Texas A&M denies it sent withdrawal letter

Texas A&M is denying that it has notified the Big 12 of its decision to leave the conference.

In a statement Monday, university spokesman Jason Cook said: "As of this morning, Texas A&M has not submitted a letter of withdrawal from the Big 12 Conference."

Cook, the school's chief communications officer, declined further comment and it wasn't clear if his statement meant the university wouldn't be sending a letter in the future.

On Monday night, The New York Times reported that Texas A&M president R. Bowen Loftin sent a letter to Big 12 board chairman Brady Deaton, president of the University of Missouri, saying the Aggies would formally withdraw from the conference.

The report said an announcement was likely to come Tuesday.

The school's potential departure was discussed during a conference call Saturday between the Big 12 board of directors, according to a report in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, which quoted a league source as saying he "wouldn't be surprised" to see Texas A&M take steps to join the SEC soon.

However, the Times reported Monday that there are two stumbling blocks for the Aggies to join the SEC. One is the school's exit fee from the Big 12, which has not been negotiated and could be upwards of $15 million. The other is that nine of the 12 SEC school presidents would have to vote to add the Aggies become a member of the conference.

Texas A&M notified the Big 12 last Thursday that it was exploring options to join another conference, but would do so only in accordance with the conference's bylaws and with a promise that the school would support the Big 12's efforts to seek a new member.

Talk of expansion in the SEC is nothing new. There were reports last summer as well that Texas A&M was courted by the top college football conference in the country.

The Big 12 is already down to 10 teams after Nebraska and Colorado departed for other conferences.