Patrick forms committee 'to study the athletic and economic impact' of UT's exit from Big 12 Conference

Sports fans across the country are still trying to wrap their mind around the University of Texas' (UT) decision to leave the Big 12 for the SEC and that includes state leaders.

Texas and their archrival, University of Oklahoma (OU), have announced their plans to join the SEC, with all signs pointing to the traditional college football powers saying goodbye to the Big 12.

UT and OU have formally notified the SEC of their respective membership requests for 2025.

UT president Jay Hartzell and OU president Joseph Harroz Jr. recently wrote a letter stating their intentions.

"We believe that there would be mutual benefit to the universities on the one hand, and the SEC on the other hand, for the universities to become members of the SEC," they collectively stated.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R-Texas) has formed the new Select Committee on the Future of College Sports in Texas in response to UT's intentions to leave the Big 12.

"With the announcement by UT today, and possible SEC invitation this week, I asked @SenJaneNelson to chair a new Select Committee on the Future of College Sports in Texas, to study the athletic and economic impact to Texas schools and communities by UT’s exit,” he tweeted. “Hearing will be 8/2 #txlege"

The Longhorns' exodus leaves the rest of the Texas school, and that of the rest of the Big 12, in limbo with regards to their future.

The rest of the conference is made up of Texas universities Baylor, TCU and Texas Tech.

Oklahoma State University, Iowa State, University of Kansas, Kansas State University and West Virginia University round out the rest of the conference.

"We are unwavering in the belief that the Big 12 provides an outstanding platform for its members' athletic and academic success,” Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby responded in a statement.