not even be legal for the SEC to invite the Aggies at this point.
In other words, the "future conditions" Manchen talks about may be as simple as Texas A&M applying to the SEC, or setting an end date to its affiliation to the Big 12. They may be something else entirely, of course, and Manchen isn't about to elaborate on that topic any more than he has to. This issue probably isn't put to bed yet. But for now, Texas A&M is stuck with Dan Beebe and the Big 12, the conference that wanted them all along.
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