Oklahoma to Apply for Pac-12 Membership: Report

Oklahoma has unanimously agreed to apply for Pac-12 membership by the end of this month, according to a report.

OrangeBloods.com's Chip Brown reports the school's Board of Regents is fed up with the instability of the Big 12 and will apply for membership in the Pac-12 by the end of the month.

In-state brother Oklahoma State is expected to follow suit and also apply for membership in the conference.

Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott has said his conference isn't looking to expand after landing a $3 billion television contract from Fox and ESPN, but questions remain whether he'd turn down Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.

Scott initially dreamt up a 16-team conference in 2010 that included Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, but settled for expanding to 12 teams with Colorado and Utah. Colorado's president has also come out against expansion, even though the school was in the Big 12 less than a year ago.

After Texas A&M announced its intentions to join the SEC, Oklahoma has hinted as its desires to leave the conference for the Pac-12. Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops even called Oklahoma's game against Texas -- the Red River Rivalry -- nonessential.

I don't think it's necessary to continue playing, Stoops told reporters last Tuesday. No one wants to hear that, but life changes. If it changes, you have to change with it, to whatever degree.

Oklahoma publicly affirmed its commitment to the Big 12 last Thursday, but according to Brown it is only a matter of time before the school announces its intentions to join the Pac-12.

If Oklahoma does proceed as expected, it'll be interesting to see if any fellow Big 12 schools try to stop the move. Baylor and Iowa State have refused to wave their rights to sue the SEC -- holding up Texas A&M's move -- and could conceivably do the same against Oklahoma.

It's unclear if that would hold up the process of the Pac-12 extending an invite, though, like it has for the SEC.