Eleven of the SEC presidents met today in a super secret location to discuss conference expansion, choosing not to take any action at this time. Here is a statement from Florida's Dr. Bernie Machen, chair of the SEC Presidents and Chancellors:
"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."
This statement presumably has a lot to do with any possible litigation from the Big 12 and directed at the SEC. The SEC cannot be seen as interfering with the Aggies' affiliation with the Big 12 (and corresponding TV media rights contract) and the proper course of action would be for Texas A&M to apply to the SEC -- after they figure out a way out of its TV contract -- rather than the SEC inviting the Aggies to join the fold.
Important to note that this doesn't shut the door on the Aggies inclusion into the Southeastern Conference. It's just not going to happen as early as tomorrow. As reports from SEC officials indicated earlier this weekend, this process is moving much, much slower than anyone would have you believe and this thing has a long, long way to go before its over. Take heart, Aggies. It's not no, it's just not now.
For now, conference realignment armaggeddon has been averted for another day. I'm fully expecting the collective mea culpa from Florida State and Clemson fans for all the mean things they said about the rest of the conference in 3, 2, 1 ...