Vanderbilt's baseball program is one of the best in the country, but the football program is still trying to become competitive. Lee told The Tennessean that the move doesn't change much for the Commodores long-term.
Vanderbilt athletic director Candice Lee echoed many of the same sentiments as the SEC and its other schools in that she believes the SEC is the best conference in the country and that she is "supportive of anything that makes the SEC stronger." You don’t get 14-0 votes very often but we had unanimity in this case.” Vanderbilt We are in a very changing time, a transformative time in college sports so I think it was appropriate to accept their request to join the SEC. “I think it’s important to keep in mind that they both have a rich culture and history that’s very consistent with the current members of the Southeastern Conference. Morehead pointed out that the culture of the two schools fit in well with the SEC and that in the end every single SEC school voted to allow them to join "They are two very prestigious institutions, they have a strong history of intercollegiate athletics," Morehead told The Athens Banner-Herald. "I think they will add great value to the conference and further elevate our competitiveness in all of our sports.” Georgia president Jere Morehead spoke on why he supported Oklahoma and Texas joining the SEC, even though the two schools would serve as competition for the Bulldogs in the College Football playoff.
Here is how some of the individual schools reacted: Georgia “It is the unity and collaboration of our institutions that makes the SEC special, and Wednesday’s decision of the Texas A&M Board of Regents to approve a vote supportive of Conference membership for their long-time in-state rival is an example of the overall culture of this Conference,” he said. “I appreciate the opportunity for our Conference to move forward with a spirit of unanimity.” In the statement, Sankey lauded the unanimous decision of the schools to vote to allow membership to the two schools. Show the money: Analysis: If SEC adds Texas and Oklahoma, the conference could generate as much revenue as NCAAĪ look into the future: Here's what a 16-team SEC should look like if the conference embraces Texas, Oklahoma | Toppmeyer We look forward to the Sooners and Longhorns competing in our Conference starting in the 2025-26 academic year.” “Oklahoma and Texas are outstanding academic institutions with two strong athletics programs, which will add to the SEC’s national prominence. Their additions will further enhance the already rich academic, athletic and cultural legacies that have been cultivated throughout the years by our existing 14 members. “This is an important moment for the long-term future of the Southeastern Conference and our member universities,” the statement said. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said in the statement: “Both universities are prestigious academic institutions with strong athletics programs similar in tradition, culture and success to our current member universities. We look forward to a productive and successful future together beginning in 2025.” “The Presidents and Chancellors of the Southeastern Conference are pleased to welcome the University of Oklahoma and the University of Texas,” said Jere Morehead, president of the University of Georgia and the SEC, in the league's statement. Many schools released their own statements, all reacting with excitement to the news and lauding the strong athletics programs in the conference. After Oklahoma and Texas officially voted to join the SEC on Friday morning, the conference issued a statement welcoming the two new members.