Greg Sankey received 'plenty of criticism' for how Texas, Oklahoma joined SEC

Wednesday at the SEC Media Days were set on fire in 2021, with the news of Texas and Oklahoma joining the conference breaking. A move nobody in college football saw coming, everyone in attendance in Hoover was shocked. Not everybody in the SEC was too thrilled about the idea or how it played out, though.

Commissioner Greg Sankey admitted he received “plenty of criticism” on how Texas and Oklahoma joining played out. Even so, the SEC was able to come together and unanimously vote the Red River rivals into the conference just two days later. Now, a couple of years later, we have a date of 2024 and the future is bright.

“I had plenty of criticism for how it played out,” Sankey said during a Tuesday appearance on SEC Nation. “But I didn’t think advertising was appropriate. And in that circumstance, not at all because there were plenty of unknowns. From Wednesday to that Friday of the interview, a lot of work in front of scenes and behind the scenes. A lot of credit to a lot of people to have a unanimous vote. It really set us up for the future.”

Sankey did not clarify who was critical of the process. But based on comments made at the time, Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork may have been one. The Houston Chronicle was the one who broke the news and shortly after, Bjork was in front of the media, publicly advocating against Texas joining the SEC.

“We want to be the only SEC team from the state of Texas,” Bjork said in July 2021. “There’s a reason why Texas A&M left the Big 12 – to be stand-alone and have our own identity. That’s our feeling.”

Of course, there could have been more than just the Aggies advocating against the idea. Conference realignment is a slippery slope and making sure all 14 athletic directors and university presidents agree is a difficult task.

Thankfully for Sankey, everyone was able to come together as seen with a unanimous vote. Two years later, there was an agreement made to have Texas and Oklahoma join for the 2024 season. We even have a list of opponents too, with the full schedule to be released at a later date.

Just one more season sits between the SEC and birthing a new-look college football. Something Sankey was at the forefront of and will continue to be past Texas and Oklahoma’s arrival.