With Texas A&M announcing its intention to leave the Big 12 conference, SMU is interested in taking the Aggies’ place and helping the conference get back to double-digit membership, Kate Hairopoulos of the Dallas Morning News reports.
SMU Responds To Texas A&M’s Big 12 Exit In Truly SMU Fashion
“We’re here to help,” SMU athletic director Steve Orsini said. “The news today provides the opportunity for us to reach our goal.”
Dallas-based SMU is currently in Conference USA, but is open to joining any AQ (automatic qualifying) conference.
"We feel it’s time. We’re ready," Orsini said last week via ESPN Dallas. “The college landscape is shifting. We’re already a top academic institution and with the re-commitment of the university already in place, we can be a top athletics program nationally.”
Texas A&M hosts SMU at Kyle Field on Sunday, September 4, which could give the Mustangs a chance to show the Big 12, or other large conferences, that they’re on the same level.
“This is what our guys want, they want to play against the best,” Orsini said. “We want to do that week in and week out.”
For more on the Aggies, visit Texas A&M blog I Am The 12th Man.
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