Mike Gundy: Oklahoma and Texas 'took the money and ran' to SEC

There might not be anybody more upset about Oklahoma and Texas leaving for the SEC than Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy. He has continually spoken out against the move, laying out the repercussions it will have not only on the Big 12 but college football itself. Boiling points may have already been reached but it’s still a huge topic as the official move is still pending.

Gundy once again discussed Oklahoma and Texas’ decision to move to the SEC, saying it was purely financial. He thinks a lot of history will be taken out of college football with the move, calling the two programs out by saying they “took the money and ran.” However, the Sooners and Longhorns are not the only ones at fault according to Gundy.

“Let’s just cut to the chase. They made a choice to financially secure their athletic departments for the next 12 to 15 years,” Gundy said via ESPN. “People can talk about all the reasons, but that’s why they did it, all for the money, and took a lot of history out of this league and a lot of history out of college football with them.

“Now, they’re not the first ones to do it. Texas A&M did the same thing when they jumped ship to the SEC [in 2012].”

Texas A&M was one of four members to leave the Big 12 in the first modern round of conference realignment. Missouri left for the SEC as well, while Colorado hiked over to the Pac-12, and Nebraska joined the Big Ten. But Gundy is not as concerned about those four as he is with Oklahoma and Texas.

Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State losing history inside program

As Gundy points out, some history will be removed from the game — especially from an Oklahoma State standpoint. The Cowboys have faced off against the Longhorns ever since Gundy has been the head coach and dating back to 1996 on an annual basis. And that’s not even the worst of it all.

Oklahoma-Oklahoma State is an in-state rivalry that began in 1904. The SEC has killed off plenty of rivalries in the past but Bedlam could arguably be one of the more historic, even if the Sooners have widely dominated the series. Gundy has been outspoken about the two teams playing in the future as well.

Even so, Oklahoma and Texas will find their way into the SEC by the 2025 season at the latest. Gundy thinks it’s a cash grab by the two schools, looking to cash in on the $300 million a year from ESPN for football television rights alone.